1. Turn in HW: P121 Story Diagram
Lesson 41
Selfie!
2.15: Working with Cinematic Techniques, Part 1
Lesson Goal: analyze and interpret how directors use cinematic techniques to achieve specific effects
Turn in HW: P121 Story Diagram

2. When finished, open to page 134.
Academic Vocabulary!
Cinematic Techniques: methods a director uses to communicate meaning and to evoke particular emotional responses in viewers
When finished, open to page 134.
**place a post it note on these pages, as you will reference the terms here frequently**

3. Here’s what you need
Grab a piece of scrap computer paper from your binder
This is now your “camera”
We will manipulate the paper camera for each type of technique used with real cameras

4. Shots and Framing Shot: a single piece of film uninterrupted by cuts
Roll up your camera into a lens, and look through
Focus on your subject
Long Shot (LS): a shot from some distance. If filming a person, the full body is shown. It may show the isolation or vulnerability of the character. Also called a full shot
Manipulate your camera to focus on me in a long shot

5. Shots and Framing Continued
Medium Shot (MS): the most common shot. The camera seems to be a medium distance from the object begin filmed. A medium show shows the person from the waist up. The effect is to ground the story
Focus on me now in a medium shot; manipulate the camera
Close Up (CU): the image takes up 80% of the frame
Now focus on a close up of my face; it should take up the majority of your frame, or what you see through the paper tube

6. Shots and Framing Continued
Extreme Close Up: the image being shot is a part of a whole, such as an eye or a hand
Now focus in on an extreme close up of my eye; why might a director use an extreme close up? What significance does it have?
Two Shot: a scene between two people shot exclusively from an angle that includes both characters more or less equally. It is used in love scenes where interaction between the two characters is important.
Manipulate your camera now to show both me and another person talking; you should be able to see both of us in your frame

7. Camera Angles
Eye Level: a shot taken from a normal height; that is, the character’s eye level % of the shots seen are at eye level, most natural
Stand up and look through in a normal shot at me
High Angle: the camera is above the subject. This usually has the effect of making the subject look smaller than normal, giving him or her the appearance of being weak, powerless, or trapped
Stand on your desk and look down
Low Angle: the camera films subject from below. This usually has the effect of making the subject look larger than normal, and therefore strong, powerful, and threatening
Sit on the floor and look up

8. Camera Movements
Pan: a stationary camera moves from side to side on a horizontal axis
Stand in place, and turn your camera side to side
Tilt: a stationary camera moves up or down along a vertical axis
Stand in place, and turn your camera up and down
Zoom: a stationary camera where the lens moves to make an object seem to move closer to or further away from the camera. With this technique, moving into a character is often a personal or revealing movement, while moving away distances or separates the audience form the character
Twist your camera to zoom in on a subject, then twist the other way to zoom out

9. Camera Movements Continued
Dolly/Tracking: the camera is on a track that allows it to move with the action. The term also refers to any camera mounted on a car, truck, or helicopter
Stay with me as I move, holding the camera steady; the camera moves as the subject moves
Boom/Crane: the camera is on a crane over the action, used to create overhead shots
Camera hangs overhead; student volunteer 

10. 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 from below or the side, which often make the subject appear dangerous or evil
Front or Back Lighting: soft lighting on the actor’s face or from behind gives the appearance of innocence or goodness, or a halo effect

11. Editing Techniques
Cut: most common editing technique; two pieces of film are spliced together to “cut” to another image
Fade: can be to or from black or white. A fade can begin in darkness and gradually assume full brightness (fade-in) or the image may gradually get darker (fade-out). A fade often implies that time has passed or may signify the end of scene

12. Editing Techniques Continued
Dissolve: a kind 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. A wipe is more fluid than a cut and quicker than a dissolve
Flashback: cut or dissolve to action that happened in the past
Shot-Reverse-Shot: a shot of one subject, then another, then back to the first. It is often used for conversation or reaction shots

13. Editing Techniques Continued
Cross Cutting: cut into action that is happening simultaneously. This technique is also called parallel editing. It can create tension or suspense and can form a connection between scenes
Eye-Line Match: cut to an object, then to a person. This technique shows what a person seems to be looking at and can reveal a character’s thoughts

14. Sound
Diegetic: sound that could logically be heard by the characters in the film
Non-Diegetic: sound that cannot be heard by the characters but is designed for audience reaction only. An example might be ominous music for foreshadowing

15. Activity 2.16: Applying Cinematic Techniques
Identify cinematic techniques in a video
To revise sketches and transform them into a storyboard
Explain the effect of the cinematic choices

16. Page 137
We are going to watch a video to analyze the different cinematic techniques two times
The first time, the sound will be off, pencils will be down
Anytime the video cuts from one shot to the next, I want you to clap
Pay close attention to the way the camera moves, and how the video is edited

17. Second Viewing This time, the sound will be on
Notice the organizer on page 137—each person in your group is responsible for taking notes on one of the categories
For instance, if you are in charge of Camera Angles, you will take note of the different angles used in the video. Write down the angle, and where it was used/what was shown
Leave sound as a category for us to discuss as a whole class

18. Discuss What was used? Where? Editing? What about the music/sound?
How did the addition of the song in the background effect the mood of the video?

19. Exit Ticket
Choose the most significant cinematic technique from your notes above, and write an interpretive statement that explains the effect of this cinematic technique in the video.
(Cinematic technique) is used in the video to show (effect). (explanation of importance of effect).