What do you think is the definitive scene
from the Wizard of Oz?
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
We’re off to see the wizard
She’s scary but remember the flying monkees?
Poppies
Somewhere over the rainbow
There’s no place like home. A dream?
I.B. Justify why it’s definitive
When you do notes on a film write three
paragraphs on the definitive scene.
1. Describe using Film vocabulary
2. Why it’s definitive
a. tells same story as the film
b. memorable
c. a key turning point.
3. Give cultural, theoretical, and/or
historical context
Media Justify why it’s definitive
When you do notes on a film write two
paragraphs on the definitive scene.
1. Describe using Film vocabulary
2. Why it’s definitive
a. tells same story as the film
b. memorable
c. a key turning point.
d. a matter of opinion.
Structure and Language of Film
Vocabulary: shot, sequence,
montage, types of shots, types of
edits, types of camera movements
Structure of a film
• Shot – a simple run of the camera
• Sequence– a group of shots depicting one action, or
which seems to belong with or depend upon each
other
• Scene- A group of sequences or a group of shots
which depict an event or occur in one place
• Montage-a series of shots or sequences that are
related by theme and not necessarily by time or
place
Shot
• a simple run of the camera
• The basic unit in film
• Shot is to film as word is to text
Types of shots
long shot or wide shot
medium shot
close up
extreme close up
2 shot
over the shoulder shot
Two shot
Wide shot
(w.s.)
Description:
Shows whole
body or
space.
Purposes:
Establish
scene or
setting, allow
room for
action.
Description: Shows subject from
waist up.
Purposes: Allows connection
with subject while providing
room for gestures. Most
frequently used shot.
Medium Shot (m.s.)
Description:
Shows subject
from waist up.
Purposes:
Allows
connection
with subject
while providing
room for
gestures. Most
frequently used
shot.
Close up (c.u.)
Description:
Shows
enlarged
view of part
of subject.
Purposes:
Draws
attention to
details and
adds
emotion.
CLOSE UP OF A FACE
Extreme close up
Medium shot (M.S.) of a person
Another medium shot (M.S.)
Long shot (L.S.) -to show action
and/or perspective
Aka “the establishing shot”
Sequence- a group of shots
depicting one action
Scene- a series of shots in one
setting or depicting an event
Montage- series of shots
connected by theme not
necessarily by time and space
Cut-the ending of a shot. If the
cut is a jerky movement, which
seems inconsistent with the next
shot it’s called a jump cut
Fade in or out-the image appears or
disappears gradually. Often used as a
division between scenes
Dissolve-one image fades in while
another fades out so that for a few
seconds the two are super imposed
An example of a dissolve edit
Camera Movements
• Pan-movement from side to side from a
stationary position
• Tilt- movement up or down from a
stationary position
• Tracking-camera itself moves to follow a
moving object
• Zoom-lens shortens or lengthens to make
object closer or further
• Dolly-moving camera in and out to make
make subject appear larger or smaller in
the frame
Pan
Description:
Shows what's to
the left or right of
the screen.
Purposes: Reveal
setting, sweep
across subject
wider than screen,
show relationship
between two
subjects
.
Tilt
Description:
Shows what's
above or below
the screen.
Purposes: Reveal
parts of vertical
subject, useful for
showing tall
objects, show
relationship
between parts of a
subject, can add
suspense or
surprise.
Zoom
Zoom
Track or Truck
Arc
A variation
on the
tracking
shot
Dolly
Camera Angles
Normal camera angle is at the same level
as the subject, but there could be
cinematic reasons to move the camera up
or down.
High Angle—makes subject look
small and vulnerable
Low angle shot will tend to make
subject look more powerful
There are other reasons of
course for high and low angle
shots
Bird’s eye angle
Dutch Angle—used to communicate
psychological imbalance among other
things, now becoming overused
perhaps. It’s actually a framing
technique more than a camera angle
Film noir—the femme fatale
Film Noir—the cool loner
Dark subject matter, shadowy
photography, the white man’s
blues
SOUND
Diegetic vs. Non Diegetic
Diegetic = sound from the world of the film,
that the characters can hear.
Non Diegetic = sound, usually music and
narration, that only the audience
can hear
Notes:
it is possible for imagery to be non
diegetic as well
some directors as a matter of style
have blurred the lines in diegeticism
Establishing Shot from Truman’s
P.O.V.
Establishing Shot from Truman
Mis en scene
French for put in the scene
Mis en scene
Deep Focus
2nd
Example
Citizen Kane (1941) Orson Welles
•
•
•
One sentence synopsis
2 Paragraphs on Definitive Scene
Questions
1. Is this the greatest movie
of all time? Why or why not?
2. Explain some of the
innovative film techniques in
this film.
3. Describe how Kane is a
tragic hero in the vein of
Macbeth & Oedipus
Do you know these script terms?
EXT.
INT.
V.O.
P.O.V
Transitions
DISSOLVE TO:
CUT TO:
FADE IN