2. Introduction to film language
learn the language: get used to using whenever
you talk about films.
analyse clips; discuss each other’s film viewing,
3. MACRO and MICRO elements of
film language
MACRO -MACRO -
GENRE
NARRATIVE
(REPRESENTATION)
MICRO –MICRO –
CINEMATOGRAPHY
SOUND
EDITING
MISE EN SCENE
SPECIAL EFFECTS
11. LIGHTING & COLOUR (mixes with
cinematography)
Is used to create mood and atmosphere
Positioning of lights creates different effects
High key lighting
Low key lighting
12. Sound
DIEGETIC OR NON-DIEGETIC.
CONTRAPUNTAL SOUND
PITCH/TONE/PACE/INSTRUMENT
Certain types of music have become
synonymous with particular genres
Voice overs allow us to see things from a
particular character’s point of view
They are often used to introduce and ‘round up’
the narrative
13. Special effects
Know what different kinds of special
effects exist and what they are:
CGI
Stunts & explosions
Animatronics & models
Notas del editor
Another disaster movie – The Titanic, shows the other important thing about editing – what different shots is it editing between? And what effect does this have on the audience – why is this scene included – is it a convention of the disaster genre? (Dissolve – scenes still connected, fade – end of a part of narrative)
French word meaning everything in the frame – so where you need to consider the details of the set. Surprising amount of detail you don’t notice that links to genre and narrative.
DISCUSS DETAILS IN THIS IMAGE WHAT CLUES ARE THERE THAT THIS IS A DISASTER FILM?
(slide) Lighting and colour can be used to create a certain atmosphere or mood and can even be used symbolically. Certainly directors are aware of the power of cultural connotations - for example if I say WHITE? - what associations immediately come to mind… or RED? Certain genres use colour more obviously than others and you have probably already noticed colours used in sci-fi? Horror? (slide) filmmakers use colour and lighting effects to make audiences well aware of the kind of film they are watching and when teaching your students the basics of film language, here’s what you need to know about lighting effects: The basic organisation of lighting looks like this ( refer to overhead ) The KEY LIGHT is the term for a powerful light that casts sharp, black shadows behind the things it illuminates. It’s the main source of light in a scene. FILL LIGHTS can be used to soften these shadows and basically fill them in. More or less of these will be used depending on whether images are to be sharp or soft. If people or objects are lit from behind it makes them stand out from the background and they become more prominent. Underlighting (from below) and toplighting create different kinds of shadow (egs) There are two main ways of describing the use of these lights - HIGH KEY LIGHTING - means the use a lots of fill lights along with the key lights so everything is brightly lit and there are few shadows. This is the style you would expect in romantic comedies, youth pictures, the colour you’d expect from a glossy Hollywood film.. LOW KEY LIGHTING - uses fewer fills, so more shadows are created with definite pools of light interspersed - you might associate this with horror films and is the style of lighting associated with film noir.
Look at sound in The Devil’s Backbone
Isn't as difficult to discuss as you might think – identify when special effects are used. Is going to be a particularly interesting area to discuss in regards to disaster films and can link to industry ( the more money, the more highly developed special effects.) But can also lead to debates – to cgi or not to cgi – some film-makers are rejecting the trend. ( Casino Royale) You just need to be able to identify when and where special effects are being used – you don’t always have to be right – difficult where cgi is concerned, but extras on DVDs are a good source if you want to look into further. THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
