Film Analysis

Film Techniques

Establishing Shot

shot offered at the beginning of a scene indicating where the remainder of the scene takes place

Long Shot

Shows the entire object or human figure and is usually intended to place it in some relation to its surroundings

Medium Shot

Shot from a medium distance, revealing the subject from the kness or waist up

Close up

A shot that tightly frames a person or objectPOV

POV Shot

Shot shows what a character is looking at from this character’s point of view

Low angle shot

shot from a camera positioned low on the vertical axis, angled upwards

High angle shot

shot from a camera positioned high on the vertical axis angled downwards

Bird’s eye view shot

the camera is placed directly overhead/directly above the object or scene (a type of high angle shot)

Deep focus

a shot where both the foreground and the background are in focus

Shallow focus

part of an image is in focus while the rest is out of focus - blurred background and foreground around the main subject

Rack focus

the blurring of focal plans in sequence forcing the viewer’s eyes to ravel with those areas of an image that remain in focus

Dolly

A vehicle that carries that camera on wheels or a track to permit a smoother or faster movement of the camera

Tilt

the camera body tilts vertically up or down on a stationary support

Pan

the camera moves horizontally

Whip pan

extremely fast movement of the camera from side to side, which causes the image to blur into a set of indistinct horizontal streaks

Zoom

the focal length of the lens changes while the shot is in progress (closer or away from subject/object)

Boom

an overhead telescoping poile that carries a microphone, permitting the synchronous recording of sound without restricting the movements of the actors

Synchronous sound

sound that is matched with the movements occurring in the images, was when dialogue corresponds to lip movements

Non-synchronous sound

sound whose source is not apparent in a film scene or that is detached from its source in the scene

Voiceover

when a voice is heard while we see an image of a space and time in which that character is not actually speaking

Overexposed shot

too much light enters the aperture of a camera lens, causing the bleaching out of the image

underexposed shots

not enough light enters the aperture of a camera lens, causing the darkening of an image

High key

bright lighting, few shadows, used in comedies musicals, and light entertainment films

Low key

shadows and atmospheric pools of light, used in mysteries and thrillers

Cutting to continuity

editing in which shots are arranged to preserve fluidity of an action without showing all of it

Jump cut

an abrupt transition between shots, which is disorienting in terms of the continuity of space and time

Cross cutting

cuts between two or more separate scenes (locations) implying a relationship between the scenes

Montage

a series of separate images, moving or still, that are edited together to create a continuous sequence

Fade in/Fade out

normal brightness fading to a black screen or fading in from a black screen

Dissolve

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

Superimposition

When one picture is placed on top of another film strip

Wipe

a transition between shots in which a line passes across the screen, eliminating the first shot as it goes and replacing it with the next one

Freeze Frame

a shot composed of a single frame that is reprinted a number of times on the filmstrip. When projected, it gives the illusion of a still photograph

Mise en scene

Everything that appears on front of the camera, how it’s arranged , and the overall effect of how it all comes together for the audience

Film treatment

The step before writing the first full-length draft, reads like a short story and includes specific details, such as directorial style, key events, and characters

Shooting script

written breakdown of a movie story into individual shots, often contains technical instructions, and is used by director & staff during production

Storyboard

Pre-visualization technique where shots are sketched in advance and in sequence, which is similar to a comic strip. Allows filmmakers to outline a scene

Shot

A single take

Scene

Collection of shots taken in the same location & time

Sequence

A series of scenes that create a larger part of the film