CINEMATIC TECHNIQUES
AND THEIR EFFECTS
TYPES OF SHOTS
Type of Shot
Description
Effect
Establishing Shot
Often a long shot or a series of shots that
sets the scene
Establish Setting and show Transitions
Long Shot
A shot for a distance that shows a person’s
whole body
Isolation and Vulnerability
Medium Shot
Most common shot. Shows people from the
waste up.
Grounds the story and makes the
audience feel like they are “with” the
character.
Close-up
Image takes up 80% of the frame
Shows importance or highlights details
Extreme Close-up
Takes up the whole frame and is part of a
whole (foot)
Show the importance of what is being
shown.
Two Shot
A scene between 2 people that shows both
characters equally
Shows the relationship between the
two characters and how they interact.
TYPES OF ANGLES
Angle
Description
Effect
Eye Level
A shot taken from a
normal or natural height
that is at the character’s
eye level (Straight on)
Shot taken from above
the subject, makes the
object/character look
small
The camera films from
below the subject, makes
the object/character look
big
Natural Angle, Helps the
audience connect with
the characters
High Angle
Low Angle
Weak, powerless, and
trapped
Strong, powerful, and
threatening
TYPES OF LIGHTING
Type of Lighting
High Key
Description
The scene is flooded
with light
Low Key
The scene is flooded
with darkness or
shadows
Bottom or Side Lighting Direct lighting comes
from below or the side
Front or Back Lighting
Soft lighting on the
actor’s face or from
behind
Effect
Bright, angelic, open,
and honest
Suspense, suspicion
Dangerous or Evil
(Object being shown)
Innocence, goodness,
halo effect
TYPES OF SOUND
Type of Sound
Description
Effect
Diegetic
Sound that could logically be Shows the relationships,
heard by the characters
actions, and characteristics
I.E. Dialogue, musicians
of the characters
playing at a concert, etc
Non-Diegetic
Sound that cannot be heard Helps create the mood,
by the characters but is
foreshadowing, etc. for the
designed for the audience’s audience.
reaction only
I.E. The background music in
Jaws, etc.
TYPES OF CAMERA MOVEMENT
Type of Movement
Description
Effect
Pan
A stationary camera moves from side to side
on a horizontal axis
To give the audience more information
about the scene and its progression
Tilt
A stationary camera moves up or down on a
vertical axis
To give the audience the feeling of
“checking out” a character or object
Zoom – In
The camera focuses in on a specific object
Reveals a personal or revealing moment
about the character or shows importance
Zoom – Out
The camera gives the feeling of moving away
from a character or object
Distances or separates the audience from a
character or object.
Boom/Crane
The camera is hanging over the action taking
overhead shots
Helps give the audience more detail in the
setting or makes them more of an observer.
Dolly
The camera moves along with the action
(Truck, car, helicopter, etc.)
Makes the audience feel like they are right
there with the characters.
EDITING TECHNIQUES
Type of Editing Techniques
Description
Flashback
The scene jobs back to
something that has
happened in the past
Shot-Reverse-Shot
Fade or Dissolve
Effect
Gives the audience more
information about the
characters or the scene,
clarifies, or explains
A shot of one subject,
Shows the relationship
then another, then back between characters, their
to the first. Often used in reactions to events, etc.
conversation shots.
The image slowly leaves Shows the end of the
the film.
scene or shows a
connection between 2
images.
HOW DOES STYLE/LITERARY TERMS APPLY TO CINEMA
Style Device (Literary Term)
Cinematic Technique
Tone: The speaker’s attitude conveyed through the
author’s choice of words or detail.
Mood: The atmosphere of most common emotion in
a literary work
Lighting and Sound
Diction: Word Choice
Diegetic Sound (Dialogue)
Imagery: Word or phrases that appeal t the senses
that represent people, actions, objects, feelings, or
ideas
Setting, costumes, or symbolism (Shot types)
Organization: The narrative structure of the piece –
how a text begins and ends, is sequenced, paced or
arranged.
Storyboarding or editing of the screen
Syntax: the arrangement of words and the order of
grammatical elements in a sentence.
Editing Techniques
Point of View: The perspective from which a narrative Type of shots and Camera Movement
is told.