Film production

techniques

So far…..

» We have looked at the structure of narrative film. This can be summed up as the story

elements of a film:

Plot structure Cause and effectNarrative possibilities point of viewTheme GenreCharacter Time structure Setting Resolution

» We have looked at the structure of narrative film. This can be summed up as the story

elements of a film:

Plot structure Cause and effectNarrative possibilities point of viewTheme GenreCharacter Time structure Setting Resolution

But that’s just half of it…

» The other important aspect of film are the techniques used to make them, or the Production elements

» We’ve begun looking at these already, and most are obvious, like the type of shots and camera angles.

» The other important aspect of film are the techniques used to make them, or the Production elements

» We’ve begun looking at these already, and most are obvious, like the type of shots and camera angles.

Mise en scene

» Is the umbrella term given to everything we see inside a shot or a scene

» Think of it as the visual composition of a film.

» How each individual component comes together to make meaning is one of the most analised elements of film studies.

» Is the umbrella term given to everything we see inside a shot or a scene

» Think of it as the visual composition of a film.

» How each individual component comes together to make meaning is one of the most analised elements of film studies.

» Stemming from the theater, the French term “mise en scène” literally means "putting on stage."

» When applied to the cinema, mise en scène refers to everything that appears before the camera sets, props, actors, costumes, and lighting.

» Stemming from the theater, the French term “mise en scène” literally means "putting on stage."

» When applied to the cinema, mise en scène refers to everything that appears before the camera sets, props, actors, costumes, and lighting.

» In the discussion of visual composition of a film it is easy to compare a director’s work with that of a photographer, but this denies the essence of the medium.

» Film and television is about space and time, and the process of selection, duration, focus and movement is what constructs meaning in a text.

» In the discussion of visual composition of a film it is easy to compare a director’s work with that of a photographer, but this denies the essence of the medium.

» Film and television is about space and time, and the process of selection, duration, focus and movement is what constructs meaning in a text.

What does the mise en scene tell us in the following shots?

» These single frames or stills from a film are the smallest single part of a film, like a letter is the smallest part of a novel.

» Taking this analogy further, the next step up from a letter is a word, and we can think of a shot the same way.

» Some principles of the shot: The longer a camera lingers on a subject, the

more important that subject has to the narrative

» These single frames or stills from a film are the smallest single part of a film, like a letter is the smallest part of a novel.

» Taking this analogy further, the next step up from a letter is a word, and we can think of a shot the same way.

» Some principles of the shot: The longer a camera lingers on a subject, the

more important that subject has to the narrative

» More is more: the size of a character or object in a shot reveals much about the importance and/or dominance within the narrative

» Close ups are about emotional engagement and revealing secrets

» Light and shadow reveal goodness and badness in characters, places and objects.

» Camera angles reveal dominance and submission» Smooth camera movements - pan, tilt, track,

zoom - indicate control and order. Jerky hand held camera movements indicate disarray

» Selective focus forces an audience to attend to the subject and may raise questions about what and why they can’t clearly see some part of the action.

» More is more: the size of a character or object in a shot reveals much about the importance and/or dominance within the narrative

» Close ups are about emotional engagement and revealing secrets

» Light and shadow reveal goodness and badness in characters, places and objects.

» Camera angles reveal dominance and submission» Smooth camera movements - pan, tilt, track,

zoom - indicate control and order. Jerky hand held camera movements indicate disarray

» Selective focus forces an audience to attend to the subject and may raise questions about what and why they can’t clearly see some part of the action.

Examples..

» As you can see I got sick of thinking for an example for each of the previous principles….. That’s your job.

Now.

» As you can see I got sick of thinking for an example for each of the previous principles….. That’s your job.

Now.

Sound

» Diegetic sound Sound that comes from the

narrative action

» Non-diegetic sound Sound that originates

fromoutside the narrative

» Diegetic sound Sound that comes from the

narrative action

» Non-diegetic sound Sound that originates

fromoutside the narrative

Diegetic

» You can think of this as every sound a character in a movie would hear; dialogue, sound effects, and music coming from a radio or band.

» You can think of this as every sound a character in a movie would hear; dialogue, sound effects, and music coming from a radio or band.

Non-diegetic

» Are all the sounds that a character could not hear inside the world of the narrative; soundtrack music, film score, special sound effects and voice over.

» Non-diegetic is sometimes referred to as “sound-over”

» Are all the sounds that a character could not hear inside the world of the narrative; soundtrack music, film score, special sound effects and voice over.

» Non-diegetic is sometimes referred to as “sound-over”