Film Exam 2

Three-point lighting

The Classic Hollywood Lighting System

silhouettes

What is backlighting mainly used for?

Key light

The primary light source in a scene that provides the dominant illumination and casting the strongest shadows.

- variations in lighting and shadow

- variations in figure size

- variations in sound and music

How do Filmmakers control what they want the audience to focus on by creating changes in?

Planes

Layers of space occupied by persons or objects that are described according to their distance from the camera

cinematography

The general term ________ is used to describe all the manipulations of the film strip by the camera in the shooting phase and by the laboratory in the developing phase.

 to impose a certain vantage point onto the material for the audience

What is the purpose of framing?

24

The standard rate of shooting and projecting, established when synchronized sound came in at the end of the 1920s, was traditionally ___ frames per second (fps), though today’s 35mm camera offers the filmmaker a choice of anything between 8 and 64 fps.

lens

The __________ of a photographic camera gathers light much like your eyes do. That light then transmits onto the flat surface of the film to form an image that represents size, depth, and other dimensions of the scene.

mobile framing

 The framing of the image changes during the shot.

the axis of action

What is another name for the 180-degree space?

 to create a smooth flow from shot to shot

What is the basic purpose of the continuity system?

- Rhythmic Relations

- Spatial Relations

- Graphic Relations

- Temporal Relations

Which relationships are present in the editing of any film?

cut

A ______ is a term in filmmaking used to describe the joining of two strips of film together with a splice.  In the finished film, the same term is used to describe an instantaneous change from one framing to another.

Silence

Sound gives a new value to what?

fidelity in sound

 the extent to which the sound is faithful to the source as conceived by the audience

sound mixing

combining two or more soundtracks by recording them onto a single one.

diegetic

sound is defined by any voice, musical passage, or sound effect presented as originating from a source within the film’s world.

non-diegetic

sound is defined by any sound, such as mood music or a narrator’s commentary, represented as coming from a source outside the space of the narrative.

Filmmakers deliberately select techniques which will point out story parallels.

Historical circumstances limit the choices that filmmakers have open to them.

The filmmaker must choose which techniques to employ.

No single film uses all the technical possibilities available. What accounts for this?

meaning, emotion, and perception

Style may enhance which of the following in a film?

 to understand how the film is put together as a whole

What is the first step of analyzing a film?

style

 patterns of techniques that work within the film's form to shape the effects the film has on viewers

 Identify the specific emotional aspects of one scene in the film.

Which of the following is NOT one of the four major steps the authors of Film Art suggest for analyzing a film’s style?

Mise-en-scene

all the elements that comprise a single shot

setting, lighting, costume, and staging

4 main components of mise-en scene

Realistic Setting

a setting that accurately reflects the real world, enhancing believability and immersion in the narrative.

Stylized Setting

a setting that exaggerates or distorts reality, often to create a specific mood or artistic effect.

Location shooting

the practice of filming in real-world locations rather than on a studio set, adding authenticity and depth to the film's visual storytelling.

Building Sets

the construction of physical environments on a soundstage or location to create specific settings for a film, allowing for controlled conditions and artistic design.

miniature versions of sets

that are used to depict larger structures or environments in film. They facilitate complex shots and special effects while maintaining detail.

Map Paintings

a technique where painted backdrops are used to create the illusion of vast landscapes or intricate environments, enhancing cinematic visuals.

Green Screen

a visual effects technique that allows filmmakers to replace a solid color background with different images or video, enabling the integration of live-action footage with computer-generated elements.

virtual projecting

a technique that uses digital projections to create immersive environments or elements in film, enhancing storytelling and visual effects.

prosthetics

the art of creating realistic artificial body parts, such as limbs or facial features, to enhance character appearance in film.

Digital effects

computer generated imagery (CGI) and techniques used to create visual effects in films that enhance or manipulate images, sound, and animation

Digital Rendering

the process of creating a two-dimensional image from a three-dimensional model using computer software, often for visual effects and animation.

Front lighting

main character

side lighting

introduces elements of mystery

back lighting

silhouettes

underlighting

used for horror films or to create a scary face feature or make something look eerie.

backlight, fill light, and key light

3 lights used in three point lighting

mood, tone, theme, etc.

what was three-point lighting designed to convey?

Realism

A style of filmmaking that seeks to portray everyday life and experiences accurately, often emphasizing truthfulness and authenticity in storytelling

Puppets

figures, often made of materials like cloth, wood, or plastic, that are manipulated by a puppeteer to perform stories or entertain. They can be used in various forms of theater and storytelling and can represent human characters, animals, or fantasy beings.

Performance Capture

a technology used to record the movements and expressions of an actor and translate them into a digital format. This technique allows for creating lifelike animations in films, video games, and other digital media by capturing nuanced human performances.

Motion Capture

a technology used to record the movements of objects or people and translate these movements into digital models. It is commonly used in filmmaking, video games, and animation to create realistic character movements BUT only on skeletal movement, not facial. ex. Gollum

Tonalities

Determined by how light register on film itself. Refer to the overall mood, atmosphere, and emotional quality conveyed through visual and auditory elements, including lighting, color, and sound design. They help establish the emotional tone and thematic depth of the narrative.

Contrast

refers to the difference between the lightest and darkest areas in a shot or scene. It is used to create visual interest, highlight important elements, and convey mood or tension through the interplay of light and dark.

Exposure

the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor or film, determined by the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings. It affects the brightness and details of the captured image.

overexposure

occurs when too much light hits the photosensitive surface, resulting in a loss of detail in the brightest areas of the image, which appear washed out or white.

underexposure

occurs when not enough light reaches the photosensitive surface, resulting in loss of detail in the darker areas of the image, which may appear too dark or black.

Speed of Motion

Depends on the rate at which the film was shot and projected.

if the motion is below 24 frames per second; if it is higher?

the projection will jump; it will be more crisp the higher the frame rate.

Fast Motion

Things moving faster than they typically should

what is fast motion normally used for?

dramatic effect or comedic effect

Slow motion

captures images at a higher frame rate than the standard playback speed, allowing for the visual representation of action at a slower pace when played back at normal speed. creates close ups in time, makes us focus on mundane things

Perspective

refers to the way in which the camera's point of view affects the visual perception of a scene, influencing how the audience interprets space, distance, and the relationships between characters and objects.

focal length and lens

two things effect our perception of scale and depth

Focal length

The distance from the center of the lens to the point where light rays converge to a point of focus on the film

Wide Angle

wide- view, anything below 50 mm

wide focal length lens

typically has a focal length of less than 35mm, allowing for a broader field of view and is often used to capture expansive landscapes or to create a sense of depth.

Short focal length

typically, less than 35mm, is used to capture wide scenes and create a sense of depth, making it ideal for landscapes and interior shots, as well as for achieving a greater depth of field.

long focal length lens

typically over 70mm, is used to isolate subjects and create a compressed perspective, making it ideal for capturing scenes where the subject is far away or for achieving cinematic effects like shallow depth of field and dramatic framing.

Short focal length lens (wide-angle)

A lens that is less than 35mm in focal length is considered a wide angle lens. Wide field of view, as figure move toward or away from camera the lens makes them seem to cover ground more rapidly

middle focal length lens

Normally 35-50 mm. This lens seeks to avoid noticeable perspective distortion. Horizontal and vertical lines are rendered as straight and perpendicular. Parallel lines should recede to distant vanishing points. Fore ground and background should seem neither stretch apart (wide angle) nor squashed together (telephoto lens)

Long focal length lens (telephoto)

AFlatten the space along the camera axis. Cues for depth and volume are reduced. The planes seem squashed together, much as when you look through a telescope or binoculars. Narrower angle of vision. A person moving toward the camera takes more time to cover what seems to be a small distance. Often seen in televised sports events b/c they magnify action at a distance

Special Effects

A way how the images perspective relations can be shaped

Superimposition

A technique where two or more images are layered over each other in a single frame, creating a composite image. Can also add depth and complexity to a scene, inviting viewers to interpret the relationships between the images. 2 Things on top of each other in same image (Optical Printing)

Rear Projection

performers act in front of a projected image, creating the illusion that they are in a different location or environment. Example: old driving car scenes

Depth of Field

The range of distance within a scene that appears acceptably sharp and in focus. It is influenced by factors such as the lens focal length, aperture setting, and distance to the subject.

normal

most stuff is in focus (depth of focus)

shallow

few things are in focus (depth of field)

large

everything is in focus (depth of field)

Foreground, middle ground, and background

3 depth planes

Racking Focus

focus that can be changed while filming. Commonly used to switch out attention between foreground and background, making one plane blurred and another sharp.

Aspect Ratio

The length and width of a frame

innovate television

this concept refers to the creative integration of television techniques, storytelling styles, and formats into the medium of film. By embracing these influences, filmmakers can explore diverse narratives, engage audiences in unique ways, and expand the possibilities of visual storytelling.

Academy

The Academy aspect ratio is a standard film format of 1.375:1, which was established by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the early 20th century. This ratio became widely used in the Hollywood film industry during the 1930s and 1940s, providing a balanced frame for storytelling.

Cinemascope

is a widescreen film format introduced in the 1950s that employs an aspect ratio of approximately 2.35:1. It uses an anamorphic lens to compress the image during filming, allowing for a wider field of view, which enhances the cinematic experience by immersing the audience in the visuals.

anamorphic lens

a specialized lens used in filmmaking that compresses the horizontal field of view during filming, allowing for a wider aspect ratio when projected. This lens captures a wider image on a standard film frame, resulting in a cinematic look that emphasizes depth and spatial relationships. Extra Spherical, which makes it look wider on screen.

Matted Widescreen

Matted widescreen is a film format that uses a masking technique to create a wider aspect ratio on a standard frame. In this method, black bars (mattes) are added to the top and bottom of the image during projection, effectively cropping the original frame to achieve a wider field of view, typically in ratios like 1.85:1

1.33:1

Academy Aspect Ratio

2.35 : 1

cinemascope aspect ratio

1.85:1 - normal standard widescreen

1.66:1 - european

Matted widescreen aspect ratio

Letterboxing

a technique used to display a film or video in its original widescreen aspect ratio while fitting it within a standard screen format, such as 4:3 (fullscreen) or a 16:9 (HD) display. This is accomplished by adding black bars to the top and bottom of the image, preserving the film's intended composition without cropping any part of the frame.

Pan and Scan

a technique used to adapt widescreen films for presentation on standard 4:3 (Fullscreen) televisions. In this method, the original widescreen image is cropped and panned across the frame to focus on the most important elements of a scene, effectively "scanning" the image from side to side. This allows viewers to see key action or dialogue, but it can result in the loss of significant visual information and context from the original composition

On- Screen space

This refers to the visible area within the frame of a film. It includes everything that the audience can see—characters, objects, backgrounds, and actions that take place within the confines of the screen.

off-screen space

This refers to areas outside the visible frame but still part of the film's narrative world. Off-screen space can include sounds, events, or characters that are not currently visible but are implied or suggested to exist.

extreme high angle

(angles) looking straight down

high angle

(angles) looking down slightly

straight on

(angles) eye level

low angle

(angles) down up slightly

extreme low angle

(angles) down straight up

Level

Parallel to the horizon

Canted Angle

“Dutch angle” filmmaking technique where the camera is tilted to one side, resulting in a frame that is not level. This creates a sense of disorientation or unease and is often used to convey tension, confusion, or instability in a scene.

height

eye level with adult characters, can get visual info directly from height, puts us in a certain characters standpoint

distance

proportion of the human figure

Extreme long shots

(distance) people appear tiny