Work On Film Aspect

BLOCKING

What are the 3 ways directors use blocking in film?

Shapes, Lines and Space

What are the 3 basic shapes for film blocking?

Circle, Triangle and Square

What are the emotions associated with these shapes?

Circle feels safer and inclusive. Square creates limited space like boxing someone in. Triangles are sharp and aggressive.

What two things can blocking help with?

Blocking can help spice up the scene especially a shot of two people talking.

This also makes the film seem more natural.

ESTABLISHING

Points to discuss:

(Note: they use a different meaning for tone in this clip.) 

What is an establishing shot?

An establishing is a shot that shows an overview of a setting and shows the relationship between the subject and the location.

Why is it used?

It is used to establish a new location and tone.

Why are establishing shot usually the most expensive?

Since it's a shot that shows a landscape, it needs to be far in order to get the whole shot in. This means that either a drone, helicopter or any device that can be taken up on the sky is required, these are usually more expensive.

TONE

What else can we call tone in film?

The brightness of the scene.

What are the 3 main elements of tone?

Lighting, Exposure and Art Direction

How and why does Coppola use tone in the classic film ‘The Godfather’?

He utilised the technique of tone to show the contrast between the mafias and the wedding. While the mafia's set was underexposed and barely seen by the audience, the wedding scene was juxtaposed to it. It was brightly lit filled with many bright colours to show the glee.

 How can directors control the feelings of the scenes? 

By applying tone as a technique easily manipulates the feeling of the scene. By simply turning the brightness down totally alters the atmosphere, it can serve an ominous, oppressive scene. This can be the same with a bright scene, instead of turning the brightness down, turning it the opposite way instantly changes how the audience feel the gloomy feeling can turn into a joyful one.

PRODUCTION DESIGN

What is production design? 

The production design is how the set is decorated or filled according to the scene. It is the overall visual look of the production.

What makes up production design? 

Props and wardrobe.

What are the 3 main things production design can help reveal?

Mood, Theme and Character

DUTCH ANGLE

The Dutch angle does what?

It makes the scene feel disoriented or unsettling.

What is the Dutch angle? 

A dutch angle is a camera technique where the camera is tilted in an angle.

Who and when created the dutch angle?
German expressionist in the 1900s

What 3 things do directors need to consider for the Dutch angle?
Identify the moment. Consider the moment. Enhance the moment.

What 4 things can enhance a Dutch angle?
Degree of tilt. Camera Height. Lens choice. Depth of field.

POV

What is a POV shot?

A point of view shot is a type of camera technique that helps you see through the character's eyes.

What is a ‘point of thought’ shot?

A point of though is how the camera portrays the thoughts or emotions of the character.

Why are they important?

Doing this can make the audience feel more connected to the audience and feel what they feel.

FILM COLOUR

How does colour in the film affect people?

It can give them different emotions from a variety of hues. Blue gives a gloomy feel while yellow brings happiness to the watchers.

What are the 3 factors in determining colour? 

Hue. Brightness. Saturation

Why is the hue in ‘The Matrix’ mostly green? 

Green is associated with codes. Since the movie is inside a digital matrix this fits perfectly well with the film.

Why do some films desaturate?

This could give an old worn-out feel to the scene and transport the audience back to the past. This is due to the drained colours, painting a cold, gritty and rude

What can brightness and a lack of brightness show in a film?

Bright imagery is supposed to deliver a lively and exciting vibe to the film. On the other hand, darker images give the audience more dramatic vibes.

Contrast

What are the ways directors can contrast in film?

In tone, art direction, blocking, camera movement and colour.

What is contrasted in Spike Jonze’s ad?

The beginning started with the subject surrounded by dark colours such as clothing around her. The scene was desaturated and lack of colours can be clearly seen.

Around the end, the brightness slowly turned up revealing more of the character's face and colour around her. You could also see her swapping her dark jacket to a bright, white shirt.

Why did he contrast these things?

This can help with the advertisement and selling of the product. If the subject is shown changing from miserable and amidst of dark colour to the brightness up, filling her with colour seamlessly can easily convince the audience that this product is what they need to be happy.

CAMERA MOVEMENT

What are the purposes of the whip pan and the slow pan?

The whip pan creates a jolt of energy, while the slow pan gives the audience more time to take in the landscape.

What is the purpose of the tilt shot?

It often reveals something to the audience and redirects their attention.

What does the reverse dolly zoom help show? 

To show characters having an intense internal experience.

What the difference between a Steadicam and dolly shot?  

A Steadicam is still a handheld camera with a stabilizer while the dolly shot is a camera technique that uses tracks to follow the character.

What can the hand-held shot help create for the viewer? 

It creates more anxiety for the viewers.

What should directors ask themselves with their camera movement?

How does this support your story?

Camera movement should be doing what?

To have a purpose behind it that will help with the story.

INSERT SHOT

What is an insert shot?

An insert shot is an isolated shot that focuses on specific detail within the scene 

What is the purpose of an insert shot? 

To communicate crucial narrative information.

What are the 3 main aspects of the insert shot? 

Composition, Colour and Timing

What 3 things help the audience feel about the insert shot? 

Shot size. Shot angle. Camera movement

Composition of the insert shot helps with what in film? 

Foreshadow.

Colour in the insert shot helps with what in film? 

To draw attention to specific points in the film.

 How long you dwell on the insert shot helps show what?

So the viewer have the same sense of urgency and process time as the character.

Visual Motif

What is a motif? 

A motif is any recurring elements that have a symbolic significance in the story.

Why are they important?

They ensure that the story is able to operate on more than one level.

What makes a great work of art? 

When you can come back to it over and over again and find greater depth.

What is film theory?
Film theory is a way of breaking down movies and televisions.


What is film criticisms?
Film criticisms are picking apart movies and judging and analyzing them.