Lighting
The scene is fully lit and bright
What is high key lighting?
The way a scene in a movie is composed.
What is cinematography?
The shot focuses on a specific part of the body, face, or object. It reveals an important feature or trait related to characterization, theme, and/or mood depending on the shot/scene.
What is an extreme close-up?
The camera moves in or out to focus more closely or broadly on a character, setting, or action.
What is zoom?
This camera angle results in a neutral perspective and mimics how we see people in real life — our eye line connecting with theirs, and it can break down boundaries.
What is eye-level?
The scene is dark or dimly lit
What is low key lighting?
An academic approach that treats film as texts to be read similarly to novels and poetry.
What is film literature?
The shot focuses on the face of one character only.
What is a close-up?
The camera moves from side to side, usually showing an entire landscape / setting.
What is panning?
A camera angle that is actually much more standard than an eye level shot. Because the camera is aligned with the shoulder, it allows the actor's head to reach the top of the frame and makes them appear slightly taller.
What is shoulder level?
The light shines directly in front of the subject of the shot. This type of lighting helps to bring clarity or emphasize something particularly important.
What is front lighting?
The sounds in a film that are natural to the setting (example: animal sounds, city sounds, weather)
What is diegetic sound?
The shot provides a view of a character or characters from above the waist. The use of this shot helps to draw the audience’s attention to a specific character. It reveals that the character is important to the story and its meaning.
What is a mid shot?
The camera moves up and down.
What is tilt?
The camera is roughly waist-high. This shot is often useful when one subject is seated while the other stands; can also be used when you have action that occurs near the hip, like weapons being drawn, or someone reaching into their pocket.
What is hip level?
The light source comes from behind a subject, creating a halo effect. This type of lighting helps to construct a dramatic moment.
What is back lighting?
Sounds in a film that are edited in (example: narration, music)
What are non-diegetic sounds?
The shot provides a view of the landscape and/or the full bodies of 1 or more characters. The use of this shot presents the person in a specific setting; it reveals a specific time/place for this person/story.
What is a long shot?
The camera tracks/moves along with a character throughout a scene. Hint: the name of the machine that moves the camera is in the name of this technique.
The camera’s height is on the floor, level with the subject. This camera angle is used a lot to feature a character walking without revealing their face.
What is ground level?
The camera is placed directly over the subject (at 90 degrees), looking down on them.
What is an overhead OR bird's eye view angle?
The camera is tilted to one side, creating tension in a shot.
What is a Dutch angle OR Dutch tilt?
The shot introduces the scene and usually includes the overall setting. This shot sets the stage for the audience and provides a depiction of the characters, setting, and context of the film.
What is an establishing shot?
Another name for the hip level shot. Hint: this angle is used a lot in Western films.
What is the cowboy shot?
A camera angle that is ideal when a director wants to capture movement.
What is knee level?