Film Study Introduction
The Truman Show
Studying a Film
• Film is an important medium which provide
us with understanding of the world around
us and human behaviour.
• When studying a film we need to consider;
– Aspects of the film such as character, setting,
theme, narrative, structure, conflict etc.
– The techniques used and their effects
– The choices made by the director in order to
impart meaning.
Assessment
• AS 2.2 (External)- an essay on a studied film
in your end of year exam.
• AS 2.10 (Internal)- A close viewing of a
selected scene from the film- you will write
a report analysing the techniques used.
Film Techniques
• In order to effectively analyse a film you
need to have a sound understanding of film
techniques and their effects.
• You need to understand:
– Visual techniques
– Verbal techniques
– Editing techniques
Some General Film Terms
• Director
• Cinematography
• Shot
• Costume
• Scene
• Props
• Sequence
• Colour Palette
• Frame
Mise en Scene
• This refers to all the things that are 'put in the
scene', as well as the way that we are shown them.
• Set design, costume, props, composition, lighting,
the general visual environment, camera
placement and movement, the placement of
actors, the actions of actors and the dialogue.
• It refers to everything that takes place on set
BEFORE the editing process.
Camera Work
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Extreme Close Up
Close Up
Mid/Medium Shot
Long Shot
Extreme Long Shot
High Angle
Low Angle
Bird’s Eye View
Eye Level
• Two Shot
• Over the Shoulder
Shot
• Point of View Shot
• Track
• Pan
• Tilt
• Zoom
• Establishing Shot
Editing Techniques
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Cut
Cross Cut
Fade
Dissolve
Montage
Flashback/ Flashforward
Editing Pace
Lighting
• High Key Lighting
• Low Key Lighting
• Back Lighting
• Colour Filters
Verbal/Aural Techniques
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Dialogue
Sound Effects
Voice Over
Soundtrack
Ambient Sound
Diegetic Sound
Non-diegetic Sound
Aural Bridge
The Truman Show
Directed by Peter Weir
The Truman Show
• Directed by Peter Weir
• Screenplay by Andrew
Niccol
• Truman Burbank- Jim
Carrey
What is it about?
Truman Burbank is the unsuspecting star of The
Truman Show, a reality television program in which his
entire life, since before birth, is filmed by thousands of
hidden cameras, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and
broadcast live around the world. The show's creator
and executive producer Christof is able to capture
Truman's real emotion and human behavior when put
in certain situations. Truman becomes suspicious of his
perceived reality and embarks on a quest to discover
the truth about his life.
Satire
• Satire is a genre of literature, in which vices, follies,
abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule,
ideally with the intent of shaming individuals,
corporations, government or society itself, into
improvement.
• Although satire is usually meant to be humorous, its
greater purpose is often constructive social criticism,
using wit as a weapon and as a tool to draw attention
to both particular and wider issues in society.
Social Science Fiction
• Social science fiction is a subgenre of science
fiction, concerned less with technology and more
with sociological speculation about human society.
• In other words, it speculates about human behaviour
and interactions.
• Exploration of fictional societies is a significant aspect of
science fiction, allowing it to be predictive and
precautionary, to criticize the contemporary world and
to present solutions, to portray alternative societies and
to examine the implications of ethical principles.
Themes/Key Ideas
• Loss of Innocence
• Reality vs. Unreality
• The Nature of the Media
• Consumerism