Film Studies Final Exam notes

Dimensions of film editing (types of relations: graphic, rhythmic, spatial, temporal, “intellectual”)

  • Graphic relations: Focus on visual composition and the aesthetic quality of shots.

  • Rhythmic relations: Concerned with the pace and tempo of editing, influencing the film's emotional impact.

  • Spatial relations: How shots are arranged in relation to one another, creating a sense of space and continuity.

  • Temporal relations: The manipulation of time through editing techniques, affecting the narrative flow.

  • Intellectual relations: Engaging the audience's cognitive processes by presenting ideas and concepts through juxtaposition.

continuity- maintaining a clear and continuous narrative acton (not supposed to see the cuts, not supposte to see the edits, ‘invisible editing’.)

-establishing shot

-shot/reverse shot (two characters in the same scene who are filmed separately using different camera angles.)

-match the action (hides the edit)

The 180 degree rule- an invisible straight line that creates spatial awareness of the characters on-screen. It tells viewers where characters are situated so that when the camera angle changes, our brains know who is where.

The 30 degree rule- filming a subject that you want to cut to a new shot of the same subject the camera has to move at least 30 degrees left or right of the initial setup to preserve the continuity.

discontinuity- an editing style that breaks the continuous narration action

-Jump cuts

-repeated shots

Crosscutting- a film editing technique that involves switching between scenes to create the impression that multiple actions are happening simultaneously.

Montage sequence- a film editing technique that combines a series of short shots to convey a lot of information in a short amount of time

3 broad categories of sound for analysis:
- Dialogue
- Music
- Sound effects

-also includes pitch and Timbre

Importance of noticing sound:
- we’re “not supposed” to notice it
- Sound is key to our experience of the
- real world
- Also key to creating the film “world”


3 broad categories of sound for analysis:
- Dialogue
- Music
- Sound effects

-also includes pitch and Timbre

Timbre- describes the quality of a sound or musical note, and is used to create atmosphere and convey meaning

Spatial & temporal aspects of film sound

  • A good soundtrack can make the audience aware of the spatial and temporal dimensions of the screen, raise expectations, create rhythm, and develop characters. Either directly or indirectly, these functions provide the viewer with cues to interpretation and meaning. Sounds that work directly include dialogue, narration, and sound effects (often Foley sounds) that call attention (the characters 'or ours) to on- or off-screen events.


Diegetic audio- audio that is within a scene, from characters talking to walking, sound effects and actual music within the scene

Non-diegetic audio- audio that is not within the scene at all, anything the characters can not hear


Synchronous sounds- are perfectly timed with visible action, and support the story immediately establishing a connection. Every sound is a direct audio reflection of visible actions. They might represent past events or hint at upcoming ones.

Asynchronous sounds- does not match on screen actions directly and generates tention

Hollywood narrative- Hollywood narrative structure" typically refers to the “ three-act strucutre” where a story is divided into a setup

  • (Act 1), confrontation

  • (Act 2), and resolution

  • (Act 3), presenting a clear, linear narrative with a central character facing challenges and ultimately achieving their goal, aiming for a satisfying conclusion for the audience

  • this is the dominant storytelling style used in most mainstream Hollywood films

Art Cinema- a type of movie that is made for artistic expression rather than commercial profit.

  • often experimental

  • unconventional

  • unique perspective

Formalist Theory- uses stylized elements and editing to create meaning

Realist theory- more naturalistic methods to preserve authenticity

Major Genres

-Fictional Feature

  • Horror

  • Sci-fi

-Documentary

-Experimental

People and Film:

Alfred Hitchcock

  • American Filmmaker

  • Strangers on a Train

Albert Lamorisse

  • French filmmaker and producer of the film Red Balloon

Gregg Tolan

  • American Cinematographer, for Orson Welles's Citizen Kane

Bernard Herrmann

  • an American composer and conductor best known for his work in composing for films. As a conductor, he championed the music of lesser-known composers.

Orson Welles

  • American Director and Actor, Citizen Kane

Joseph Campbell

  • American writer, best known for his work in the field of comparative mythology

  • The Heros’s Journey and the Power of Myth

Stanley Kubric

  • American Film Director and screenwriter

  • The Shinning, 2001 Space Odyssey

Kirk Douglas

  • American Filmmaker and actor

  • Paths of Glory

Agnès Varda

  • French Film director and screenwriter

  • The Gleaners and I

Wong Kar-Wa

  • Hong Kong Film director and screenwriter

  • Chungking Express

Man Ray

  • American Visual Artist

  • best known for his pioneering photography, and was a renowned fashion and portrait photographer. He is also noted for his work with photograms, which he called "rayographs" in reference to himself.

Fernand Leger

  • French Painter, sculpter and filmmaker

  • In his early works he created a personal form of cubism which he gradually modified into a more figurative, populist style.