Film Study Alberta Distance Learning Centre

Introduction Hey everyone! Amy here. I really enjoy watching romantic movies. Sometimes the plots can be a bit predictable, but that’s maybe why I like them so much. Hi there. I’m not a big fan of romantic movies but I enjoy animated and action-packed films…the special effects are fantastic. It is important to consider a film’s techniques to help you decide the quality of a favourite movie. Rose and I will help you.

Now, I don’t normally take pen and paper to the movie theatre with me. But when I have to study a film, I treat it like I would with any other piece of text. I really like to keep track of the details. I generally rent and watch the movie through once or twice, then re-watch certain scenes a few times while keeping jot notes. I have a handy charts that I use. I’ll show you the chart later, but first let’s get into the details of a film so you know what to take notes on.

Film techniques A film can be divided into the following components…

Film techniques Cool….some of those look familiar. Kevin’s tutorial on watching TV and Danica’s PowerPoint on photography had some of the same things. That’s right….photographers, directors, graphic designers, and artists consider many of the same details.

Angles I remember what angles are…they refer to the position of the camera…here are some different types of angles… High angle Straight on Canted angle Low angle

Focus Next is the focus. This is what the camera centers on…here are some different types of focus… Extreme close up Close-up Medium Shot Long shot Extreme long shot

Lighting Lighting can have a big impact on the mood and setting of a film. It can even emphasize a character and highlight his or her characteristics. Here are some lighting examples… Natural Artificial Bright Top lighting Side lighting Under lighting Back lighting Soft

Colour Black: elegance, sophistication, evil, darkness, mourning White: purity, snow, cold, angels Red: passion, aggression, fire, blood, strength Blue: water, life, depression Yellow: cheerfulness, optimism, confidence Colour also makes an impression in a film. The colours of the set, location, and actors’ wardrobes impact the viewers’ consciousness. Colours might offer subtle suggestions or bold symbolism. Here are some colours to consider. What mood might be created…dark and foreboding or bright and cheerful? Did you notice that the colours in photos impacted your impressions, made you feel a certain way, or symbolized characteristics? For example, the red hearts symbolized romantic love. When you watch a film, notice the colours used in the set or in the wardrobe choices for the actors.

Sequence of film Shot: all the action filmed in one take without disruption Cut: the conclusion of a shot Take: an attempt to shoot a scene in its entirety A film sequence can be divided into three things….shot, cut, and take. Here are the definitions…

Point of view We can’t forget about the point of view within a film either. That’s the perspective of the camera or actors.

Camera movement Framing: what elements surround the actor Blocking: how the actor is positioned for the shot Tracking: following an actor Panning: camera movement horizontally Booming: camera movement up or down Plus, there’s all the camera movement, too. That’s how the camera follows or frames the actors. Here are some terms you should know…

Scenes Setting Time, place, shooting location, mood, and time span Sequence A progression of related scenes Sets An arrangement or display of scenery, backdrop, or landscape Location Where the movie is actually being filmed Plot The narrative or progression of events Good point, Amy. There’s a lot involved behind the scenes of a movie, too. The scenes are sequences of events or camera shots related to each other. Take a look…

Sound Music Background music can create a mood or a feeling in the viewer. Soundtrack Recently, popular music has been used extensively in films. Sound and special effects Sound and visual effects created by technical methods Let’s not forget about all of the smaller details like the music, soundtracks, and your favourite, Rose, special effects….

Characters & Actors Dialogue The words spoken by the actors Body Language Non-verbal communication such as facial expression, eye contact, and posture Interaction How the characters work together or conflict Wardrobe or costumes The items of clothing that the actors wear to portray their characters I’ve left the best for last, Amy. For a film to work successfully, the characters within it have to be believable. The actors portraying the characters have to convince me that their actions, words, and behaviours make sense.

Theme Impressive notes Rose! That is a lot of details. Thanks! The main thing after examining the details is to consider the film’s essential message or theme…not just what it’s about, but what meaning is being conveyed.

Film Study Chart As promised, here’s a look a chart I use to make jot notes while I’m studying a film….I hope you like it. You’ll see the same chart in your workbooks.

That’s awesome Rose! Watching a film critically helps us see that every element has been crafted. Every prop, gesture, lighting change, and camera angle has been chosen for a specific purpose. Film is a particular art form. We want to observe and discover the artistry of the filmmaker just as we do when we read literature. We hope you enjoyed our tutorial on viewing films…now go pop some popcorn, get your handy chart ready, and enjoy a great film!

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