Film Techniques – camera movement
Moving the camera in particular ways can easily point out where
objects and characters are located, or can add to the tension by
slowly revealing part of a scene. It can also make the viewer feel
they are part of the action. There are four main camera movements.
In a tracking shot the camera, mounted on wheels, moves
parallel to the action. A tracking shot can keep pace with a
jogger or a moving car. This is often used to suggest that the
viewer is sharing in the movement or journey of the object or
figure in the frame. This invites the viewer to become more
involved with the subject.
In a dolly shot the camera, again mounted on wheels, moves
onwards or away from the subject. The camera can ‘dolly in’ or
‘dolly out’. A dolly shot is used to include the viewer in the
movement of the subject (e.g. walking through a crowd, etc.) or
to suggest that the viewer is moving in, on or away from the
object or figure. In modern times some of this function has
been taken over by the zoom lens.
In a panning shot, the camera (fixed in one spot) moves from
left to right or right to left either from object to object or
following a figure or object. With a panning shot the camera
must move very slowly so that the frame is always in clear
focus. Pans are often used in conjunction with an establishing
shot to suggest the vastness or sweep of a scene. This type of
movement is common in film openings, to reveal the scenery.
In a tilt shot, the camera (fixed in the one spot) moves up and
down, for example, from the toes of a character up to their
heads. In a Dutch tilt, the camera can be tilted in various ways
to suggest a reaction to a scene or object usually involving
strangeness, imbalance, tension or the unexpected.
Film Techniques – Lighting
Lighting plays an important part in creating atmosphere. It also helps
the film-maker signal the time of day or night.
High-key lighting is used to show the source of light, for
example, the bright light of sunrise coming through a kitchen
window.
Low-key lighting emphasises shadow. The effect is often dark
and suspenseful. This type of lighting is frequently used in
mysteries and thrillers.
Back-lighting, where the light comes from behind an object,
creates a silhouette. Because it can make a character look
mysterious a+nd foreboding, it is a popular technique for
making horror films.
Film Editing Techniques
The cut is the editing technique most often used. The editor
simply joins one scene to another or one shot to another at
what is judged to be an effective point. The audience simply
sees one shot or scene replaced by another.
A fade occurs when an image gradually fades to a blank or
coloured screen or when a blank or coloured screen slowly
begins to reveal an image. Fades can be used at the beginnings
and ends of movies (fade in or fade out) or during a movie
where one scene fades out and then another fades in or is cut
in. A fade can be used, for example, to suggest a passage of
time, or a journey or a new location. The scenes each side of a
fade, therefore, have a special relationship that would not be
conveyed by a simple cut. It is a frequently used technique.
A dissolve occurs when one frame is gradually replaced by
another so that at the mid-point of the dissolve both are visible
on the screen. Dissolves are used to suggest a special
relationship between the scenes that dissolve into one another,
a relationship closer than one that would be used by a fade.
Like the fade they can be used to show a change of location or
a change of time but they are also used to indicate a flashback
or a dream or to show what a character is thinking.
Wipe – this occurs when one image appears to wipe off or
replace another image. Like the fade and the dissolve the wipe
also suggests a special relationship between the images either
side of the wipe or the incidents or locations that those images
depict.
Music
Music is often the most important and sometimes the most
enjoyable part of a film. These are three of the most frequent ways
in which music is used.
Theme Music
This is basically used to help create atmosphere in a film. Musical
themes are instrumental pieces that add to the pictures, and perhaps
dialogue, to help shape the viewer’s attitude to what is happening on
the screen.
Theme music is often played behind the opening titles or behind the
end credits of a film and helps shape the viewers’ attitudes to what
they are about to see or to what they have just seen. In a horror film
a particular piece of music may be used to make the viewer feel
frightened and uncomfortable, e.g. who can forget the theme music
from Jaws or Jurassic Park. Both these themes were written by John
Williams.
A particular musical theme can be associated with the appearance of
a particular character or a special event, e.g. Clark Kent always
changed into Superman to the accompaniment of the Superman
theme.
In an action film music can be used to increase the feeling of
excitement. Remember the theme music in the Rocky films? Listen
to the music in The Silver Brumby where the score is used to
heighten the intensity of the chase scenes.
Theme Songs
Sometimes songs are written specifically for a particular movie. The
words are used in these songs to expand on the themes and ideas
that are being presented in the film. Theme songs are often played
over the credits at the end but they can be placed at other points
during the film. Some examples are ‘Ghostbusters’ from
Ghostbusters and ‘We Don’t Need Another Hero’ from Mad Max III.
Adopted Songs
Often film-makers, with the proper permission and
acknowledgements, use songs already written to suggest a particular
time, place or feeling. Some examples are the songs in Dirty Dancing
and Pretty Woman.
Titles and Credits
An important feature of the film opening is the presentation of the
title and the credits. The presentation of the title conveys important
information about the atmosphere of the film.
What kind of font is used? What does it represent? How large is the
font? Does it dominate the screen? A large font draws attention to
the written word rather than to any image, while a small font draws
our attention more strongly to the image.
Does the title appear before or after the opening shot? Does the
title move slowly across the screen or appear suddenly in the
middle? Are there any borders or special effects surrounding the
title? How does an audience react to the name of a well-known
actor or director?
Symbolic codes – audio and visual
Often a particular colour, object or sound appearing in the film
immediately conveys a particular idea to the audience. Most
members of the audience will recognise these ‘symbolic codes’ as
representing or symbolising an idea. Symbolic codes rely on an
audience’s cultural information to establish their meaning.
Symbolic codes can be visual features such as colours or objects or
actions. For example, in Western cultures black is often associated
with evil, a gun with violence, and a fist with anger or power.
Symbolic codes can also consist of audio or sound effects such as
footsteps, a clock ticking or a scream, al three of which easily convey
the idea of danger.