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Film Appreciation Shots, Angles, Cuts, and Sound. SHOTS. The basic visual unit of a movie is the shot. Shots are usually described in terms of camera distance with respect to an object within the shot. There are seven fundamental types of shots:. CLOSE-UP.
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Film Appreciation Shots, Angles, Cuts, and Sound
SHOTS The basic visual unit of a movie is the shot. Shots are usually described in terms of camera distance with respect to an object within the shot. There are seven fundamental types of shots:
CLOSE-UP • In a close-up, the subject is framed, filling the screen. • This connotes intimacy with the character. • Usually an expression of emotion.
MEDIUM CLOSE-UP • A medium close-up shows one or two characters framing the shoulders or chest and head.
MEDIUM SHOT • Medium shots frame a character from the waist, hips, or knees up. • The camera is distanced from the body for the character to be seen in relation to his or her surroundings.
MEDIUM LONG SHOT • Half way between a long and a medium shot. • If it frames a character, the whole body will be in view in the middle ground of the shot. • Character and background usually share importance.
LONG SHOT • In long shots, the subject or characters are at some distance from the camera. • They are seen in full view within their surrounding.
EXTREME LONG SHOT • Extreme long shots show the subject or characters very much in the background. • The surroundings have as much if not more importance, especially if the shot is in high-angle.
SHOT/COUNTER SHOT • Also known as shot/reverse angle. • It is most commonly used for dialogue. • It consists of two alternating shots, generally in medium close-up, from two characters.
ASK YOURSELF: • Why has the shot been framed in such a way? • How does the shot influence viewer’s connection to the characters? • What/Who is the camera’s point-of-view? • Why is it important for the audience to see this particular character or scene from this particular perspective?
SHOT ANGLES • The shot angle is the direction and height from which the camera takes the scene. • A high angle makes the viewer feel more important or detached from the character. • A low angle exaggerates the character’s importance.
EDITING TECHNIQUES • Jump cut: There is no match between spliced shots. • Match cut: The content stays the same, but the shot changes (i.e. long to medium) • Motivated cut: Lets the viewers see something they want to see that is not currently visible (speaker, object, time) • Fade: Can create a quiet, peaceful introduction or ending to a scene.
CUTTING RATE • Frequent cuts may be used as deliberate interruptions to shock, surprise, or emphasize. • A cutting rhythm may be progressively shortened to increase tension.
SOUND • Direct sound: Live sound • Studio sound: Sound recorded in the studio to improve quality, eliminating background noise, then dubbed to match the visual. • Selective sound: The removal of some sounds and retention of others for emphasis or dramatic effect.
SOUND (Cont’d) • Voice-over narration: Commentary spoken off-screen over the shots shown. The voice can be used to: • Introduce parts of the program • Add extra information not evident from the picture • Interpret the images for the audience from a particular point of view • Link parts of a sequence together
Mise-en-scènepronounced “meez-ahn-sen” • Literally means “put in the scene” (French) • Looks at everything in a scene: • Props • camera movement • Lighting • set design • shots/framing • the overall visual environment • Mise-en-scène is how it all comes together visually for the viewer, creating a picture. • Shots that create a picture for the audience, like a tableau in drama.
Example: “Imitation of Life”… • 2 women, one white one black. • One struggling to provide for herself and her daughter… ...the other lonely and in need of friendship • In this scene, what story is being told without even using words? What do these images (mise-en-scène) reveal?
“Imitation of Life” scene: In the scene we just watched, what story is being told without using words? What do these images (mise-en-scène) reveal?
In To Kill a Mockingbird… As we watch clips from the film “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962), pay attention to camera angles and shots!
In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet… As we watch the film “Romeo+Juliet” (1996), pay attention to camera angles, mise-en-scène, sound, special effects, & shots!