2.12 Cinematic Techniques Film can be analyzed by understanding both literary elements and cinematic techniques that create effects for the audience. To learn to “read” a film, you must understand how film and written text are similar and different. Style in a film has to do with how the visual images of the story are presented to create a certain effect. There are explicit connections between an author’s choice of literary techniques and a director’s choice of cinematic techniques.

Unit 2 Assessment 2 Vocabulary Shots and Framing Shot: a single piece of film uninterrupted by cuts. Long Shots: a shot from some distance. Shows entire person. Medium Shot: Most common. Shows person from waist up. Close-up Shot: Image being shot takes up at least 80% of the frame. Often shoulders and up of a person.

Shots and Framing Continued Establishing shot: a long shot or series of shots that sets the scene, this technique is used to establish setting and to show transitions between locations. Extreme Close-Up: The image being shot is part of a whole, such as an eye or a hand. Two Shot: A scene between two people shot exclusively from an angle that includes both characters more or less equally.

Camera Angles Eye Level: a shot taken from a normal height- that is, at the character’s eye level. Most natural angle. High Angle: The camera is above the subject. This angle has the effect of making the subject look smaller than normal- weakness, powerless, and/or trapped. Low Angle: The camera films the subject from below. This angle has the effect of making the subject look larger, and thus strong, powerful and/or threatening.

Camera Movements Pan: a stationary camera moves from side to side on a horizontal axis. Tilt: A stationary camera moves up or down along a vertical axis. Zoom: a stationary camera in which the lens moves to make an object seem to move closer to or further away from the camera. Moving into a character is often a personal or revealing movement, while moving away distances or separates the audience from character.

Camera Movement Continued Dolly/Tracking: The camera is on a track that allows it to move with the action. Also refers to any camera mounted on a car, truck or helicopter. Boom/Crane: The camera is on a crane over the action. This position is used to create overhead shots.

Lighting High Key: The scene is flooded with light, creating a bright and open-looking scene. Low Key: The scene is flooded with shadows and darkness, creating suspense or suspicion. Bottom or Side Lighting: Direct lighting comes from below or the side, which often makes the subject appear dangerous or evil. Front or Back Lighting: Soft Lighting on an actor’s face or from behind gives the appearance of innocence or goodness- a halo effect.

Editing Techniques Cut: The most common editing technique; two pieces of film are spliced together to cut to another image. Fade: A gradual change in the light to move from one scene to another. Dissolve: A type of fade in which one image is slowly replaced by another. It can create a connection between images. Wipe: a New image wipes off the previous image- it’s more fluid than a cut and quicker than a dissolve.

Editing Techniques Continued Flashback: A cut or dissolve to an action that happened in the past. Shot-Reverse Shot: A shot of one subject, then another, and then back to the first: often used for conversation with reaction shots. Cross Cutting: A cut into action that is happening simultaneously. Creates tension or suspense and can forms a connection between scenes. Eye-Line Match: A cut from an object to a person. This technique shows what a person seems to be looking at and can help reveal a character’s thoughts.

Sound Diegetic: This type of sound could logically be heard by the characters in the film Non-Diegetic: This type of sound cannot be heard by the characters. It is designed for audience reaction only (ominous music to foreshadow an event).

2.12 Cinematic Techniques In your spiral… Create a Venn Diagram (two overlapping circles) Label one circle Film (Cinematic Techniques), and the other Text (Literary Techniques). Label the overlapping section Similarities. With a partner, brainstorm elements for the Text (Literary Techniques) and Similarities (things you would see in film and text) sections. In the Cinematic Techniques, list the main categories of techniques (shots, lighting, etc). Pg. 131

2.12 Apply new knowledge (spiral) We will now watch a youtube video by Prince Ea (the same person who did the “Can we Auto Correct Humanity?”). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itvnQ2QB4yc Take notes on the cinematic technique you see being used. Non – diagetic sound - uses music for the audience Words on screen – editing technique used – dissolve Ending of video – editing tech = dissolve Establishing shot is used at the beginning to establish setting Medium shot – waist up – power, importance, etc. long shot, we would see the actor’s entire body; objects in this type of framing would appear to be seen from some distance. Imagine a character on screen framed in a long shot. You probably could not make out many facial expressions or emotions, but think about what you could see: you can see the character’s surroundings.

2.12 Cinematic Techniques CYU (spiral) Choose two significant cinematic techniques that were used in the video Write a paragraph that explains the effect of these two techniques in the video (that’s right, one effect claim for two techniques). Your paragraph should have a claim, followed by 3 pieces of evidence from the clip, and commentary connecting the evidence to the identified effect. The paragraph should end with a concluding sentence about the overall effect/message of the video.

2.12 Cinematic Techniques Entry Task Pass paragraphs to the person to your right. Provide feedback on the claim and evidence of the paragraph (does the claim make one clear statement? Does the evidence fit the claim?)

Trade again- to the right The second person will provide feedback on the commentary. Does the commentary explain the effect of the cinematic technique? What is strong about the commentary? What could use work in terms of the commentary?

Trade again 3rd person will evaluate the concluding sentence. Does the last sentence wrap up the paragraph by making a statement about the overall effect of the video? Is it tied to some kind of message or purpose?