Camera techniques and qualities refer to how the camera is used to record the narrative. Below is a list of camera techniques used in film.
FILM FORMAT: Camera also includes the format used for filming - 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, IMAX, Black & White, Colour, Video, Animation and Photography. CAMERA ANGLE:
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CAMERA MOVEMENT:
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Similar to the element of camera, acting can be broken into several mini elements:
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS: Facial expressions help the audience read the characters' emotions. Look at the actors eyes and what they are telling you. this is a clue to the emotions they are expressing to the audience. BODY LANGUAGE / STANCE: How the actor is standing and the body language used can show the audience the characters feelings or thoughts. Are they standing tall? Are their arms crossed? Another key aspect to remember is that this actor was instructed by the director during the making of this film. WATCH: Captain Phillips (Greengrass, 2013). In this scene, the character Captain Phillips is seen here after having been rescued from violent 'pirates' who took hold of his ship and kept him hostage. In this scene, the actor Tom Hanks makes use of a number of acting techniques to aid the performance of his character, and make the audience believe how traumatic the experience has been. But perhaps what is most interesting is the woman who plays Chief O'Brien; she is not an actress, but a real Navy Hospital Corpsman, Danielle Albert. Albert was on duty on the ship that was being used to film, when director Greengrass asked if she would be willing to be on camera. He reportedly told her: “This is a scene where Phillips has just been rescued. I just want to know what you would do if you were on that ship.”
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BODY SHAPE: Each actor was hired to play a role based on the ideal body shape needed to portray that particular character. This can involve gaining / losing weight or becoming very fit. A clear example is Christian Bale dropping almost 30kg to play the role of Trevor Reznik in The Machinist (Anderson, 2004), and then gaining 20kg for his role in American Hustle (Russell, 2013).
VOICE / ACCENT: How an actor uses their voice can give the audience a quick insight into their character's background and culture. It is very common for an actor to have a voice coach to assist them in mastering an accent. Have a think about your favourite actor and how many roles they have undertaken that required a different accent. Another part of voice includes the tone / volume of voice. This can communicate emotion with the audience - is the actor whispering or shouting their lines? What impact does this have on the audience and relationships with characters? |
Mise en Scene is a french term that translates to 'staged'. It refers to everything we see within the frame. This includes: the set, costume, colour, props and overall lighting. It also refers to how these items are places within the frame. Nothing is there by accident.
Mise en Scene can help the audience piece together the story. It sometimes gives us clues as to where the story is going to go, as well as the genre of the film. WATCH: Moonrise Kingdom (Anderson, 2012). Director Wes Anderson is well known for his unique style of film making, and in particular his use of Mise en Scene.
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The main purpose of Editing is to either increase or decrease time.
DECREASED TIME - (COLLAPSED / SPED UP) This includes scenes in films such as montages - we see a lot of quick shots of something that might have occurred in the story world over months and we the audience see it in a matter of minutes: think Rocky becoming super fit and watching his crazy training. We, the audience, don't need to see every minute of every character's life. We can piece together the parts that are not shown. Some films take place over weeks and others years. By time being collapsed we the audience can see a two year long story take place in 1.5 hours INCREASED TIME - (EXPANDED / SLOWED DOWN) This is when time is slowed down. This give the audience a moment to stop and take in what has just happened. This is a common edit technique when something dramatic had just happened. Think of major fight scenes in films. As the punch is blown the film slows down so we the audience can take it all in. In some cases, the punch is then shown from multiple angles, to further engage the audience. This is the editing technique of overlapping editing. WATCH: Sherlock Holmes (Ritchie, 2009). Guy Ritchie is well known for his direction of exciting fight scenes, and this scene from Sherlock Holmes is no exception. Look for the use of different Editing techniques to structure this .
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Within the element of editing we need to look at the editing or vision AND sound. To put this basically, editing is completed in post production and it is when the film is put together. Again with this element there are several small elements for us to focus on:
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Lighting within a film is the responsibility of the cinematographer also known as the Director of Photography (DOP). Lighting is used to create mood and atmosphere.
Here are the common terms of lighting that you will need to refer to:
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Most sound is added during post-production. REMEMBER: All sound has been put there for a reason - it isn't an accident that you can hear crickets in the background or cars going past. There are two different types of sounds that you need to know:
DIEGETIC SOUND: These are sounds that occur within the film world. This includes; characters talking to each other the sound of car breaks before the accident. NON DIEGETIC SOUND: These are sounds that are added, that the characters wouldn't hear. This includes; music, score, narrator commentary and sound effects added for dramatic effect. |
WATCH: Rush (Howard, 2013). In the opening scene of Rush, both diegetic and non diegetic sounds are used to engage the audience. What sounds are used? Identify what type of sound they are.
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