Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Film Techniques

Flashcards for reviewing film techniques and the enduring nature of the hero archetype in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Low Angle

The camera looks up at the subject, making the character appear powerful, dominant, or heroic.

High Angle

The camera looks down on the subject, making them seem small, weak, or vulnerable.

Eye-Level Angle

The camera is at the character's eye level, creating a neutral and realistic feeling.

Dutch Tilt (Tilted Angle)

The camera is slanted to create a sense of unease, chaos, or confusion.

Extreme Close-Up

Shows a small part of the subject (like eyes or fingers) to highlight emotion or detail.

Close-Up

Shows a character’s face to reveal facial expressions and emotions.

Medium Shot

Shows the character from the waist up, often used for dialogue or movement.

Wide Shot (Long Shot)

Shows the full body and background to capture action or setting.

Extreme Wide Shot

Shows a large setting to establish location or scale.

Over-the-Shoulder Shot

The camera is placed behind a character to show their point of view.

POV Shot

Shows what a character sees to help the audience experience their perspective.

Tracking Shot

The camera follows the subject to build movement or tension.

Zoom

The camera moves in or out to focus on detail or emotion.

Pan

The camera moves side to side to reveal setting or follow action.

Tilt

The camera moves up or down to show height or size.

Fast Editing

Rapid cuts increase pace and excitement.

Slow Motion

Slows down time to highlight a dramatic moment.

Montage

A series of shots showing growth or time passing.

Diegetic Sound

Sound heard by characters (e.g. voices, footsteps).

Non-Diegetic Sound

Sound only the audience hears, like music or narration.

Soundtrack

Music added to reflect emotion or theme.

Voice-Over

Narration from a character that adds thoughts or commentary.

Lighting

Lighting creates mood, highlights emotion, or sets contrast.

Colour

Colours are used to symbolise identity or emotion.

Symbolism

Objects, colours, or actions represent deeper meanings.

Comic-Style Elements

On-screen text, panels, and effects that reflect comic book origins.

Panels

Comic-style boxes that divide the screen into separate moments or perspectives.

Speech Bubbles

Text bubbles that show what characters are saying, just like in comic books.

Caption Boxes

Boxes that provide narration or inner thoughts, usually at the top or bottom of the frame.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate sounds, like “BANG!”, “THWIP!”, or “BOOM!” .

Freeze Frames

When action stops briefly to introduce a character or moment, like a comic panel.

Split Screen

The screen is divided into multiple panels to show different perspectives or events at once.

Halftone Dots / Ben-Day Dots

A dotted texture applied to the visuals to mimic old-school comic book printing.

Speed Lines

Lines added behind fast movement to emphasise action and energy.

Text Overlays

Bold, colourful words or titles added on screen to emphasise emotion or explain time/place.

Stylised Transitions

Comic book-style flips, zooms, and wipes between scenes.