Film Language

Filming Language

"rolling" - Cameraman - has started recording
(5 seconds)
"action" - Director - start acting
(5 seconds)
"cut" - Director - stop acting
(5 seconds)
Turns off camera - cameraman

Media Techniques-Editing

Editing techniques

Includes transition of image and sound - continuity and non-continuity systems.
Cutting: shot/reverse shot, eyeline match, graphic math, action match, jump cut

Continuity editing

• continuity editing is the dominant editing technique found in narrative feature films, television shows and web content
• It is used to unify a series of disconnected shots into a scene that plays out in a logical fashion that makes sense  
• This editing is smooth, continuously and coherent and appears invisible 

Part of what makes film so unique is that editing allows the viewer to see a wide shot cut to a close up-something out eyes dont see in real life. This could make a story haf to follow, but continuity editing combined with solid planning allows the viewer to easily get immersed  in the story

 Non continuity editing

In continuity editing the effect is that the choices made are supposed to be invisible to the viewer. Discontinuity editing however intents to be visible. These effects call attention to themselves and violate viewers expectations of continuity

Eye-line Match

It is based on the premise that the audience will want to see what the character on screen is seeing. The eye-line match begins with a character looking at something off screen to his left, followed by a cut to the object or person ay which he is looking. For example, a man is looking off screen to his left, and then the film cuts to a television that he is watching

The 180 Degree Rule

The first rule that any filmmaker needs to learn before they pick up his camera is the 180 degree rule.

 This way  the actor is on the left side of the frame and the actress is on the right side in the master shot, they will stay in those established positions throughout the scene as the medium shots and close ups are editing together. If the camera crossed the line and the actress appeared frame left and the actor frame right, became disoriented because the established spatial continuity had been violated. Once the spatial distance and position has been established, you should not violate it if you want to maintain it.

Class analysis - Memento

Class Analysis Memento

The opening title sequence for the film memento begins with a credit sequence fading in and out very slowly, once the text is at its peek the colouring and text is at its boldest and fades out very quickly, this could link to the main character as he has memory loss and his memories could possibly fade in and out quickly. The opening sequence also gives the audience important information about who the film is produced by and who stars in the film. The text is presented in a blue font which connate the sadness of the character or the main themes of the film. The slow rise in volume of the music creates a very tense mood which links with the theme of murder. The credits slowly fade into the screen, this establishes a feeling a tension in the audience. The slow fade in and out could potentially also link back to the main protagonist of the film. From the establishing shots we can see that the main character cant recall how long he has been in that hotel room for, so the fading out letters could represent the characters fading memories? The first time we ever see the main character we are introduced to him just after murdering someone. From his blank facial expressions we can gather that this is not the first time he has ever taken a life and that he is a not remorseful about killing this man at all. Also because when we see the murder we see in in a non-linear structure, it makes the audience question the motive? Why has he just shot this man? Was it self-defence? Was it revenge? These questions that are created are called the narrative hook. These questions are what will engage the audience and make them want to watch the rest of the film. The next shot we see is the main character In a hotel room on his own. The character is questioning where he is and how long he has been there.

Media Techniques-Sound

Sound

Diegetic sound- Diegetic sound is sound whose source is visible on screen, for example:

• Voices of characters.
• Sounds made by objects on screen, such as pans being dropped.
• Music represented as coming from an instrument in the story.

Non-diegetic sound- Non-diegetic sound is sound whose source is not visible on screen, for example:

• Narrator's commentary
• Off screen sound effects

The distinction between diegetic or non-diegetic sound depends on our understanding of the conventions of film viewing and listening.  We know of that certain sounds are represented as coming from the story world, while others are  represented as coming from outside the space of the story events. 

Sound motif-A sound motif is a sound effect or a combination of different sound effects that are associated with a particular character, setting, situation or idea through the film. The sound motifs condition the audience emotionally for the intervention, arrival, or actions of a particular character.

Sound Bridge-Sound bridges are one of the most common transitions in the continuity editing style, one that stresses the connection between both scenes since their mood is still the same

Score-A film score or background score is an original piece of music written to accompany a specific film.

Incidental music-Incidental music is used in a film or play as a background to create or enhance a particular atmosphere.

Ambient sound-Ambient sounds are background noices which are present in a scene or location. Common ambient sounds include things such as, wind ,birds, thunder, rain ,crowds, traffic etc.