grammar of film test

frame

the rectangular box that contains the image in the camera or on the screen

24 fps

our brain sees motion when a series of frames flash by at a minimum of 16 frames per second (most films have this many fps)

shot

a series of frames that runs for an uninterrupted period of time

where do the names for shots come from?

1. filed size
2. camera placement
3. movement
4. purpose

extreme wide/long shot

a shot from a great distance, often used to establish location. may or may not include the subject

full/long shot

a shot in which the subject’s entire body is captured head to toe

medium shot

a shot that shows human figures from the waist up. allows us to see body language as well as facial expressions

close up/tight shot

subject’s face fills or nearly fills the frame. used to show emotion

extreme close up

shows extreme emotions by zooming in on one part of the face, generally focuses on the eyes (used rarely)

insert/close up

a shot of an isolated part of a subject or object, such as the head or hand

eye level/straight on shot

to place the audience in the action, most shots should be filmed at or around eye level

high angle shot/boom/aerial

a shot filmed from high above the subject(s). used to show characters isolation or how a situation is overwhelming them

low angle

a shot filmed down low, often looking up at the subject(s). used to show a character is in power

dutch/canted angle

a type of camera shot where the camera is set at a crooked angle

over the shoulder shot

a shot that shows us a character’s point of view, but includes part of that character’s shoulder or side of their head in the shot. most common way to show a conversation

two shot

a medium or close shot wide enough for two people, often used to film a conversation

reverse angle

a shot that is the opposite of the preceding shot such as two characters in conversation

POV shot

placed where the character’s eyes would be to show what the character would actually see. this type of shot is usually cut in before or after a shot of the character looking at whatever this shot contains

reaction shot

a close shot of a character reacting to something off camera

establishing shot

usually the first shot of a new scene, designed to show the audience where the action is taking place. usually an extreme wide shot

eyeline match

a type of editorial match involving two, subsequent shots in which shot 1 contains an agent (person, animal, etc.) gazing in the direction of some unseen, off-screen vision, and shot 2 contains an image presumed by the spectator to be the object of the agent’s gaze

master shot

generally introduces a scene and captures the setting and characters in relation to one another

continuity error

failure to maintain consistency in characters, setting, and all aspects of the fictional world

pan

a shot in which the camera moves horizontally around a fixed axis from one part of a scene to another

tilt shot

a shot where the camera moves up or down along a vertical axis, as when it looks at a building from bottom to top

dolly/zoom

moving closer or farther away from the subject

pull back

moving farther away from the subject, generally to reveal something significant or to show the character’s isolation

jump shot

joining two shots of the same subject taken from only slightly different angles, generally a mistake

fade

when a shot dissolves to or from a solid color, usually black or white

fade to black

used at beginning/end of film or to give audience a moment to reflect

fade to white

used when a character dreaming or dying

dissolve

fading gradually into another shot rather than to black or white (used for memory or dream)

superimposition

leave two shots in a dissolve on the screen at the same time so that they run simultaneously

cut

an immediate change from shot to shot

match cut

transition that uses elements from the previous scene to match similar elements in the next (draws a distinct connection between those two things)

wipe

transition when shot A is replaced by shot B as it moves in a specific direction (left, right, up, down)

editing

selection and organization of shots

montage

a series of short scenes edited into a sequence used to condense time, space, and information

J cut

when audio of the next scene precedes the image

L cut

when audio of the preceding scene carries over into the next scene

crosscutting

editing involving two or more distinct events (builds suspense and suggests a relationship between the events)