Film Techniques

high angle shot

high angle shot

Shot from above to suggest vulnerability and weakness.

low angle shot

Shot from below to suggest power or dominance.

long shot

Shows the subject from head to toe, to fit the screen. Little background is shown.

mid shot

Shot which shows a person from the waist up. Used in conversation and to show body language.

close-Up

Shows a person from the shoulders up. This shot is used to show facial expression and emotions of the characters.

music

Music and sound used in film to set the mood or invoke a feeling.

costuming

Clothes and costumes worn by the characters.

make-Up

Make-up, hair colouring and hairdo, facial marks such as cuts , sores, freckles, scars.

special effects

Any computer generated or special effects in the film. e.g. fades, wipes and superimposition.

hand held camera

Often used in fight scenes to help the audience to feel included in the action.

tilt

When the camera tilts vertically through 90°to make the subject appear larger than life.

bird's-Eye-view

Shot from above, using a helicopter or crane.

establishing shot

Shot to establish the setting and time period (usually used at the beginning of the film, or a scene). Often a wide shot.

wide Shot

A shot where the characters appear small in the frame. Background will be shown, to place the character.

mise-en-scene

Everything that goes into creating an effective and authentic scene, including costumes, make-up, props etc/

extreme close-up

Shot where the focus is on a feature of the face such as eyes, nose, lips.

montage

Scenes showing snippets or clips in a film that are arranged together to express an idea or compress time

flashback

When the action of the movie refers to a period before the time of that scene

tracking/dolly shot

A camera shot that tracks or follows the subject in the frame.

panning shot

The camera swivels from side to side on the tripod. Often used to show a crowd of people or a landscape.

point of view shot

A shot which is seen from the point of view of one of the characters. e.g. looking down the scope of a gun.

voiceover

Narration which is added after filming and is not in synch with the action.

diegetic Sound

Sound which comes from within a shot/scene. e.g. a radio or a piano being played.

non-diegetic Sound

Sound which comes from outside the shot/scene e.g. sound track.

colour (symbolism)

Each colour suggests certain ideas. We should use a colour chart in our books to help.

colour (saturation)

High colour saturation (a block of one colour) , especially in colour that doesn't occur naturally, suggests that the content is unrealistic or fake just like the colour. Low colour saturation suggests authenticity or realism.

symbolism

An image or concrete object that is used to represent an abstract idea. For an example, the crucifix is used to represent Christianity. Most symbols are dependent on cultural knowledge.

juxtaposition

The contrast of two things to highlight differences.

rule of thirds

If a text (usually an advertisement) is divided into 9 equal portions, the most important information is located either in the centre portion or where the dividing lines intersect.

accent light

Any Source from almost any direction which is used in addition to more basic lights to call attention to an object or area - not the Lighting.

ambient lighting

Refers to any light in a given scene that isn't artificial light.

artificial light

Refers to light produced by electricity as opposed to a Natural source such as the sun.

background lights

Can be used to illuminate the background, gaining more depth or separation in your image.

low-key lighting

Illumination that creates the strong contrast between light and dark areas of the shot, with deep shadows and little fill light.

high-key lighting

Illumination that creates comparatively little contrast between the light and dark areas of the shot. Shadows are fairly transparent and brightened by fill light.

props

Props are anything in the film that is an object used by the characters or used to help create the mood or setting in the film. Eg. weapons, police badge, furniture, boxes etc.

over the shoulder shot

Camera films from behind a character or object and shows what or who the character is looking at.

steadicam

A camera mount, worn by the operator, that allows the camera to remain level even when the operator moves, ensuring extremely smooth hand-held traveling shots.