Shots, Angles, and Lighting

Film Analysis Part One

Journal Entry!!!What are your top three favorite movies of all time? Explain why, out of all of the choices you have in the world, that these three are the best.

Mise-en-ScèneThe aspects about a film that create the setting and set the mood/toneThese aspects include: sets, props, costume & make-up, lighting, cinematography, actors, etc..Today, we are going to learn about a few of the aspects of the mise-en-scène: shots, angles and lighting!Example: The Royal Tenenbaums

Commonly Used Frames

Extreme Long ShotLong ShotMedium ShotClose-UpExtreme Close-upOver-the-shoulder shot

Extreme Long ShotPeople are for the most part insignificant; more used to show the setting of a filmGenerally used to show landscapes: mountains, sea, desert, forest, cityscapes etc..Panoramic-type view Examples: Legends of the Fall, The Bourne Identity

Long ShotAble to see characters more prominently in the shotWide enough to show a significant amount of the setting/ mise-en-scèneEstablish people-scaled settings rather than the settings that extreme long shots focus on: bedroom, alleys, store, etc.Examples: Knocked Up, 28 Weeks Later

Medium ShotTwo or more characters are usually shown from the waist upPeople are the main focus now, not the settingUsed many times to advance dialogue or for dramatic physical interactionExamples: Titanic, Back to the Future

Close-upCamera shows only from the shoulders up of the charactersClose-ups used to draw attention to a particular character, isolating them from the rest of the mise-en-scèneUsed to show emotional response to a particular event in the filmExamples: The Dark Knight, Black Swan

Extreme Close-upFocuses on one aspect of the character’s face (eyes, nose, etc.), or a particular object in the setting.Used to elevate drama or suspenseUsed to draw attention to a particular object in a film as a means of foreshadowing Examples: Days of Heaven, Kill Bill: Volume One

Over-the-Shoulder ShotShot that is over the shoulder of one of the charactersMore emphasis to what is facing the camera rather than the character who has his/her back turned to the cameraExample: Gladiator, Sin City

Name this shot!!!

Name this shot!!!

Name this shot!

Name this shot!

Name this shot!

Name this shot!

Commonly-Used AnglesBird’s-Eye ViewHigh AngleEye-Level ShotLow AngleOblique Angle

Bird’s-Eye ViewAn angle that looks directly down on the setting/ charactersAppears as if the audience is on a plane, looking downMany times meant to emphasize settingExamples: Blade Runner, Dogville

High AngleMeant to create the illusion of the actor being looked down onMade to make the characters appear vulnerable, weak or inferiorExamples: Matilda, Silence of the Lambs

Eye-Level ShotShot at the level of the eyes of the audienceNeutral, standardExamples: Moulin Rogue, The Prestige

Low AngleMeant to create the illusion of the actor being looked up toMade to make the characters appear powerful, scary or dominant (opposite effect of high angle)Examples: Sweeny Todd, Halloween

Oblique AngleThe camera is tilted on the horizontal plane Used to show a distorted point of view of a character, possibly to make things seem more eerie (used a lot on villains)Examples: Notorious, Paranormal Activity

Name that Angle!

Name that angle!

Name that angle!

Name that angle!

Name that angle!

Commonly-Used Lighting Effects

High ContrastBacklighting or “Halo Effect”Cool Colors or Warm Colors

High ContrastAKA: Low-key lightingLighting that creates contrast between light and dark areas of the shot, with deep shadows and little fill lightSeen A LOT in film noirExamples: The Third Man, Shadow of a Doubt

Backlighting or “Halo Effect”Illuminating the

characters or the setting from the backCauses a glowing effect that many times looks like a haloExamples: Sin City, L.A. Confidential

Cool Colors or Warm Colors

Cool colors (blue, green, purple, etc.) are used to create a feeling of sadness, creepiness, calmness, sorrow, coldnessWarm colors (red, orange, yellow, etc.) are used to create a feeling of passion, anger, happiness, warmthExamples: Vertigo, Do the Right Thing

Name that lighting!

Name that lighting!

Name that lighting!

Now, boys vs. girlsGirls on one side of the room, boys on the other sideWhat you are playing for: 2 Formative Extra Credit Points Each for the winning teamHow this works: One girl and one boy from each team will take turns competing against one another. Once the still is shown, whoever guesses what the still is an example of, gets a point. If either team can guess the movie that the still came from, that’s another point!You can use your notes to help you!!!

What angle is this?

What shot is this?

What shot is this?

What lighting is this?

What angle is this?

What shot is this?

What lighting is this?

What lighting is this?

What shot is this?

What shot is this?

What angle is this?

Final Question: Worth 5 Points!

In the next still, name the shot, angle, and lighting!Extra Point if you name the film!

Get out your cell phones!

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/XCjBumMX6Gh1z2n