Film History & Analysis

Film Production Techniques

Film History & Analysis

  • Persistence of Vision

    • Concept explaining the optical illusion that allows still images to appear as continuous motion.

  • Eadweard Muybridge (1830-1904)

    • Conducted a bet to settle the debate about a horse's gallop thus producing series photography.

  • Thomas Edison (1847-1941)

    • Invented the Kinetoscope, an early motion picture exhibition device. Established the first movie studio, the Black Maria.

  • The Lumiere Brothers

    • Invented the Cinematograph, a motion picture camera and projector.

    • Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory (1895).

  • George Méliès

    • French film pioneer known for A Trip to the Moon (1902) with special effects and elaborate sets.

  • German Expressionism

    • Highly stylized, surreal film productions.

    • Examples: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), Nosferatu (1922).

  • Lev Kuleshov & Sergei Eisenstein (Soviet Russia)

    • Kuleshov Effect: Film editing effect deriving meaning from the interaction of consecutive shots.

    • Eisenstein's montage theory, Battleship Potemkin (1925).

  • Filmmaking in the United States

    • D.W. Griffith pioneered narrative filmmaking.

    • Pioneer of full-length feature films in the U.S.

    • Notable film: The Birth of a Nation (1925).

Sound and Color

  • Sound

    • First major sound film: The Jazz Singer (1927).

  • Color

    • Introduction of Kinemacolor (1908), Technicolor (1914), Eastmancolor (1952).

The Golden Age of Hollywood

  • Dominance of Big Eight studios (Warner Bros., Paramount, MGM, Universal, etc.).

  • Vertical integration controlled production, distribution, and talent.

The Hays Moral Code

  • Self-imposed rules and guidelines for moral standards in Hollywood films.

  • Implemented in the 1930s-1960s.

The End of the Golden Age of Hollywood

  • Olivia de Havilland lawsuit ended long-term contracts.

  • Rise of television as a competing medium.

The New Hollywood

  • End of the Hays Code.

  • Inspired by French New Wave filmmakers.

  • First film of the New Age (1967): Bonnie and Clyde.

The Birth of the Blockbuster

  • Jaws (1975) grossed over $120 million, establishing the blockbuster concept.

  • Formula for big hits with high budgets and wide appeal.

Global Entertainment

  • Fewer movies with higher budgets aiming for global market appeal.

Film Terminology

  • Mise-en-scène

    • French: "putting in the scene".

    • Includes: Setting, costume, makeup, lighting, staging.

  • Shot vs. Take vs. Scene

    • Shot: One continuous piece of film through the camera.

    • Take: A version of a shot, multiple takes filmed.

    • Scene: Action in a specific location and continuous time.

  • Camera Distance

    • Symbolizes: Physical and emotional distance.

    • Basic Types of Shots: Long shot, medium shot, close-up, extreme long shot, extreme close-up.

  • Other Shots

    • Two Shot: Shot with two subjects, useful for conversations.

    • Three Shot: Shot with three subjects, emphasizes the setting.

    • Over-the-Shoulder Shot: Shows a conversation, follows the 180-Degree Rule.

    • Reaction Shot: Cut away to show a character's reaction.

    • Point-of-View Shot: Shows a character's perspective.

    • Establishing Shot: Introduces a new location. Part of continuity editing.

    • Insert Shot: Emphasizes a relevant detail.

  • Lighting

    • Three-Point Lighting: Main light, fill light, back light.

    • Influences mood and perception.

    • High-Key Lighting: Bright, even lighting. Creates an evenly lit, non-suspenseful atmosphere.

    • Low-Key Lighting: Strong contrast between light and shadow. Often associated with film noir.

  • Color

    • Used for realism, glamor, and emotional impact.

    • Warm vs. Cool Colors.

  • Contrast

    • Dark to light in an image.

    • High contrast vs. low contrast.

  • Exposure

    • Aperture controls light.

    • Overexposure and underexposure.

  • Camera Movement

    • Describes camera motion during a shot.

    • Types: Pan, whip pan, tilt, follow shot, tracking shot, dolly shot, crane shot, handheld/steadicam.

  • The Frame

    • Cinema is an art of framing.

    • Composition: Arrangement of elements in an image.

  • Rule of Thirds

    • Divides the picture area for composition.

  • Lines

    • Horizontal and vertical lines suggest stability.

    • Diagonal lines suggest dynamism.

  • Dominant Contrast

    • Focal point in the frame.

  • Framing (Tight or Loose)

    • Character placement at edges.

    • Tight vs. loose framing.

  • Character Placement

    • Top suggests power, bottom suggests vulnerability.

    • Lead room for comfortable framing.

  • Staging Position

    • Full-front, quarter turn, profile, three-quarter turn, back.

    • Each conveys different psychological tones.

  • Character Proxemics

    • Intimate, personal, social, public distances.

  • Balance

    • Elements distribution in the frame.

    • Symmetrical or asymmetrical balance.

  • Depth

    • Foreground and background elements.

    • Depth of field: Shallow vs. deep.

  • Lead Room

    • Space in the direction of the character's gaze.

  • Scale

    • Shot scale affects audience perception.

  • Focus

    • Sharpness of outlines and textures.

    • Deep focus vs. shallow/selective focus.

  • Diegetic vs. Non-Diegetic Sound

    • Diegetic: In the story world.

    • Non-diegetic: Outside the story world.

  • Direct Sound

    • Recorded on set, emphasizes realism.

  • Non-Simultaneous Sound

    • Sound from a different time in the story.

  • Synchronous Sound

    • Matches action on screen.

  • Sound Perspective

    • Apparent distance of a sound source.

  • Sound Bridge

    • Sound carrying over visual transition.

  • Sonic Flashback

    • Sound from earlier scenes in later ones.

  • Foley

    • Adding everyday sound effects in post-production.