Eduqas GCSE Film Studies - Film Language Flashcards

A complete set of film language vocabulary flashcards for Eduqas GCSE Film Studies covering foundations, camera shots, camera movement, lighting, mise-en-scène, editing, and sound.

Film form

The choices used to make a film: camera and lighting, mise-en-scène, editing and sound.

Cinematography

How the camera and lighting create the images we see.

Mise-en-scène

What is placed in front of the camera, including setting, props, costume and make-up.

Editing

How shots are selected and joined together.

Sound

What we hear in a film, including voices, music and effects.

Genre

A type of film with recognisable features, such as horror or science fiction.

Narrative

How a film tells and organises its story.

Extreme close-up (ECU)

A shot of a very small detail, such as an eye or a hand.

Close-up (CU)

A shot that fills the frame with a face or object.

Medium shot (MS)

A shot showing a person from about the waist up.

Long shot (LS)

A shot showing a whole person and some of their surroundings.

Extreme long shot (ELS)

A very wide shot in which the setting dominates and people may appear small.

High-angle shot

The camera looks down at the subject.

Low-angle shot

The camera looks up at the subject.

60° / off-centre shot

The camera views a subject from an angle to the side rather than straight on.

Tilted shot

The camera is tilted sideways, so the horizon or frame appears slanted.

Aerial shot

A shot filmed from high above the action.

Pan

The camera turns from side to side while staying in one place.

Tracking shot

The camera moves along with or follows the action.

Dolly shot

The camera moves on a wheeled platform, often towards or away from a subject.

Steadicam

A camera stabiliser allows a moving camera to produce smoother shots.

Framing

What is included, left out and positioned within the edges of a shot.

Low-key lighting

Lighting with strong shadows and areas of darkness.

High-key lighting

Bright, even lighting with few strong shadows.

Chiaroscuro

Strong contrast between light and dark within an image.

Natural lighting

Light that appears to come from a natural source, such as daylight.

Lighting position

Where the light comes from, such as in front of, behind or beside a subject.

Lighting intensity

How strong or weak a light appears.

Setting

The place or environment in which a scene takes place.

Prop

An object used within a scene, often by a character.

Costume

The clothes and accessories worn by characters.

Make-up

The appearance created on a performer's face or body.

Cut

An immediate change from one shot to another.

Dissolve

One image gradually fades out as the next fades in.

Fade

An image gradually appears from, or disappears into, a plain screen.

Continuity editing

Editing that makes events appear to flow smoothly across shots.

Shot-reverse shot

Alternating shots between two subjects, often during a conversation.

Cross-cutting

Switching between actions in different places, often to suggest they happen at the same time.

Pace of editing

The speed at which shots change; quick or slow cuts shape the rhythm.

Visual effects (VFX)

Images added or changed after filming during post-production.

Diegetic sound

Sound that belongs to the story world and could be heard by its characters.

Non-diegetic sound

Sound added for the audience that characters cannot hear, such as a film score.

Ambient sound

Background noise that helps establish a place or atmosphere.

Sound effect

A specific sound used to draw attention to an action or event.

Dialogue

The words spoken by characters.

Score

Original music written to accompany a film.

Music motif

A repeated musical idea linked to a character, place or idea.

Sound bridge

Sound that continues across a cut, linking two shots or scenes.