Elements of Film

Basic Film Terms

Basic Film Terms

• Shot: a segment of film; an image that

begins when the camera is started and

ends either when the camera is stopped

or the shot is replaced by a new image.

Basic Film Elements

• Scene: a unit of film composed of a number of interrelated shots

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Basic Film Terms

• Frame: the perimeter of the viewing screen

• Mise-en-scene (frame composition): in French, this term means “what is in front of the camera”; it refers to the visual style of a scene, or the arrangement of lighting, props, characters, setting, etc.

What can you tell me about this scene based on its

mise-en-scene?

Basic Film Terms

• Cinematography: the making of lighting and camera choices when recording film for cinema.

Basic Camera Shots

• Establishing shot: a wide-angled shot that provides a view of the setting.

Basic Camera Shots

• Full Shot: An image in which the distance between the camera and subject is far, usually showing the full shot of a person.

Basic Camera Shots• Medium

Shot: a relatively close shot, revealing some detail. (generally includes the subject from the waist or knees up.

Basic Camera Shots• Close-up:

a detailed view of the subject, especially on the subject’s face.

Basic Camera Shots

• Extreme Close up: a magnified view of something that fills the entire frame.

Blair Witch Project

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Basic Camera Shots• Zoom In: when the camera moves in on

a person or object and focuses in on the small details.

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Basic Camera Shots• Zoom Out: when the camera moves out,

loses focus on a specific object or person, and shows the surrounding setting.

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Basic Camera Shots

• Crane Shot: a shot taken from a crane which can move the camera in virtually any direction; shoots from great heights

Basic Camera Shots• Tracking Shot (or dolly shot): a shot

taken from a moving vehicle or other wheeled device.

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Camera Angles

• Camera Height: the height at which the camera is positioned.

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How does the camera height affect how you see this picture?

Camera Angle

• Low Angle Shot: a shot in which the image is photographed from below.

Low Angle Shot• What effect does it have on this scene?

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Camera Angles

• High Angle Shot: a shot in which the subject is photographed from above; camera is placed high and aims downward