Introduction to Cinema
Techniques
Outline
Editing
Shots and Their Functions
Overview of Professional Production
Double-System Shooting
Lighting
Sound
Editing
Editing Terms
Shot
Scene
Sequence
Overall Film Structure
Shot
A single piece of continuous
action.
•
Scene
An assembly of shots which
gives the impression of
continuous space and time.
Sequence
A collection of scenes
Intrascene Editing
Cutting shots together within a scene.
Involves the notion of “continuity.”
Continuity
Two Dimensions of Continuity
“Temporal Continuity” gives the impression that time
is continuous.
“Spatial Continuity” gives the impression that space is
continuous.
Temporal Continuity
Real Time
Screen Time
Absolute Temporal Continuity
Types of Absolute Temporal
Continuity
Single-shot Scene
Matching Action
Single-shot Scene
Where a scene is recorded in
a single shot.
Medium Shot
Closeup
Matching Action
Action must be photographed from
more than one angle.
Action must be on the screen at the
moment of the cut.
The cut between one angle (shot) and
another must match.
“Errors” in Matching Action
Jump Cuts
Overlapping Action
Jump Cut
Where a portion of the action
is missing at the cut.
Overlapping Action
Where a portion of the action
repeats itself at the cut.
Cutaways
Allow screen time to be
condensed
Cutaways
Allow screen time to be expanded
Special Kinds of Cutaways
Inserts
Reaction Shots
Act as cutaways to condense or expand
screen time.
Guide the audience’s emotional response
to the main action.
Establish relationships between the
characters involved in the main action and
those doing the reacting.
Spatial Continuity
Spatial continuity allows the audience to keep oriented from one
shot to another within a scene.
Spatial continuity gives the impression that real space and screen
space are the same.
In spatial continuity there is no equivalent to “absolute temporal
continuity,” since screen space, unlike real space, is always
bounded by the frame.
Spatial Continuity
The framelines separate
“onscreen space” from
“offscreen space.”
180 Degree Rule
Provides continuity of movement.
Provides continuity of direction.
Provides continuity of screen position.
Screen Direction
Crossing the 180
Movement
Direction
Screen Position
30 Degree Rule
Changes from one shot to
another should be significant,
but not too great.
Interscene Editing
Opticals
Wipe
Iris
Fade-out and fade-in
Dissolve
Wipe
Iris
Fade-out and Fade-in
Dissolve
Graphic Matches
Scene Structure
Mise en scene
Montage
Mise en Scene
Montage
Film Structures
Narrative (dramatic)
Rhetorical
Categorical
Abstract
Shots and Their Functions
Film is like a language.
Two levels of meaning
Connotation
Denotation
Shots, like words...
have a “denotative” meaning.
have a “connotative” meaning.
Shot “Denotation”
Shot “Connotation”
Two Important Points:
The connotation of a shot may or may not be
related to the intention of the film maker. A
connotation could be unplanned.
Connotations are most effective when they are
subtle.
Shot
Connotations:
Camera Angle
Shot Size
Composition
Objective vs Subjective
Lens Focal Length
Depth of Field
Camera Angle
Low Angle
Connotes a sense of power
or dominance to the subject.
High Angle
Connotes a sense of
powerlessness or humility to the
subject
Eye level
Connotes a sense of equality
with regard to power
Shot Size
Shot Sizes
Establishing Long Shot
Close Up
Extreme Close Up
Medium Shot
Shot Sizes
Extreme Close Up
Close Up
Medium Shot
Long Shot
Composition
Dynamic Composition
Allows the action to move
“relative” to the framelines.
Frameline Magnetism
When objects nearly reach opposite framelines.
Emphasizes the distance between them.
Objective/Subjective Shots
Objective shots are the norm in most professional
films.
Subjective shots are the norm in most home movies.
Subjective Camera
Direct Address
Hand-held Camera
Point-of-View
Point-of-View
Point Glance
Point Object
Point Glance
Relay Point-of-View
Point Glance
Point Object/Point
Glance
Point Object
Point Glance
Focal Length
Long (telephoto) lenses compress space and
slow the apparent speed of action along the “zaxis.”
Short (wide angle) lenses expand space and
increase the apparent speed of action along the
“z-axis.”
Depth of Field
The longer the focal length, the shallower the depth of
field.
The larger the lens aperture, the shallower the depth of
field.
The closer the camera-to-subject distance, the shallower
the depth of field.
Zoom vs Dolly
Dolly shot connotes a physical movement
through space.
Zoom shot connotes a mental or analytical sense
to the movement.