Film Unit Vocab

The Shot

The building block of all filmmaking

Long Shot (definition)

The on-screen object appears small or is seen from some distance away.

Long Shot (effect)

gives the viewer a sense of time and place; allows the viewer to decide where to look.

Establishing Shot

When a long shot remains onscreen long enough to establish setting.

Close up/ Head Shot (definition)

The on-screen object appears to be large, taking up 80% of the screen.

Close up/ Head Shot (Effect)

forces the viewer to look at subject. Intimate and revealing, though somewhat intrusive and authoritative

Medium Shot

Between a long and close shot. most common and naturalistic shot.

Soft Focus (define)

ever so slightly out of focus

Soft Focus (effect)

Can create a lighter mood (love, sadness) or uncertainty.

Rack Focus (defined)

Brings either the background or the foreground into sudden focus

Rack Focus (Effect)

forces viewers to focus their attention on one thing. a way of shifting attention without cutting away.

Deep Focus (defined)

All objects, both background and foreground, remain in focus.

Deep Focus (effect)

A way of shifting the viewer’s attention without cutting away.

Low Angle (defined)

in which the camera is below the subject

Low Angle (effect)

Characters shot from low angles tend to be more powerful.

High Angle (defined)

In which the camera is below the subject

High Angle (effect)

Characters shot from high angles appear weak, vulnerable

Eye level

In which the camera is above the subject, A neutral shot.

Dutch Angles/ Tilt (defined)

In which the camera is slightly canted or tilted

Dutch Angle/ Tilt (effect)

can be used to indicate tension, conflict, uncertainty, or danger

Subjective Focalization

A shot or series of shots that aligns us with one character’s point of view, what one character sees or is able to see.

Authorial Focalization

The filmmaker’s way of using a technique to give viewer information that a character might not have framing, focus, camera angle and or movement; dramatically ironic.

Pan (defined)

during which the camera pivots along the horizontal axis, looking left to right or vice versa

Pan (effect)

Introduces a setting, can be used to observe characters, take in a situation or surroundings

Whip Pan

A shot that is the same asa pan but is so fast that the picture blurs beyond recognition during the movement. Often accompanied by a ‘whoosh’ sound.

Tilt (defined)

During which the camera tilts along the vertical axis, looking up to down or vice versa

Tilt (effect)

often used to communicate distance, size, or strength

Zoom (defined)

During which the focal length of the lens changes, making the object either grow or shrink in size.

Zoom (effect)

Directs the audience’s attention to a detail the director feels is crucial

Dolly Zoom / Vertigo Effect (defined)

In which the camera is physically moved at the same speed in the opposite direction in which the lens is changed

Dolly Zoom / Vertigo Effect (effect)

often used to indicate psychological distress or tension; a distortion or unrealityof some kind must be implied

Arc (defined)

A shot in which the subject is circled by the camera

Arc (effect)

Often used in sequences of intense questioning or ordeals in which the subject is the focus of a maelstrom of chaos or stress

Tracking or Dolly Shots (defined)

during which the camera actually moves in accordance with some on screen action

Tracking or Dolly Shots (effect)

Brings the audience into the action, instead of having them remain spectators

Low-Key Lighting (defined)

Distinguished by darkness, shadow, and patches of bright key light.

Low- Key Lighting (effect)

Creates moods of suspicion, mystery, and danger

High- Key Lighting (defined)

distinguished by brightness, openness, and lack of shadows or contrast between light and dark.

High- Key Lighting (effect)

Characters and situation are seen without misunderstanding or threat. May be used to indicate revelation, openness, clear seeing.

Neutral

Lighting is even and balanced throughout the shot.

Bottom/ Side (defined)

Light only illuminates part of a subject, often a face

Bottom/ Side (effect)

Indicates characters who may be evil, deceptive, ambiguous or conflicted.

Front (defined)

No shadows appear

Front (effect)

Shows innocence or openness, sometimes revelation or confession

Diegetic

Sound which can logically be heard by a character within the movie’s environment. Ex. Background noise, Dialogue.

Nondiegetic

Sounds which cannot logically be heard by a character within the movie environment. Ex. Music, voice over narration

Internal Diegetic

Sound which only one character can hear, and others do not.

Cut

Sudden but inconsequential transition from one shot to another. Most common editing technique in film.

Fade

The image on screen fades to black for a period of time and is slowly replaced by another image. Indicating the passage or end of a segment.

Dissolve

The image on screen slowly fades into another image that fades in. Often makes a connection between two objects or characters that the viewer may not have made otherwise.

Crosscut or Parallel editing

Images showing clips of separate places quickly transitioning from one to the other and back again. Creates suspense, links, theme, or plot.

Flashbacks & Flash-Forward

A convention designed to give the viewer important information about past events. Conventions include verbal signals: ‘I remember when…’ , shot dissolving.

Eye-Line Match

Three or more shots: a shot of a character, what the character sees, and then a shot of the character’s reaction. Develops characterization, tension, and suspense.

Long Take

When a shot lasts more than 20-30 seconds creating a calmer, more peaceful enviorment.

Mise-en-Scene

What appears onstage: sets, costumes, props, lighting, acting, etc.

Subjective Focalization

Character P.O.V, Camera & Narrator, see, feel, eyeline matching, Unreliable Narrator

Authorial Focalization

Viewers get information the characters don’t have, Dramatic Irony, Music as a signal

Neutral Focalization

3rd person, medium shots, neutral lighting.