Transcript Working with Cinematic Techniques: Part 1

2.12
WORKING WITH
CINEMATIC TECHNIQUES:
Purpose

Identify cinematic techniques and explain
the effects in visual texts.
Cinematic Techniques

This handout is precious and must be
kept safely in your binder behind
HANDOUTS throughout this unit.

You may take notes on this sheet as we
walk through the definition and effects of
each technique.
Cinematic Techniques

The methods a director uses to
communicate meaning and to evoke
particular emotional responses in
viewers
Shots and Framing

Shot:
◦ a single piece of film
uninterrupted by cuts
Uninterrupted shot
from Goodfellas.
 (first 30-60 seconds
is plenty)

ESTABLISHING SHOT - Often a
long shot or a series of shots that sets the scene; it used to
establish setting and to show transitions between locations
From the TV Show “Seinfeld”
LONG SHOT – a shot from some distance.
If filming a person, the full body is shown. It may show the
isolation or vulnerability of the character
MEDIUM SHOT (MS)
The most common shot.
The camera seems to be a medium distance from
the object being filmed.
A medium shot shows the person from the waist
up.
The effect is to ground the story.
Close Up (CU) : the image takes up
at least 80% of the frame
Extreme Close Up: The image
being shot is a part of a whole, such as
an eye or hand.
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
Two Shot in Twilight
between the two
characters is
important.
Camera Angles

Eye Level:
◦ A shot taken
from a normal
height; that is,
the character’s
eye level.
◦ 90-95% of the
shots seen are
eye level,
because it is the
most natural
angle.
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, and trapped.
Low Angle:
-the camera films
subject from below.
-This usually has the
effect of making the
subject look larger
than normal, and
Inconceivable!!
therefore strong,
powerful, and
threatening.
Camera Movements
Now, read from your handout…
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Pan
Tilt
Zoom
Dolly/Tracking
Boom/Crane
Very Quick video on
Camera Angles and
Movements
Dolly/Tracking
High Key: Flooded with light
Low Key: flooded with shadows and
darkness
“Well, the Prince and Count always
insist on everyone being healthy before
they're broken.”
Lighting
Bottom or Side Lighting: appear
dangerous or evil
Front or Back Lighting: appearance
of innocence, goodness, halo effect.
More Lighting
Better example of Bottom or Side
Lighting – direct lighting from below or the side,
which often makes the subject appear dangerous or evil
From the movie “The Blair Witch Project”
example of Back Lighting
From the movie “The Princess and the Frog”
Another example of
backlighting
“Death cannot stop true love. All
it can do is delay it for a while.”
Editing Techniques:
Read from your handout…
Cut
 Fade
 Dissolve
 Wipe
 Flashback
 Shot-Reverse-Shot
 Cross Cutting
 Eye-Line Match

Sound
Diegetic
 Non-Diegetic


Identify the diegetic and non-diegetic
sounds in this film clip.
Identify!

Each student will be assigned a number/category
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1. shots/framing
2. camera angles
3. camera movements
4. lighting
5. editing
6. music/sound
Quickly review your category.
 Watch the Pixar Short film and identify as many of your
Cinematic Technique as you can find.
 Write your answers on your own paper.
 What effect did your technique create?


Another Pixar short film (time permitting)