Shot Types
Establishing Shot
An Establishing Shot is used at the start of a scene to allow the viewer to place where the scene is taking place. It is usually taken at a very wide angle and from a distance to get a full view of the area.
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This Establishing Shot is from the Harry Potter films, it shows the characters going to Hogwarts for the first time and it is also the viewers first time seeing Hogwarts so this shot is very important to show just how far away Hogwarts is from anywhere else. It shows the secrecy of the school.
Long Shot
A Long Shot is used to give insight into the character and the characters costume. The subject should take up a majority of the frame.
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This Long Shot is from the film 1917. It is used to show us the characters journey as he runs through the battle, and to help us see his body language the entire time.
Medium Shot
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A Medium Shot is used to show emotion through the characters body language. Medium Shots are shot from the waist up of the subject, showing us the subjects face and upper body in greater detail than a Long Shot.
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This Medium Shot is from Jojo Rabbit. It is used to show JoJo's nervousness and concern before he leaves home.
Close Up
A Close Up Shot is used to let the viewer see the subjects facial expressions clearly. Close Up Shots are taken from the shoulders up, showing us the subjects face in much greater detail than a Long Shot or a Medium Shot.
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This Long Shot is from The Shining. It is used to show insanity and madness in the character.
Extreme Close Up
An Extreme Close Up is used to let the viewer see an object or person is huge amounts of detail. Many times an Extreme Close Up is used to show a character's eyes,
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This Extreme Close Up is from a Harry Potter film. It is used to show tension, but also to show Harry's determination and focus.
Two Shot
A Two Shot is used to depict emotional reactions between two characters. It is usually shot from the head to knees, with a focus on the faces of the characters.
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This Two Shot is from the film Jojo Rabbit. It is used to show the sadness of both Jojo and Elsa.
Point Of View
A Point Of View Shot is used to see from the subject's perspective. These are commonly used when someone had collapsed or is injured to see the other character's reactions to what has happened in the scene.
Over The Shoulder
An Over The Shoulder Shot is used to place the setting and to show the characters reactions at the same time. They are often used when two characters are having a conversation.
This Over The Shoulder shot is from Jojo Rabbit. When Elsa is threatening Jojo to not tell the government that she is in the house. It creates tension and makes Elsa seem powerful.
Ground Level Shot
A Ground Level Shot is used to depict imminent changes or to hint at future events. The camera is placed low to the ground and films what is happening on the ground.
This Ground Level Shot is from Jojo Rabbit. It is used to focus on the mothers shoes, as they are very important to the story later on in the film. This type of shot makes it clear to the viewer that these shoes will be of some importance, as they are repeatedly focused on in ground level shots throughout the first half of the film.
Cowboy Shot
A cowboy shot is similar to a Medium Shot, but is usually slightly longer. The shot being longer than a Medium Shot gives the opportunity to show the holster of the gun the cowboy will be wearing on their waist.
The Cowboy shot is typically used in Western movies, and more specifically in gunfight scenes.
Low Angle Shot
A Low Angle Shot is a shot from below and looking up at the subject. They are used to show the power and strength of the people in the frame,
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This Low Angle Shot is from The Matrix, when the Agents are searching an office to try and capture Neo. This shot is used in this situation to make the Agents look stronger than Neo, and make the viewer aware of how strong the Agents can be.
High Angle Shot
A High Angle Shot is a shot from above and down at the subject. They are used to show the weakness and vulnerability of the people in the frame,
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This High Angle Shot is from The Matrix, when Neo is hiding from Agents that are searching for him in his office. This shot is used to make Neo look weak.
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Canted Angle Shot
A Canted Angle Shot is a shot that is purposely tilted to give the viewer impressions of unease and tension.
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This Canted Angle Shot is from a Harry Potter film, just before Harry, Ron and Hermoine are going to go and fight. This shot is used to create tension and build up the viewers expectations of the fight scene.
Eye Level Shot
An Eye Level Shot is shot at eye level, and shows what a person would see if they were where the camera is. They are used to draw the viewer in emotionally.
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This Eye Level Shot is from The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay. It is used in this situation because it shows how focused the subject is.
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Compositions
What is a composition?
A composition is simply the framing of a shot and how the different elements of a shot are put together.
Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds is a guide to help make shots look more interesting to the viewer. The Rule of Thirds splits your shot into horizontal and vertical thirds, meaning that in total you have nine equally sized sections in your shot. These are used to line up certain aspects of a shot to make it more pleasant for the viewer to look at.
Leading Lines
Leading Lines are a technique used by filmmakers and photographers to lead the viewer's eyes to the main subject of the shot using the setting and scenery around the subject. Using leading lines makes it clear to the viewer what they are supposed to be looking at without distinctly telling them.
180 Degree Rule
The 180 Degree Rule is a rule in which two characters in a film must always have the same left/right relationship, This means that if in one shot person A is on the left and person B is on the right, this must be kept the same for the remainder of the scene. This helps keep continuity in the film and keeps the viewer immersed in the world.
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The 180 Degree Rule can be broken where there is a specific purpose behind it being broken, but should not be broken for no reason.
Cinematography
Foreground/background
If something is in the foreground of a shot, it means that it is in the front, and is nearest to the camera.
If something is in the background of a shot, it means that it is in the back of the image, far away from the camera and is not the focus of the shot. There are three different types of focus.
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Shallow Focus
Shallow Focus is where the subject is in a crisp focus while the other scenery is out of focus, this creates emphasis on the subject and shows the viewer that they should only be looking at the subject.
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Deep Focus
Deep Focus is where everything in the shot is in focus. This allows the audience to feel particular elements and see the reactions of everyone in the shot.
Rack/Pull Focus
A Rack/Pull Focus is where the focal length is changed mid-scene. This technique creates emphasis and is usually used to show hidden objects/people towards the end of the scene to set up later events.
Camera Movements
Tilt
A Tilt is where the camera is stationary but is moving along the vertical axis. This is used to show the scale of a person/object and can also be used to introduce a location.
Panning
A Pan is where the camera stays stationary but is rotating around the horizontal axis. This shows location and gives viewers an understanding of temporal and spatial relations.
Dolly Zoom
A Dolly Zoom is where the camera physically moves in one direction, and zooms in the opposite direction. This adds focus to the emotions of the subject.
Tracking Shot
A Tracking Shot is where the camera physically moves in space along with the action. They are used to follow a subject for a prolonged period of time, signifying the importance of the subject in the scene. They are also used to keep the viewer engaged by using the ever changing scenery and backgrounds in the same shot.
Lighting
High Key
High Key lighting is brightly lit lighting which suggests that there is an upbeat mood. It can also suggest that someone is in a dream or state of euphoria. Sometimes it may suggest that that the current scene is a flashback to a happier time. It is usually shadow-less, and some parts of the frame may be overexposed. The faces of the characters must be evenly lit at all times for it to be classed as High Key lighting,
Low Key
Low Key lighting uses a very hard light source to enhance shadows and create contrast in the frame. It tends to be used to isolate a subject, create drama or to suggest that the subject is going through emotional turmoil.
Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro is used to create high contrast between light and dark colours. There are little to no mid tones used in this technique. Using chiaroscuro can create a dramatic mood and draw the viewers eye to one area of the composition.
Mise-En-Scene
What Is Mise-En-Scene?
Mise-En-Scene translates to "In The Scene". It is a series of elements of film construction that can be seen within the frame of the individual shot. Mise-En-Scene has five main components: Setting and props, lighting and colour, facial expressions and body language and positioning of characters and objects within the frame. Each of these aspects has hidden meanings within a film and sends out signals to the audience about how they are supposed to react and feel at certain points of the film.
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However, it is important to remember to judge these elements on a case by case basis. As one individual element may normally convey one thing, but in a certain context it may mean something entirely different. It is vital to consider each element within context of the whole scene.
Setting and Props
Setting and location play a very important part in the making of a film and are not as simple as only being "backgrounds".
Sets can either be built from scratch, or a director may spend a great deal of time to find a setting which already exists. Building a setting from scratch can either be done physically or by using CGI. If the director uses a preexisting location for the setting, it will often be tweaked and changed to fit the director's vision.
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Using a specific prop or setting can give the audience a lot of information, Some information a prop or setting can give is the time period and geographical location. They can also manipulate the audience by building certain expectations, for a character (such as their class and wealth) or the atmosphere around them.
Lighting and Colour
Lighting and colour is usually the firs thing an audience notices when watching a film. It can indicate the time of day, mood and atmosphere of the scene. There are three main types of lighting:
High key, Low key, and high contrast (Chiaroscuro).
There is also conventional lighting, which uses the standard three point lighting system. The three types of lighting used in this system are key light, fill light and backlight.
Facial Expressions and Body Language
Facial Expressions and body language provide a clear indicator of how a character is feeling towards another character.
Costume, hair and makeup.
Costume, hair and makeup is an instant indicator of a character's personality, status and job, They also tell us the time period and culture that the film is centred around. Dress codes can also signify a state of mind and enhance an emotion.
Positioning of Characters and Objects Within the Frame
The positioning of characters and objects within the frame is very important in film. It helps to show us the relationship two characters have, and it shows us objects which are of importance in the film.
Analysing The Use Of Mise-En-Scene in Films
American Psycho Analysis
Lighting and colour: The lighting is very high key and bright, this creates a huge sense of contrast to what is happening in the film as high key lighting is associated with happiness and things going well, whereas in this scene a man is getting murdered.
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Facial expressions: Patrick is constantly smiling and has exaggerated facial expressions. This shows that he has no empathy and lacks any real human emotion. When he is murdering Paul, he shows a very quick change and begins shouting at him whilst murdering him. This shows that Patrick may have two sides to him.
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Costumes and makeup: Both men are wearing smart suits. This shows that both men have good jobs and are most likely powerful and have some kind of status in their fields. Another interesting aspect of this scene is at the end, where half of his face is completely covered in blood, but the other half hardly has any on it. This shows the duplicity of his character and that there may be a better side to him, but he can not control his urges to murder.
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Setting and Props: The floor is covered in Style magazines, showing that Patrick is higher class and can afford to indulge in these fashions. It also shows that he is particular about the murder, as he used the same magazines and newspapers instead of randomly putting them together. The film also shows that the axe is clean and new in a closeup of the axe. This again shows the viewer that Patrick wants to make the murder into a spectacle and make it personal to him, as he refuses to use just any old axe he can find. They are sitting in Patrick's fancy New York City apartment, this again shows the class and possible status of Patrick in his work, and that he is probably high up in his business.
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Positioning of Characters and Objects within the frame: At the start of the scene, Paul is sprawling to show that he is drunk. It is important that he is drunk in this scene as it gives him a reason to have much slower reactions and not put two and two together immediately. Patrick walks around his apartment in a full circle, this shows animalistic behaviour and it is as if he is circling his prey. This is a great contrast to Paul, who is just sitting and doesn't move the entire time. It is as if he is just waiting to be butchered. Patrick turns this murder into a spectacle, he is very animated as if he is performing for an audience, yet there is no audience in the film itself, the audience is the viewers.
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The soundtrack is also interesting, as it is very upbeat and happy, which is again a huge contrast, but this time between what is happening on the screen and what the audience is hearing.
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Jojo Rabbit Analysis
Lighting and Colour: The colour is very desaturated and there are lots of grey tones. This shows the sense of sadness and a loss of hope, as he has just found his mother who had unfortunately been executed for spreading anti-party and anti-Nazi messages.
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Facial expressions and body language: At first, Jojo is peacefully following a butterfly around the town square, his facial expressions show that he is enjoying himself and is content. This quickly changes when he realises that the butterfly has lead him to his mother's body. This change in the emotional state, shows just how quickly the world as you know it can change. The theme of sudden change continues later on, as the Soviets and the Americans very quickly take over the town, again showing a quick change in life as Jojo knows it. After seeing his mother's body, it takes Jojo time to register what he is seeing, we can see this through his lack of movement when he turns around, he is too shocked to immediately have an emotional reaction.
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Costumes: The costumes in this scene remind the viewer of the times it is set in. Jojo is wearing a flat cap and many layers of clothing, this implies that it is still cold outside. This may also be a metaphor for Germany at the time, as there were few resources for people to use, and they were on the brink of losing the war. The costumes of the victims of the public execution also tell us things. All of them apart from Jojo's mother are wearing clothes with muted colours such as greys and blacks. This adds to the bleak atmosphere which has been created. The fact that Jojo's mother is the only character in the scene wearing somewhat colourful clothes is fitting for her character, as throughout the entire film she was a beacon of hope and advocated for peace. When she is hanging, she has a leaflet which reads "Free Germany!" stapled to her trouser leg, this shows that she was fighting to the very end and was resilient, which is again very reminiscent of her character when she was alive.
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Setting and Props: At the end of the scene, we see a shot of the setting. All the buildings around the town centre have windows in the roofs which look very similar to eyes. This gives us a sense of unease, and that in this time period you couldn't hide from anyone, and that you were constantly being watched. There is also a clock tower covered in Nazi flags looking over the town centre. This alludes to the idea that the Nazi party thought they were stronger than the people who were being hung outside, it makes them look small and insignificant.
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Positioning of characters and objects within the frame: Whilst Jojo is hugging his mother, we see numerous people walk past him in the background without batting an eye. This shows us that these public executions had become so normal in Nazi Germany that seeing an upset child hugging their dead mother was a regular occurrence. It may also show that although the people may have felt the want to help him, they couldn't because they thought they would be being watched and it would be bad for them.
Editing
Montage
A montage is a technique used to show lots of information in a short period of time. Montages involve short shots that are shown at a fast pace as they are edited together quickly. Doing this permits the makers to convey information as well as space and time.
Long Take
A Long Take is where the scene is made to look like one long extended shot, and there are no obvious cuts, this makes the scene flow smoothly. Long Takes make the audience feel much more involved in the film, and add a new layer of immersion. They make the audience feel like they are on the journey with the character, as they are shot in real time.
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Doing Long Take shots can be risky and take a long time, as if there is an error such as a forgotten line or a prop not working as intended, the entire production must be stopped and reset.
Crosscutting
Crosscutting is the technique used where the film switches between two different scenes which are happening at the same time. The two events will always collide at the end of the sequence. The goal of using crosscutting is to create tension, excitement and thrill.
Continuity Editing
Continuity Editing is the standard mainstream method of editing that allows the story to be told simply to the audience. Continuity editing will often feature establishing shots to give the audience a better understanding of where the action is taking place and to avoid confusion about where the current scene is. When a film uses continuity editing it will never break the 180 degree rule.
30 Degree Rule
When shooting a sequence of shots of the same person or object, the camera should move more than thirty degrees each time there is a cut. If the camera moves less than thirty degrees, the cut is pointless and is there for no reason.
Eye-line match
With an eye-line match, we want to see what the character is seeing, the same way they are seeing it. The camera replicates their "eye-line" in the shot to show the audience what the character is looking at. This is useful to give exposition in the film.
Cut Away
A Cut Away is where the camera will cut away from the main action happening in the scene to a person or an object. This can be used to show emotion, tension or fear. It is also used to put focus into an important object and create foreshadowing.
Shot Reverse Shot
A shot reverse shot is usually used when two characters are having a conversation and the viewer needs to see the reaction of both characters. This technique is done by showing person A, then person B, then going back to person A.
New Wave Editing
In New Wave Editing, rules of continuity editing are broken and the audience is aware of the techniques being used. This style of editing is often used in arthouses. Arthouses are like cinemas, but they show more niche and stylised films, as they care less about making a big profit than they do about showing off the art of film. This style of editing is often called "visible editing".
Super Imposition
A Super Imposition is where two shots are placed on top of each other, and both are visible on the screen at the same time. A super imposition can show what a character is thinking about.
Split Screen
Split Screen divides the screen into different sections. This technique is good for showing multiple character's reactions to one event happening, or showing what different characters are doing at the same time. Split screen is usually used to build tension in a situation where there is little time left.
Slow Motion
Slow Motion is used to show emotions, show hidden details, make the characters in the scene look a certain way, or to give the audience time to take in and process what has just happened or what is happening. It can also make something in the film feel more important, as it is the focus for a longer period of time.
Sound
Sound
The audience is not meant to notice the sound in the film, it is supposed to subconsciously add to the film. Most sounds are made in post production, as it is much easier than having to do all the sounds live whilst filming.Sound within film is either designed to be in the film world or only in the audiences ears.
Diegetic Sound
Diegetic sound is the sound within the film world that the characters can hear, as well as the audience.
Non Diegetic Sound
Non Diegetic sound is the sound added in post production, such as the soundtrack, and is outside the film world.
Contrapuntal Sound
Contrapuntal sound is when the sound heard by the audience is seemingly out of place when compared with the action being seen on screen.
Storyboards
What are Storyboards?
Storyboards are sequences/visuals of a film, but they are illustrated. Storyboards are good for showing concepts and ideas. Storyboards visualise details of the film before production. There are some main aspects of a storyboard which make it a good storyboard.
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Drawings/sketches: Reference images on photographs to represent each frame.
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Description of the shot: Shows the action, dialogue and composition.
Shot Specs: Size, focal length, shot type etc.
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Arrows: Indicate camera/character movements or how each shot connects to the next.
Reveal Techniques
What is the Purpose of a Reveal?
In some films, there will be a sense of mystery about a certain character. To keep and maintain the sense of mystery, particular techniques are employed to keep information and visuals from the viewer. This helps keep the audience engaged with the film. Reveal techniques may also alert the audience to seemingly unimportant, minuscule details in an inconspicuous way. This means the audience has to be paying a lot of attention to be able to pick up on the limited information given to them. These details cause the audience to become active viewers, because we are constantly trying to guess the significance.
Pulp Fiction Reveal Analysis
In this scene, Mia is slowly revealed to us through different shots. We are introduced to Mia only by her voice, when there is a voice over of her reading a not she left for Vincent. This shows the audience that there is a sense of mystery about Mia, as we do not know what she looks like but we know her voice.
The next shot of her is a medium shot of her back. This shot is important as not only does it partly show us what she looks like, it also shows us her security system, which is very robust. Knowing this gives us some insight into what her character may be like.
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The second shot we see Mia in is an extreme closeup of her lips as she talks to Vincent over the intercom. This shot of her lips shows the intentions and the type of relationship they may have, as she is wearing bright red lipstick which is often linked to sexual and promiscuous actions. The way she is talking to Vincent also supports this idea.
We then see the same shot of her back, followed again by the shot of her lips. Showing the viewer each of these shots twice shows that they may be important and gives them a chance to truly look at the entire shot and take it all in.
The following shot of Mia is an extreme closeup of her hands controlling the cameras to watch what Vincent is doing. This shows that Vincent can't really hide from Mia. It may also show that Mia is very powerful, as the cameras are looking down on Vincent.
Continuing with the shots of Mia's hands, the next time we see her is a closeup of Mia making lines of cocaine with a ruler. This shows that she may not be a rational thinker and may make haste decisions. We then see her momentarily leave the frame, this shows us that the shot is a lockdown shot. She then comes back and we see the back of her head as she does the drugs.
The final shot we see of Mia in this scene is a tracking ground shot of her feet as she finally leaves the room.