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Literary Devices Examined through Film
“Books and movies are like
apples and oranges. They
both are fruit, but taste
completely different.”
--Stephen King. Author
*LONG SHOT (LS): a shot from some distance.
If
filming a person, the full body is shown. It may
show the isolation or vulnerability of the character
(also called a FULL SHOT).
*MEDIUM SHOT (MS): the most common shot.
The
camera seems to be a medium distance from the
object from the waist up. The effect is to ground
the story.
*CLOSE-UP (CU): the image being shot takes up at
least 80 percent of the frame.
*
*EYE LEVEL: a shot taken from a normal height, i.e.,
the character’s eye level; 90 to 95 percent of the
shots seen are eye level because it is the most
natural angle.
*HIGH ANGLE: camera is above the subject. This
usually has the effect of making the subject look
smaller than normal, giving him/her the appearance
of being weak, powerless, and trapped.
*LOW ANGLE: camera shoots subject from below.
This usually has the effect of making the subject
look larger than normal, therefore strong, powerful,
and threatening
*
*HIGH KEY LIGHTING: scene is flooded with light,
creating a bright and open-looking scene.
*LOW KEY LIGHTING:
scene is flooded with shadows
and darkness, creating suspense or suspicions.
*DIEGETIC SOUND: sound that would be logically
heard by the characters in the film.
*NON-DIEGETIC: sound that could not be heard by
characters in the film, but is designed for audience
reaction. An example might be ominous music for
foreshadowing.
*
* CROSS CUTTING: cut into action that is
happening simultaneously.
* POINT OF VIEW: shows what things look like
from the perspective of someone or something
in the scene. It must be juxtaposed with shots
of the actor’s face in order to make a
connection with the viewer.
*
*ELACC10RL5: Analyze how an author’s choices
concerning how to structure a text, order events
within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time
(e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as
mystery, tension, or surprise.
* Film Clip #1: The Fast and the Furious (2001)
* “Reading” Purpose:
①Notice what you notice.
②How does the director manipulate
time and why?
③How does the director create tension
and suspense?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfV87TgYH78
Film Clip #2: Schindler’s List (1993)
* “Reading” Purpose
① Notice what you notice.
② Why did the director use primarily a
long shot?
③ How do the events seem to affect
Schindler and Ingrid?
④ Describe the sounds heard in the scene.
What is the effect of these sounds?
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=movie+clips+28b+schindler%27s+list+movie+the+girl+
in+red&qpvt=movieclips.com%2f2o8b-schindlers-list-movie-the-girl-inred%2f&form=vdre&ibss=1#view=detail&mid=52DAD1004D51F5EEFC6352DAD1004D51F5EEFC6
3
*Film Clip #3: Good Morning Vietnam (1987)
*“Reading” Purpose:
Read the lyrics of It’s a Wonderful
World by Louis Armstrong
①Describe the visual pictures that
might correspond to the song.
②Describe the emotions evoked while
watching this scene.
③Define irony and its effect while watching the
clip with sound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtX3lPf084U
*ELACC10RL2: Analyze in detail the development of
theme over the course of the text, including how it
emerges and is shaped and refined by specific
details.
Film Clip #4: Philadelphia (1993)
*“Reading” Purpose:
① Notice what you notice.
② How does the director communicate
that
Tom Hanks’s character is the outsider?
③ How does the director characterize…
a) Denzel Washington’s character?
b) Tom Hanks’s character?
https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Philadelphia?id=m139_i2tCc
Q&hl=en
① What common elements exist when analyzing
both print and visual text?
② How do print and visual text differ in the
techniques used to appeal to the reader or
viewer’s emotions?
③ What drawbacks exist in both print and visual
storytelling?
④ What techniques do visual and print text use
to develop characters?
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