Film terms

Long/establishing shot

Definition: A long shot or series of shots

Purpose: Shows setting, background, frame of reference

Close-up shot

Definition: Screen is filled with one character’s face or object, detail, etc.

Purpose: Shows character’s emotion and audiences feels empathy for the character. Shows importance of object, detail, etc.

Medium shot

Definition: Between a long shot and a close up; seen from the waist up

Purpose:shows character’s body language, draws attention to their dialogue or the character themself

Soft focus

Definition:A director intentionally puts an object slightly out of focus

Purpose: For memory, shifts focus, keeps a character in focus, created perspective

Rack focus

Definition: A director shifts focus from one object to another within a single shot

Purpose: To change the audience’s attention, create a sense of chronology

Deep focus

Definition: When the foreground and background are equally in focus

Purpose: reveals new characters/surroundings that causes audience to pay more attention because it surprises the audience

Low angle

Definition: Looks up on subject

Purpose: Subject looks strong, powerful, intimidating

High angle

Definition: Looks down on subject

Purpose: subject looks vulnerable, small, niave, etc.

Eye level

Definition: Camera is even with character’s pov/eyes

Purpose: Puts the audience in the character’s shoes→ creates empathy and more emotion

Dutch angle

Definition: A shot that is tilted sideways on the horizontal line

Purpose: Creates Suspense, dizziness, discomfort

Diegetic Sound

Definition: Sound that occurs in film that is naturally occurring

Purpose: Creates relatability (film doesn’t seem unnatural or eery)

Example: Door opening, birds chirping, dialogue

Non Diegetic sound

Definition: Sound that is added during editing/unnaturally occurring sounds

Purpose: Invokes emotion, tells more context

Example: background music, voice over, etc.

Low-key lighting

Definition: Moody, dark tones. Features: accentuates shadows, dark tones, and high contrast

Purpose: Dark, moody, dramatic atmosphere. Draws to a serious matter

High-key lighting

Definition: Bright, well-lit scene with soft shadowing and little contrast

Purpose: Positive, happy, hopeful

Neutral lighting

Definition: Neither bright nor dark, even lighting

Purpose: For portraits, emphasize an object or subject

Bottom lighting

Definition: Direct lighting from below

Purpose: Convey sinister or creepy intentions

Side lighting

Definition: Direct lighting from one side

Purpose: Adds contrast to image and more definition in the subject

Front lighting

Definition: Direct lighting in front of subject

Purpose:Evenly illuminates the subject. Creates a flat, even, or cheerful mood

Near lighting

Definition: Direct lighting behind of subject

Purpose: Separates subject and background

Chiaroscuro

Definition: The juxtaposition of light and dark within a scene

Purpose: Create striking images or invoke feeling

Pan

Definition: Camera moves horizontally while in fixed position

Purpose: Manipulate time, location, or transition from one scene to another

Tilt

Definition: Stationary camera moves up or down

Purpose: Creates size and setting

Zoom

Definition: Camera is stationary but lens moves

Purpose: Makes audience’s attention change

Dolly

Definition: Camera moves with the action/alongside the subject either on track, wheels, or by hand

Purpose: Adds depth to scene

Fade

Definition: Scene fades to black or white

Purpose: Show time passing or transition

Dissolve

Definition: One scene dissolving onto another

Purpose: Passing of time

Crosscutting

Definition: Alternating of shots from two sequences

Purpose: To suggest the scenes are happening simultaneously

Flashback

Definition: Movement into action that happened previously, often signified by a voice over, change in music, different lighting, or dissolve

Purpose: To add plot, reasoning, show emotion, etc.

Eye-line match

Definition: A shot of a person looking, cut to what they saw, then another cut to their reaction

Purpose: To have an audience reaction along with the character

Mise-en scene

Definition: Composition in frame: props, costumes, lighting, acting, makeup, etc.

Purpose: To storytell effectively, invoke emotion, etc.

Wipe

Definition: When one frame replaces another by the og frame traveling from one side to another or with an object traveling

Purpose: To transition to another frame, show time passing