FILM TERMINOLOGY
Learning FILMMAKING is like learning a new language. It doesn't matter if we are producing short film, feature film, Indie film or Bollywood film, there are terms and concepts that we need to know so we can better articulate ideas and opinions from scripts to the final film itself. It is important we know this terminologies so everyone working on the same production can understand the direction of the film production. It is also good to know this terminologies so we can appreciate film that we watch. Discussing film will get better with everybody using the same film terminology.
Shot type
Long shot - shows background, establishes where you are.
Shot type
Long shot - shows background, establishes where you are.
Mid shot - shows torso and some background.
Close-up - head and shoulders, usually used to show emotion. Draws our attention to face or object.
Point-of-view shot - helps us to see the action from a character's viewpoint and thus empathize with them.
High angle shot - camera looks down on person/object, making them look vulnerable.
Low angle shot - camera looks up at someone/thing, making them appear powerful.
Camera movement
Camera movements include:
Panning shot - where the camera moves slowly across from side to side from a fixed axis
Tilt shot -where the camera moves up and down from a fixed axis
Crane shot - where the camera, mounted on a crane, moves around at a distance above ground level.
Tracking shot - where the camera follows the action, moving along tracks laid for that purpose, often pulling backwards from a scene.
Hand held – this technique is often used to suggest a greater sense of authenticity or/ and the point of view of a particular character or characters.
Mise en scene (my favorite word when I was at Art School...he he he)
Panning shot - where the camera moves slowly across from side to side from a fixed axis
Tilt shot -where the camera moves up and down from a fixed axis
Crane shot - where the camera, mounted on a crane, moves around at a distance above ground level.
Tracking shot - where the camera follows the action, moving along tracks laid for that purpose, often pulling backwards from a scene.
Hand held – this technique is often used to suggest a greater sense of authenticity or/ and the point of view of a particular character or characters.
Mise en scene (my favorite word when I was at Art School...he he he)
This term is used in film to describe what is in the frame and why. There are several areas to consider when talking about mise en scene:
Lighting
- Setting and props
- Costume and make-up
- Body language and facial expression
- Lighting and colour
Lighting
Lighting creates an atmosphere on screen. If it is dark and shadowy we might be made to feel uneasy, as in a thriller; if the lighting is bright we feel happy and confident. The filmmaker can use lighting to draw our attention to a person/object or equally, to hide them.
Sound
Sound
There are three elements to a film soundtrack:
1. Dialogue - this can be used to give us clues as to character and what might happen next.
2. Music - this creates atmosphere, affecting us on a very emotional level.
3. Sound effects (SFX) - again, very effective at creating atmosphere. These sometimes do not fit with the image that we are seeing, thus creating a disorientating effect.
How do silent film era (the great Charlie Chaplin tell his stories without sound?...pure ACTING and great body language and facial expression).
Editing
The work of selecting and joining together shots to create a finished film.
The term editing refers to the changing shots within a piece of film. The speed with which this happens has important role in creating atmosphere. For instance, if there is chasing on the screen, the editing will be fast, making us excited and anticipating. A sad lonely story will probably feature slow editing to capture the emptiness.
Editing terminology:
1. Dialogue - this can be used to give us clues as to character and what might happen next.
2. Music - this creates atmosphere, affecting us on a very emotional level.
3. Sound effects (SFX) - again, very effective at creating atmosphere. These sometimes do not fit with the image that we are seeing, thus creating a disorientating effect.
How do silent film era (the great Charlie Chaplin tell his stories without sound?...pure ACTING and great body language and facial expression).
Editing
The work of selecting and joining together shots to create a finished film.
The term editing refers to the changing shots within a piece of film. The speed with which this happens has important role in creating atmosphere. For instance, if there is chasing on the screen, the editing will be fast, making us excited and anticipating. A sad lonely story will probably feature slow editing to capture the emptiness.
Editing terminology:
Cut- A visual transition created in editing in which one shot is instantaneously replaced on screen by another.
Continuity editing - Editing that creates action that flows smoothly across shots and scenes without jarring visual inconsistencies. Establishes a sense of story for the viewer.
Dissolve - A gradual scene transition. The editor overlaps the end of one shot with the beginning of the next one.
Errors of continuity - Disruptions in the flow of a scene, such as a failure to match action or the placement of props across shots.
Establishing shot - A shot, normally taken from a great distance or from a "bird's eye view," that establishes where the action is about to occur.
and continuity.
Fade - A visual transition between shots or scenes that appears on screen as a brief interval with no picture. The editor fades one shot to black and then fades in the next. Often used to indicate a change in time and place.
Final cut - The finished edit of a film, approved by the director and the producer. This is what the audience sees.
Jump cut - A cut that creates a lack of continuity by leaving out parts of the action.
Matched cut- A cut joining two shots whose compositional elements match, helping to establish strong continuity of action.
Title graphics
The title and credits of a film can tell us what type (genre) of film to expect. A science fiction film may use a modern font with bright green colour on a black background. A ghost film will use old gothic font. The fonts and color as well as movement gives the feel to the film.
Continuity editing - Editing that creates action that flows smoothly across shots and scenes without jarring visual inconsistencies. Establishes a sense of story for the viewer.
Dissolve - A gradual scene transition. The editor overlaps the end of one shot with the beginning of the next one.
Errors of continuity - Disruptions in the flow of a scene, such as a failure to match action or the placement of props across shots.
Establishing shot - A shot, normally taken from a great distance or from a "bird's eye view," that establishes where the action is about to occur.
and continuity.
Fade - A visual transition between shots or scenes that appears on screen as a brief interval with no picture. The editor fades one shot to black and then fades in the next. Often used to indicate a change in time and place.
Final cut - The finished edit of a film, approved by the director and the producer. This is what the audience sees.
Jump cut - A cut that creates a lack of continuity by leaving out parts of the action.
Matched cut- A cut joining two shots whose compositional elements match, helping to establish strong continuity of action.
Title graphics
The title and credits of a film can tell us what type (genre) of film to expect. A science fiction film may use a modern font with bright green colour on a black background. A ghost film will use old gothic font. The fonts and color as well as movement gives the feel to the film.
sources adapted from:
http://www.filmeducation.org/staffroom/film_in_the_classroom/film_language/
http://www.learner.org/interactives/cinema/editing2.html
http://www.learner.org/interactives/cinema/editing2.html
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