| NSW Department of Education
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This resource was developed to support learning for remote mode students normally
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their students and recognise their students’ context.
These documents have been harvested from distance education resources on March 12,
2020 to support all teachers in providing a continuity of learning for their students in the
event of student absence during this difficult time.
Updated – 12 March 2020
education.nsw.gov.au
Film Techniques Booklet
Name: __________________
Teacher: _______________
Year: ___________________
A guide to understanding film techniques for students.
1
Types of Camera Shots
This shot is an
extreme close up
because the camera
is focused on one
part of Harry’s face.
z
What?
When?
Why?
Close Up Shot
A shot showing the subject in detail. The focus is
solely on the subject, not on the background or
setting.
When the director wants to show a character’s
emotions.
To create intimacy between the audience and a
character. A close up of a character’s face, for
example, may reveal that they are angry or
upset, and may cause audiences to empathise
with their situation.
A close up shot from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I
What?
When?
Why?
Extreme Close Up Shot
A shot detailing a very small part of the subject.
The focus is solely on the feature, not on the
background or setting.
When the director wants to show tension, or to
highlight a clue.
To make sure the audience understands the plot.
For instance, a close up of a gun may indicate
that one character intends to kill another. Close
up shots are also used satirically, that is, to mock
a character’s behaviour or situation.
A close up shot from The Dark Knight
1
What?
When?
Why?
Medium Shot
A shot showing the subject from the waist up.
When the director wants to show facial
expression, body language and setting.
To show how a character acts within a particular
environment or to show an interaction between
two or more characters.
A long shot from The Lion King
What?
When?
Why?
A medium shot from The Wizard of Oz
Long or Full Shot
A shot that shows the subject’s whole body as
well as some of the background.
When the director wants to show a character in
relation to their setting.
To help us understand a character’s context. For
example, a long shot of a person looking
confused amongst a big crowd could indicate
that they are lost, while a long shot of a man
working in a field may indicate that he is a
farmer.
2
What?
When?
Why?
Extreme Long Shot
A shot that shows the landscape in great detail,
but does not necessarily include a character.
(The camera is far away from the main focus of
the shot.)
When the director wants the audience to focus
on the landscape.
To indicate whether a character is isolated or
living in a heavily populated environment. Long
shots are often used in opening scenes to
establish setting (this is called an establishing
shot).
A two shot from School of Rock
What?
When?
Why?
Two Shot
A shot that is just wide enough to include two
people within the limits of the frame.
When the director wants to show an interaction
between two characters.
To help the audience understand relationships
between characters, or to highlight important
pieces of dialogue.
An extreme long shot from The Day After Tomorrow
3
What?
When?
Why?
Over the Shoulder Shot
In this shot we
see what Albus
Dumbledore
sees as he casts
a spell.
A shot that that provides a close up of a
character as seen over-the-shoulder of another
character in the foreground.
When the director wants the focus to be on one
character (or characters) without removing that
character from their context.
To show a character’s response to another
character’s dialogue.
A point of view shot from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
What?
When?
Why?
Point of View Shot
A shot in which the camera becomes the
character’s eyes. In other words, the shot allows
you to see what the character sees.
When the director wants the audience to share
an experience with a character.
To allow the audience to sympathise with that
character and their situation.
An over the shoulder shot from Toy Story 3
4
Types of Camera Angles\
What?
When?
Why?
Overhead Shot
A shot taken from a point immediately above the
main action, object or subject. Shows the action
or subject from a bird’s eye view.
When the director wants to show the film’s
setting while also making a character look
smaller in appearance.
To imply that a character is insignificant,
vulnerable or afraid in their current setting.
An eye level shot from Whale Rider
What?
This shot gives
us an aerial view
of Sosuke and
Ponyo.
When?
An overhead shot from Ponyo
Why?
Eye Level Angle
A shot where the camera is on the same level as
the subject being filmed.
When the director wants to display characters
naturally or to show that characters are in
control of themselves.
To create a ‘real life’ effect that is relatable to
audience members.
5
What?
When?
Why?
Low Angle
A shot where the camera is lower than the
subject. (The camera is below the subject and is
looking up.)
When the director wants to make characters
look large.
To imply that a character is powerful, dominant
or sinister.
This is a high
angle shot
because the
camera is looking
down at Bella and
Edward.
A high angle shot from Twilight
What?
This is a low angle
shot because the
camera is looking
up at Ursula.
When?
A low angle shot from The Little Mermaid
Why?
High Angle
A shot where the camera is higher than the
subject. (The camera is above the subject and is
looking down.)
When the director wants to make characters
look small.
To imply that characters are insignificant,
vulnerable or afraid.
6
Types of Framing
What?
When?
Why?
To One Side
A shot in which the subject is placed off centre,
to one side.
When the director wants to draw attention to
the subject
To make the subject seem less in charge of
themselves and their situation.
Centre framing in Beauty and the Beast
What?
When?
Why?
Centre
A shot in which the subject is placed in the
centre.
When the director wants to draw attention to
the subject.
To make the subject appear confident and in
control.
One-sided framing in Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl
7
In this shot
Patrick is
‘closed-in’ by the
window frame.
What?
When?
Why?
A closed frame from 10 Things I Hate About You
What?
When?
Why?
Closed Frame
A shot in which the character is closed-in by
horizontal or vertical lines (e.g. a doorway,
corridor or window frame).
When the director wants to make the character
appear trapped.
To indicate that they are dealing with an internal
conflict or dilemma, or to highlight physical
danger.
Open Frame
A shot in which the setting appears to continue
beyond the frame.
When the director wants to show a character in
an isolated setting.
To indicate that a character is free or insecure
within their environment.
Open framing is
used in this scene
to indicate that
Max is free in his
environment.
Open framing in Where the Wild Things Are
8
Types of Lighting
Low-key Lighting
What?
A shot providing a poorly lit, dark view of the
character and their setting.
When the director wants to create mystery or
intrigue.
To indicate that the characters may have hidden
motives or that a character possesses a troubled
mind. Low-key lighting can also be used to create
suspense.
When?
Why?
Low-key lighting
is used here to
create intrigue as
Indiana Jones
enters the cave.
High-key Lighting in Clueless
What?
When?
Why?
High-key Lighting
A shot containing a full, bright, unobstructed
view of the character and action.
When the director wants to show characters in
a normal, stable environment.
To indicate that the action in the scene is
innocent and honest.
Low-key Lighting in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
9
Mise en scene
Mise en scene literally translates to ‘put in a scene’.
It refers to the film’s overall design, and includes everything
from what is in each frame to the character’s individual
costumes.
Low-key Lighting in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
What?
When?
Why?
Back Lighting
Mise en scene involves the direction of actors and the
placement of cameras, as well as the choice of lenses, lighting,
sets, costumes, sound effects and music.
Mise en scene is what determines a film’s overall tone or
atmosphere. It also allows the director to portray relevant
themes, ideas or the film’s overall message.
A shot that is lit from behind to produce a
silhouette of the main character.
When the director wants to draw extra
attention to the subject without providing too
much detail.
To create a sense of foreboding, mystery, danger
or fear.
10
Costuming
What do these
costumes reveal
about these
characters?
What?
When?
Why?
Costuming refers to the way actors are dressed.
It is used to communicate aspects of the
character’s context (e.g. age, profession, social
status, economic status etc.)
To help the audience understand the character’s
context, and in turn, the reason for their
behaviour. It also reinforces the message a
character is portraying.
Would these
characters be as
convincing
without these
costumes?
Johnny Depp in (left to right) Chocolat, Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Edward Scissorhands
11
Colours
White can suggest
freedom, cleanliness,
purity, freshness and
peace.
What?
When?
Why?
Different colours are used throughout films to
symbolise different things. These colours can
occur within the film’s costumes, setting or
lighting design.
When the director wants to allude to the
qualities of a particular character, setting or
situation.
To give the audience a deeper understanding of a
particular character, setting or situation.
Grey can
suggest
coldness,
sorrow and
blandness.
Black can suggest
mystery, power,
sadness, mourning,
fear and authority.
Blue can suggest
peace, harmony,
confidence,
cleanliness, truth,
sky, water and cold.
Green can suggest
nature, harmony, youth,
balance, envy, renewal,
health, generosity and
luck.
Red can suggest
passion, danger,
warning, energy,
excitement,
aggression, violence,
blood, power and
love.
Pink can
suggest love,
softness,
comfort, and
femininity.
Yellow can suggest
happiness, warmth,
optimism, joy,
cowardice and
hazard.
12
More Techniques
Technique
Sharp Focus
Soft Focus
Movement: Panning Shot (Pan)
Movement: Tilt
Movement: Track
Movement: Zoom
Music
Sound Effects
Editing
Types of Editing: Fade
Types of Editing: Dissolve
Types of Editing: Wipe
Types of Editing: Flashback
Types of Editing: Flashforward
Definition
The subject of the shot is very clear and sharply defined.
The subject of the shot is clearly highlighted, but not sharply defined or ‘hardedged’.
The camera remains static but swivels from right to left.
The camera remains static but swivels up and down.
The camera is mounted on wheels and follows, moves away or moves towards
its subject.
The camera ‘zooms in’ to see a subject up close and ‘zooms out’ to establish
distance.
Music is used to influence our response to the characters and action.
Tricks of sound employed to make a film seem more realistic.
The process of connecting one or more shots to form a sequence.
A ‘fade in’ occurs when an image gradually appears on a black screen. A ‘fade
out’ occurs when an image fades to become a black screen.
When a ‘fade in’ is superimposed over a ‘fade out’.
When one image appears to wipe another image of the screen, usually from the
side.
When a scene from the ‘past’ is inserted into a scene that deals with ‘present’
time.
When a scene from the ‘future’ is inserted into a scene that deals with ‘present’
time.
See Moodle for examples of these techniques
13