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Elements of Film
Getting ready for the critique
Developing your Critique
• Writing a critique about a movie is more than just saying it was good or bad.
• You are describing the elements and then concluding whether it is a good film or not.
• Basically, you are writing a story version of the film.
Elements of Film• Setting• Atmosphere• Cinematography• Lighting• Décor/Clothing• Pace• Suspense• Sound & Music
• Editing• Character• Acting• Plot• Narrative Structure• Genre• Themes
Setting• Describing the location– Geographical– Historical– Social Milieu (Social Environment)• Culture• The physical space where something occurred• Social Structure
Atmosphere
• Mood– Cheerful– Depressed– Tense– Calm
• I.E…You are describing the “feeling”. – What feeling does this film give off in your opinion?– What is the feeling one can expect to receive in
watching this film?
Cinematography• How the camera is manipulated
– Camera Angles• High• Low• Straight – On• Bird’s Eye
– Camera Distances• Extreme long shot• Long Shot• Medium• Close – Up• Extreme Close – Up
– Camera Movement• Tracking/Dollying• Hand Held• Crane• Pan• Tilt• Helicopter
Lighting• Helps set the mood of the film.• Can be implemented in many different ways to
obtain various affects – Realistic– Romantic– “Dark”– “Surreal”
Décor/Clothing
• Design and costume set– The arrangement of objects and costumes in the
setting of a film.
Pace• The rate of activity or movement– Rhythm or tempo
• Fast – paced• Slow – paced• “Meditative”• “Poetic”
• A main concern for the director– Control Actors’ actions
• The action must swell, subside, and swell again.– The director does this to keep the scene from losing its
energy and intensity
Suspense
• A feeling of pleasurable fascination and excitement mixed with apprehension, tension, and anxiety developed from an unpredictable, mysterious, and rousing source of entertainment.
Sound & Music• Sound:– Like, lighting it helps set the mood of the film.– Aid to the other elements of the film.
• Realistic• Expressive• Simple• Multi-Layered
• Music:– Helps with the pacing of the film and helps set the mood and
define the setting• Soundtrack• Source
Editing• Happens post - production• Cutting & Pasting
– Cutting for Continuity– Cutting Within a Scene– Cross Cutting
• Parallel Editing
• Create sensually provocative montages; bring out the emotional truth in an actor's performance; create a point of view on otherwise obtuse events; guide the telling and pace of a story; create an illusion of danger where there is none; give emphasis to things that would not have otherwise been noted; and even create a vital subconscious emotional connection to the viewer, among many other possibilities.
Character• Defining the person– Complexity– Believability– Voice– Stereotype
Acting
• The art of character portrayal– Professional (big screen)– Nonprofessional (independent film)– Realistic– Stylized/Symbolic (fantasy)
Plot
• The events that make up the film• Storyboarding• Storyline– divided into five parts
• Are: exposition (of the situation); rising action (through conflict); climax (or turning point); falling action; and resolution.
• Cause & Effect• An intricate, complicated plot is called an
imbroglio
Narrative Structure• The structural framework that underlies the order and manner
in which a narrative/story is viewed. • Divided into three sections:
– Setup• all of the main characters and their basic situation are introduced.• contains the primary level of characterization (exploring the character's
backgrounds and personalities
– Conflict• is the bulk of the story• begins when the inciting incident (or catalyst) sets things into motion• Character Development
– Resolution• the problem in the story boils over, forcing the characters to confront it,
allowing all elements of the story to come together and inevitably leading to the ending
• Straightforward or Complex
Genre
• Action & Adventure• Animation• Biopics• Bollywood• Comedy• Crime• Documentary• Drama• Family• Horror
• Music documentary• Musical• Period & Historical• Science Fiction & Fantasy• Short Films• Sport• Thriller• War Films• Westerns• World Cinema
Themes• The Point of the Film– Issues– Ideological Conflicts– Lessons Learned