Media Studies Midterm

Establishing Shot

To build ambience, giving an idea of what’s to come (Usually introduces a new location)

Close up shot

To show emotion and reactions of characters at close range

Extreme Close Up Shot

To show extreme and intense emotional detail (Shows mainly facial features)

Mid-Shot

Allows views to pick up subjects movements and gestures showing their face and body language

Wide shot

Allows audience to absorb all the relevant information at once so they have contact for what’s gonna happen

Extreme wide shot

To show what is surrounding the subject, showing how unimportant they’re to the environment around them

Two Shot

Shows emotional interaction and reactions between 2 subjects, establishing the changing relationship between them.

Aerial Shot/Birds eye view

Gives audiences a deeper understanding of whats happening below

Point of View Shot

Sheds light on a new perspective

Over the Shoulder Shot

To show viewers the relationship between 2 characters behind their shoulder, growing a sense of intimacy

High Angle

Makes the subject seem vulnerable, powerless, or weak

Low Angle

Makes subject look strong, heroic, menacing, etc

Canted/Dutch Angle

Creates dramatic effect portraying unease, disorientation, etc.

Camera Movement

A powerful filmmaking tool employed to modify the relationship between the subject and camera frame to reveal information

Pan Shot

Camera rotates horizontally side to side and doesn’t move to follow the subject to show distance

Static Shot

Camera shot with no movement whatsoever to emphasize the appearance and movement of the subject against its environment (Captured on a tripod)

Track/Trucking/Crab Shot

Very similar to the dolly, where the camera moves on tracks side to side along with the subject

Boom Shot

A cranes used to lift the camera to look down at something and move in all directions to take in the scene

Whip Pan Shot

To pan the camera from one shot to another creating motion blur

Arc Shot

Where the camera moves around the subject to show more surroundings

Steadicam

Piece of equipment strapped onto an individual to create really smooth footage while moving

Handheld Shot

Held by someone to make the viewer feel as if they’re in the scene where it’s usually shaky to help make the shot more “real” or urgent

Tilt Shot

Camera rotates up and down to follow the subject to reveal something and show height (Used for low and high angle shots)

Zoom Shot

Camera lens moves closer in or further out to bring objects at a closer distance showing size and perspective

Dolly Shot

Moves forwards or back to bring objects at a closer distance

Dolly Zoom

When the cameras moving in the opposite direction than the zoom

Dolly In

Towards Subject

Dolly Out

Away from subject

Fade

A transition between shots that appear on screen as a brief in interval with no picture

Jump Cut

An elliptical cut appearing to be an interruption of a single shot

Eyeline Match

A transition that shows attraction between two shots, the first showing the character looking off-screen and the second showing what the characters seeing

Shot/Reverse

A transition where two or more shots are edited together that alternates characters typically in a conversation situation

Cut in/Cut Away

An instantaneous shift from distant framing to a closer view of something for the same space

Dissolve

A transition between two shots during which the first image gradually disappears while the second image gradually appears

Cross-Cutting

Cutting back and forth quickly between two or more lines of action indicating they are happening simultaneously

Graphic Match

Two successive shots jumped to create a strong similarity of compositional elements

Iris

Circle from a side to another

Invisible Cuts

Impression of a single take

Smash Cut

Very abrupt

Diegetic Sound

• Any sound that emanates from the story, created during filming. Inside the story world. Can be heard by characters in the film.

• Ex: Actors speaking to each other (Dialogue) sound from aby object on screen (footsteps, police siren) music that comes from a sound system or set.

• Some types include synchronous sound, ambient sound, sound effects:

Synchronous Sounds

Sound whose timing matches with what is seen on screen is called__________

Ambient Sound

• Background sound which are present in a scene or location. Natural sounds of the room (ex. wind, water, birds, crowds, office noises, traffic, etc.)

• Provide audio continuity between shots

• Establishes or reinforces the mood.

Sound effects

• A sound other than speech or music made artificially, sound added to visuals in editing.

Dialogue

An on screen conversation between 2 or more people would be considered part of the ____________

Non-Diegetic Sound

Voice-overs and movie soundtracks are all sounds that characters on screen can not hear and are therefore part of _______ sound

Sound Motif

A sound effect of combination of sound effects that are associated with a particular
Every time we see the Pink Panther on screen we hear the same jazzy music, this is an example of ______________

Voiceover

The voice of an unseen narrator speaking. Often guide or informs the external audience but can be used to push them in the wrong narrative direction

Sound Mixing

Layering sound, tweaking level on every video file dialogue, sound effects, music, etc…

Sound Bridge

Sound continues across one or more cuts/transitions.

Sound Perspective

Although a scene is being portrayed as being far away on screen, we hear the sound clearly as though it is up close. This is an example of a close up _____________.

Single System

Audio is captured directly into the camera, and records simultaneously, with the image. (Benefit is that it does not require audio to be synced up in post-production. This is an advantageous in news and documentary format that often require a quick turnaround of material)

Controllable Noise

Interference that can be managed (The biggest offenders of this type of noise are refrigerator, mobile phones and personal electronics)

Shotgun Microphone

• Industry standard

• Picks up audio without capturing excess environmental noise

• Accessible like “blimp” or the cuddly sounding “dead cat” fit snuggly over the microphone and reduce distortion.

Dynamic Microphone

Used for loud spaces not requiring external power and an internal amplifier (What you picture typically as a microphone)

Lavalier Microphone

An omnidirectional microphone that clips onto an actor if they are moving often (Lacks frequency balance)

Melodic Sound

Pleasant sound music called _____________ is often used to convey the feeling that the characters on screen are experiencing good times or happiness

Discordant Sound

Harsh and unpleasant to listen (Mostly Negative Connotations)

Contrapuntal Sound

Sound not matching screen visuals (Happy music in a war scene)

Uncontrollable Noise

Originates from forces outside of one’s control (This might be a passing car or plane, or music emaciating from a nearby building)

Score

A(n) _________________ is instrumental music made for a movie, music is composed, arranged, and played specifically for the production. It is composed to elicit an emotional response from the audience

Asynchronous Sound

separate from the visuals-could be voiceover/ dialogue from another scene

Incidental Music

Music used in a film or play as a background to create or enhance an atmosphere.

Soundtrack

All songs from or associated with the movie

Double/Dual System

Sound captured independently of the camera and onto a digital audio recorder, benefitting audio not having to be tethered to the camera

Warm hues

Helps create an active response invoking passion or aggression as well as moods of excitement and creativity

Light Red

Represents joy and love

Dark Red

Represents rage, anger, and passion

Red

Represents intense strong emotions like danger, war, blood, passion, energy, and has a sexy connotation

Orange

Represents happiness, confidence, creativity, adventurous, and energetic moods.

Yellow

Usually the most difficult color to see with the naked eye representing energy, caution, fun, sunny, encouragement, etc. Enhances concentration and metabolism, however, can cause agitation

Cool Hues

Creates mood of peacefulness and tranquility reducing tension. Can also aid concentration from these passive calming qualities.

Green

Represents health, nature, regeneration, harmony, wholesomeness, and contentment. It is the easiest color to the naked eye and as well represents transportation, movement, and progress.

Dark Green

Represents finance

Lime Green

Represents Health, Vibrancy, and Freshness

Pink

Induces calmness while representing comfort, femininity, and tranquilizing elements

Blues

Represents serenity, peace, security, sadness, loyalty, trustworthiness, honesty, intensity, and peace. Can also represent a bad omen and can associate with clear thinking and intellect

Purple

Represents Beauty, Inspiration, Wealth, Regal, Prestige, and mystic. It is also usually adolescent females favorite color.

Dark Purple

Represents moody, heavy, instability, and uneasiness emotions

Neutral

Represents peace and calm to reliability or boredom that’s great for adding stability and balance. Can include white, black, gray, and colors that contain amounts of gray.

Black

Represents evilness, indication of power, death, mystery, and mourning. Can be associated with prestige and wealth in western culture.

White

Represent innocence and purity that can as well mean fresh starts and simplicity. As well represents angelic/heavily elements. (Cold & Stark)

Brown

Creates a sense of loneliness, sadness, and isolation as well as represent emotions like strength, reliability, security, safety, and warmth

Saturation

Intensity of color

Hue

Color

Color Shading

Pinks a lighter shade of red and is associated with tenderness or sweetness as opposed to passion or blend.

Genre

A way of categorized media texts based on similar stylistic traits

Narrative

Structure and development of a story

Representation

The portrayl of an individual, group, place, or event

Iconography

Images that mean something or represent something specific (Red roses to love/romance)

Narrative Themes

Ideas and topics explored throughout the narrative

Protagonist

The main character

Nick Lacey

Argued that staple ingredients help the audience understand what genre a media text belongs to)

Steve Neale

Argued that genres rely on repeated elements as well as elements of difference (PLEASURE OF FAMILIARITY)

David Buckingham

Argued with Steve Neale but adds how genres develop to reflect the social, cultural, and political issues of the time

Genre Hybridity

The mixing of two movie genres that allow the pleasure of difference by blending conventions to create something new

Theory Focus

John Fiske asserts on the importance of genre in creating structure and convenience for audiences and producers

Premise

Overarching meaning behind the story

Plot

The events happening in the story

Antagonist

The character opposing the main character

Linear Narrative

A story in chronological order