film techniques
Filmic Techniques
Establishing shot
• An establishing shot is usually the first shot of a new scene, designed to show the audience where the action is taking place. It is usually a very wide shot or extreme wide shot.
• To orientate the viewer to the flow of the narrative by alerting the audience to the beginning of a new sequence, but does not itself carry narrative information.
Effect: When the director wants the responder (us) to understand the emotion being experienced by the character or something unique about their physical features. Creates an intimacy between the character and the viewer. • The camera moves closer to one of the figures or objects in the scene, showing it in detail, usually a face.
• Commonly zoomed in or out of
• Used as cutaways from a distant shot to show detail
• Can be used to show hand activity or something important on the subject’s body Extreme Close Up Shot
When the camera focuses on a part of an object or face in detail.
Effect: shows tension, focuses on a clue, draws the audience into the emotional engagement between characters. Medium Shot
A medium shot focuses on the figure in the frame and shows a person from the waste up.
Effect:
Shows both the facial expression and some of the action. Shows who is talking and where.
Shows body language which communicates how characters feel about each other.
Long shot
• Shows the subject’s whole body and some of the background.
Effect
• Shows the action in relation to the setting
• Can lend mystery to a character
Extreme Long Shot
• The Extreme Long Shot can be taken from as much as a quarter of a mile away, and is generally used as a scene-setting, establishing shot. • There will be very little detail visible in the shot, as it is meant to give a general impression rather than specific information.
Two Shot
A Two shot is a type of shot that is just wide enough to keep two people
(subjects) within the limits of the frame. Over the Shoulder shot
Definition: An over the
Establishing shot
• An establishing shot is usually the first shot of a new scene, designed to show the audience where the action is taking place. It is usually a very wide shot or extreme wide shot.
• To orientate the viewer to the flow of the narrative by alerting the audience to the beginning of a new sequence, but does not itself carry narrative information.
Effect: When the director wants the responder (us) to understand the emotion being experienced by the character or something unique about their physical features. Creates an intimacy between the character and the viewer. • The camera moves closer to one of the figures or objects in the scene, showing it in detail, usually a face.
• Commonly zoomed in or out of
• Used as cutaways from a distant shot to show detail
• Can be used to show hand activity or something important on the subject’s body Extreme Close Up Shot
When the camera focuses on a part of an object or face in detail.
Effect: shows tension, focuses on a clue, draws the audience into the emotional engagement between characters. Medium Shot
A medium shot focuses on the figure in the frame and shows a person from the waste up.
Effect:
Shows both the facial expression and some of the action. Shows who is talking and where.
Shows body language which communicates how characters feel about each other.
Long shot
• Shows the subject’s whole body and some of the background.
Effect
• Shows the action in relation to the setting
• Can lend mystery to a character
Extreme Long Shot
• The Extreme Long Shot can be taken from as much as a quarter of a mile away, and is generally used as a scene-setting, establishing shot. • There will be very little detail visible in the shot, as it is meant to give a general impression rather than specific information.
Two Shot
A Two shot is a type of shot that is just wide enough to keep two people
(subjects) within the limits of the frame. Over the Shoulder shot
Definition: An over the