Work on film aspect

In English, we have been learning about film aspects. We are learning this to understand the use of different film techniques.

1. Contrast:
What are the ways directors can contrast in a film? They can contrast in tone, art direction, blocking, camera movement and colour.
What is contrasted in Spike Jonze's ad? In Spike Jonze's ad, colour is contrasted.
Why did he contrast these things? He contrasted these things to emphasise a character's life before colour was added.

2. Tone: 

What else can we call tone in a film? The tone of voice can also be called as tone.

What are the 3 main elements of tone?

1. Lighting
2. Exposure
3. Art Direction

How and why does Coppola use tone in the classic film ‘The Godfather’? By turning the exposure down, to show the tension inside and has blown-out windows to link back to his daughter getting married outside.

How can directors control the feelings of the scenes? By controlling the tone of the scene (Brightness).

3. Over the shoulder:

What is the effect of an over-the-shoulder shot?  The effect of an over-the-shoulder shot is to show the connection between the characters.

What film aspect shows a disconnection between characters? A single shot would disconnect characters.

How does the director of this scene show the disconnect of the characters? He used a dolly shot and gradually removes the other character out of frame.

What eventually totally isolates the female character? The sudden pause of other characters except for the male and the female.

4. Dutch Angle:

The Dutch angle does what? It creates tension for the viewers.

What is the Dutch angle? The Dutch angle is a film technique to show that there is something wrong going on in the scene

Who and when created the dutch angle? The germans created the dutch angle in early 1900

What 3 things do directors need to consider for the Dutch angle?

1. Identify
2. Consider
3. Enhance

What 4 things can enhance a Dutch angle?

1. Degree of tilt
2. Camera height
3. Lens choice
4. Depth of field

5. Production Design

What is the production design? It is the overall vision of the production.

What makes up production design? It encapsulates a unifying vision for set design, props and wardrobe

What are the 3 main things production design can help reveal?\

1. Mood
2. Character
3. Theme

6. Film Blocking

What are the 3 ways directors use blocking in a film?

1. Space
2. Shapes
3. Lines

What are the 3 basic shapes for film blocking?

1. Circle
2. Square
3. Triangle

What are the emotions associated with these shapes? Circles feel safer and inclusive. Squares create limited space boxing someone in. Triangles are sharp, they feel aggressive but it also has an apex

What two things can blocking help with?

1. Subtext
2. Contrast

7. Visual Motifs

What is a motif? It is a recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story.

Why are they important? Because they allow the story to operate more that one level.

What makes a great work of art? When there is a constant visual of the theme and where you can come back to it again and again.

8. Colour

How does colour in the film affect people? They affect people by explicit emotions

What are the 3 factors in determining colour?

1. Hue
2. Saturation
3. Brightness

Why is the hue in ‘The Matrix’ mostly green? Because the movie takes place inside a digital screen where green is associated with codes.

Why do some films desaturate? Because it gives the film a cold/raw look.

What can brightness and a lack of brightness show in a film? A bright scene can make the scene lively while a scene that lacks brightness makes it dramatic.

9. Camera Movement

What are the purposes of the whip pan and the slow pan? The whip pan is to simulate a quick glance from one thing to another while a slow pan is to take in the scenery of the landscape.

What is the purpose of the tilt shot? It is to reveal something and redirect our attention towards it.

What does the reverse dolly zoom help show? It is to show a character having an intense internal experience.

What the difference between a Steadicam and dolly shot? A Steadicam shot is stabilised on the cameras operator, it glides seamlessly within the space and a dolly shot isn't.

What can the hand-held shot help create for the viewer? It creates a shake and stimulates anxiety

What should directors ask themselves with their camera movement? They should ask themselves if they have insurance. Also, how does this support the story?

Camera movement should be doing what? It should be making the viewer focused on what is important in the scene.

10. POV (Point Of View)

What is a POV shot? POV or Point of view shot is a shot where the camera sees what the character sees.

What is a ‘point of thought’ shot? It is what gives the audience an expression of the character's mind

Why are they important? Because it draws the viewer deeper into the character's world.

11. Establishing Shot

What is an establishing shot? It is what establishes the scene.

Why is it used? It is used to establish a new location and the tone

Why are establishing shot usually the most expensive?

They are usually the most expensive because they show everything. Also, they tend to have a lot of objects in it which can be expensive.

12. Insert

What is an insert shot? 

What is the purpose of an insert shot? 

What are the 3 main aspects of the insert shot? 

What 3 things help the audience feel about the insert shot? 

Composition of the insert shot helps with what in a film? 

Colour in the insert shot helps with what in a film? 

How long you dwell on the insert shot helps show what?