Cinematograp

hy Review
Film Terms

Understanding the Layers

Literary
Dramatic
Cinematic

Long Shot
Takes in the entire area of action.
The effect: To establish setting

and main characters. Also to

show emotional separation of
characters

Medium Shot
The usual distance for a shot; frames the

characters from the waist up. The effect is to

separate characters from the background.

Close- Up
Magnifies an object and separates it

from its surroundings. The effect is to

focus on the object and give it
symbolic significance.

Extreme Close-up
Magnifies or

singles out a
portion of the face
or detail
potentially to the
point of distortion.
The effect is to call
attention to a key
element for
symbolic
significance.

Extreme Long
Shot
Camera is moved back farther than

necessary. Subject is tiny in relation to the

screen. The effect is to be used as an
establishing shot and emphasizes the
insignificance or vulnerability of a subject. Or
to establish mood.

Reaction Shot
A form of medium shot that shows an actors

reaction to a previous event.

YouTube - War of the Worlds (2005) - Trailer 3

Shot/ Reverse
Shot
Two shots commonly linked.

Frequently used to show two

people talking and listening to
each other.
http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrTInZ0L9OU

Point of View Shot

A shot from the line of sight of a character.

Like the camera is seeing what the character

is seeing

High Angle Shot

Camera is

above and
looks down on
a subject. The
effect of this
makes a
subject look
small, inferior,
weak or lonely.

Low Angle Shot

Camera is

below the
subject. The
effect is to
make a subject
appear
stronger, more
powerful or
superior.

Eye-Level Shot
Camera is

located at
normal eye level.
The effect of this
is to
communicate a
sense of
equality, honesty
and sincerity

Slow Motion
Emphasizes all aspects of the

shot for maximum emotional

effect.
http://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=QNE2hNmmT3A

Fast Motion
Creates a comic effect

or a frenzied mood.

Movement

Pan (Right and Left):

The camera rotates from a fixed

position to follow the action. Left to

right mimics reading and is
therefore comfortable for the
audience. A right to left pan is
unusual and creates tension.
Dolly:
The camera moves. This can be used
to keep the same pace as the subject
when they move.

Fade-in/Fade-out
Editing so that an image moves to black and

is replaced by the next image.

Dissolve
Edited so that the first shot fades as a second

image emerges; momentary overlapping

Three Point Lighting

A common arrangement using three sources

of light on a scene: from behind the subject

(backlighting); from one bright source (key light); and
from a dimmer source opposite the key light (fill light)

High Key Lighting

Ratio of key light to fill light is small, creating

brilliant illuminations, few shadows, and a

minimum contrast. Favoured in Hollywood
comedies and light dramas.

Low Key Lighting

Lighting style in which the majority of

a scene is scarcely lit. Usually

enhanced by dark costumes and sets.

Specific Lighting
When a specific thing

or part of a thing is
lit up for emphasis
Face illuminated >

Diagetic and
Non-diagetic Sound
Diagetic is sound that has a

source in the story (spoken

words, natural sounds)
Non-diagetic is sound that has a

source outside the story (most

common is music)

Onscreen and
Offscreen Sound
Onscreen sound has a source in

the story diagetic and visible

on the screen.
Offscreen sounds has a source
not visible on the screen.
(start at 2:30)
https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-Oi43EsQNU

Deep Focus
A focus in which all objects are seen

in sharp definition, whatever their

distance from the lens.

Soft Focus
The image is sharp at a certain distance

from the camera and otherwise blurred,

thereby focusing the viewers attention on
one particular part of the screen.

Rack Focus
Focus changes within a single shot, bringing

certain objects into focus and making others a

blur.

Review: A Really long video that we are going

to watch a part of