Setting creates a sense of place and a
mood, sometimes filters will be put over the scene to help create the right atmosphere like an orange filter would give the shot a warm feel or a blue filter would give it a cold, icy feel. It may also reflect a character’s emotional state of mind. Setting
can be entirely built within a studio, either as an authentic re-construction
of reality or as a whimsical fiction. The setting may also be found and filmed
on a location. Filters are usually put over scenes to
Sound.
In film there are certain names for different types of sound. When sounds are Diegetic, they are within the environment of the film, this include dialog unless it is a voice over (where a voice is recorded and played over the scene) and Non-Diegetic is added sound. Incidental music backs up the action on the screen which is used to add emphasis to the action. Background/surrounding sounds like traffic noise is called Ambient sounds. Sound can be used to emphasize a characters emotions (a slow song to imply they are upset) or to help set a certain type of atmosphere. Some films have Theme music which is when the audience identify a piece of memorable music or tune linked with that film straight away. Sounds can be created from almost anything for example broken celery can be used for broken bones or if you pierce a knife through a cabbage, it will hear like stabbing.
Mise-En-Scene describes everything in
the frame and the way it is shown and arranged. It is the most common aspect of
film. It includes the setting, actors, costumes, make-up, props and all the
other natural and artificial details that outline the spaces filmed. The term ‘Mise-En-Scene’
is French and in English means ‘put into the scene’.
A plot is a sequence of events that happen in the story, whereas a Narrative is the way a story is told and a Narrative Context is the environment that the story is told in. Restrictive Narrative is where we only know the same, about what is going on, as the character and an Unrestrictive Narrative is where we know more than the character does, like outside the scene information.
Genre.
Genre is there so we can categorize a film, mainly for audience purposes if they want a certain type of film genre and look up 'drama' or 'action' then your film could be listed. Genre is also a formula which is a story line that is expected (typical story) and varies but usually stays the same for that certain type of genre. For example a typical romance would be girl and boy meet, fall in love, have an argument or parents disapprove (some sort of problem), they solve it and end up together with a happily ever after. This formula may change by killing off one of the characters at the end but they remain in love, it gives it an edge to it. A Hybrid Genre is a film with more than one genre, so it becomes a mixed genre (Hybrid Genre). The thing that makes the films different types is the plot/story/narrative.
Useful website to use if you don't know the film genre
The 180 Degree Rule means that two characters
in a scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other.
When you break the 180 Degree Rule (also known as crossing the invisible line
and it sometimes done intentionally), it disrupts the scene as well as confuses
the audience. The camera needs to be kept on one side of the environment you are in.
A video explaining the 180 degree rule.
The 30 Degree Rule.
The 30 Degree Rule is used to create continuity. When you're moving the camera between shots, it should be moved in a minimum of 25-30 Degrees to avoid jump cuts (also known as Jarring Transitions). For example if you want to show a facial expression on a certain character but you are currently filming in a Wide shot then you would use the 30 Degree Rules and move into a Medium or Close up shot so it doesn't seem like the camera has just jumped and cut forward.
Close up shot In a
close up a person’s head, or some other similarly sized object, would fill the
frame. Used to focus on emotions, details and important characters. Close up
shots cut of at the neck. It makes the shot seem more important so you can see
the reaction and expressions on the characters face or it shows us closely
something that they want us to see or know about.
Extreme close up shot The Extreme close up shot shows only a part of a characters face. It fills
the screen with details of a subject with no background shown. It also gives
Greater emphasis on emotions, details and specifics.
Medium shot The
medium shot contains a figure from the knees/waist up and is normally used for
dialogue scenes, or to show some detail of action. It allows the audience to
see some of the background. In medium shots we can see the use of costume and
body language (for example - a person crossing their arms would indicate that
they are fed up).
Medium/wide shot This is
usually shot from the knees upwards. This shot is used for dialogue between the
characters in the scene we see more of the background.
American shot The American shot cuts off at the waist, which is a bit bigger than the
medium shot. The reason why it is called the American shot is because in
American films it is used so you can see the guns sticking out of the
character’s pockets of their trousers.
Long/wide shot The long/wide shot shows the entire object or human figure and is usually
intended to place it in some relation to its surroundings.
Extreme long/wide shot Extreme long/wide shot gives emphasis to the background and the environment
in which your project will take place. It is usually taken from an extremely
far distance.
Master shot A master shot is a single shot (usually wide), which includes the whole
scene, beginning to end from an angle that keeps all the characters in view. It
is often a long shot but can also be used as an establishing shot.
Low angle shot Low
angle shot is shown underneath the character as if the audience is looking up.
It gives the audience a feeling of submission and emphasizes the power of the
character in shot.
High angle shot The
high angle shot is shown above the character as if the audience is looking down
on the action. It gives the audience a feeling of dominance and can show the
characters being small and about to enter danger.
Point of view shot (POV) This shot is from the perspective of one character to bring us into their
world.
Shallow
depth of field
Is where everything including the background is out of focus except
the subject.
Dutch tilt The Camera is not straight but tilt (mainly used for a druggy effect).
Aerial shot The
aerial shot is typically shot with a crane or helicopter for outside locations.
It is used to show the audience the setting or environment, and is typically
used in opening sequences or as an establishing shot at the start of films.
Picture showing the camera movement for an Aerial shot.
Whip pan
The
Whip pan is a type of pan shot in which the camera moves sideways so that the
picture blurs into undefined streaks. It is mostly used as a transition between
shots and can indicate the passage of time (It is effect is also efficient in
movie trailer as it is quick at showing important clips from the film and main
character).
Shot-Reverse-Shot Shot-Reverse-shot Is when the camera is on one side of the room and films
over character A's shoulder whilst character B is talking and then films over
character B's shoulder, when character A is talking. It is called
'shot-reverse-shot' because you are simply repeating the shot. The effect of
this shot means you can see the characters face's clearly when speaking.
Picture showing Shot-Reverse-Shot.
Long take
A long
take is where there are no cuts, just one long scene (sometimes used if you're
following someone on their journey). Makes it feel like a first person
perspective and draws us into the action.
Dolly
A dolly
shot is where the camera is placed on a dolly and is moved while filming. The
figure moves in towards the camera whilst the camera zooms out, the dolly and
zoom speed should be kept the same. This means that the figure will remain the
same size whereas if you just zoom in then the figure becomes larger. It is
also used to show heights or something continuous.
This video is showing a Dolly zoom shot.
Worm's eye view
Where the camera filming from the the floor.
Tracking shot
(Camera moves towards the moving subject opposite) this means everything will stay the same size.
Zoom
To zoom in on the camera means that you are closer to the subject but the background will seem bigger.
Tilt
Move the camera up and down.
Graphic match/match cut
Where two images are
connected by their shape, for example apple - face
Continuity in film is the process of cutting your footage to keep the flow of the shot together as fluidly as possible not showing the whole footage. You use it to match the action and it is also known as invisible editing. two of the most simplest continuity rules are the 180 and 30 Degree Rule. Converging.
Converging is used to describe (keep, make, create continuity) things coming together.
The Preliminary exercise is a task each of us have to do
where we film someone opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a
chair opposite another person to then exchange a couple of lines of dialogue.
This task should include match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree
rule.
Main
Task.
Create the titles and opening of a new fiction film,
to last a maximum of two minutes.
Ingredients. When i say the 'Ingredients', i mean everything that goes into making a film. The main Ingredients of a film are Sound, Camera, Mise-En-Scene and Editing. The other ingredients to making a film are the actors, music (sound effects), lighting, location, dialog, costumes, make-up (and hair), camera position, angle movement and props. If you include all of these then you will produce a successful film.
