Film Midterm #2

Edward Muybridge

Used multiple cameras to capture motion; proved all four of a horse's hooves leave the ground

Lumière Brothers

Inventors of the Cinématographe and fathers of the realistic film tradition

Georges Méliès

Director of "A Trip to the Moon" and pioneer of formalism and special effects

D.W.Griffith

The filmmaker credited with developing "Classical Cutting" and modern film grammar

Camera Obscura

An early "dark room" device that used a pinhole to project an inverted image

Realism

A film style that emphasizes documentary-like truth and the "what" of the image

Formalism

A film style that emphasizes subjective interpretation and the "how" of the image

3-Point Lighting

A technique using Key, Fill, and Back lights to create a professional, 3D look

Hard Light

Lighting that creates distinct, sharp-edged shadows and high contrast

Soft Light

Diffused lighting that reduces shadows and creates a more flattering look

Wide-Angle Lens

A lens with a short focal length that provides a deep depth of field

Telephoto Lens

A lens with a long focal length that flattens space and has a shallow depth of field

Rack Focus

The act of changing focus during a shot from one subject to another

Pan

A horizontal camera movement on a fixed axis

Tilt

A vertical camera movement on a fixed axis

Dolly Shot

A shot taken from a moving platform or wheels, often following a subject

Steadicam

A camera stabilization system that allows for smooth handheld-style movement

Analytical Editing

Editing that begins with an establishing shot and breaks the space down into details

Constructive Editing

Editing that builds a scene from separate shots without an initial establishing shot

Kuleshov Effect

The theory that film meaning is created through the juxtaposition of shots

Continuity Editing

The "invisible" style of editing that maintains clear spatial and temporal relationships

J-Cut

An edit where the audio from the next scene starts before the video appears

L-Cut

An edit where the audio from the previous scene continues into the next video shot

Mise-en-scène

"Placing on stage"; everything visible within the frame of a shot

Dominant

The area of the film image that compels the viewer's most immediate attention