Literary Devices
A story that operates on two levels: a literal one and a deeper, symbolic one
Allegory
When a character acknowledges the audience, shattering the illusion of the story, like Deadpool talking directly to viewers.
Breaking the 4th wall
This term refers to the number of individual images displayed in one second of film or video, creating the illusion of motion
Frames per Second (FPS)
A narrative hint of what's to come, like storm clouds gathering before a tragedy.
Foreshadowing
Any sound that exists within a film’s world, like dialogue, footsteps, or a radio playing in a scene.
Diegetic sounds
this frame rate is the industry standard for cinematic films, balancing smooth motion with a natural look
24 FPS
A brief reference to a famous person, event, or work
Allusion
Sounds not heard by the characters, such as a dramatic soundtrack or a narrator’s voice
Non-diegetic sounds
This phenomenon tricks the human eye into seeing continuous motion when a series of still images is shown in rapid succession
Persistence of Vision
A direct comparison between two things that aren't similar
Metaphor
Custom-made sound effects created in a studio, like crunching celery to mimic breaking bones in an action scene
This animation technique involves capturing individual frames of objects moved in small increments, bringing puppets, clay figures, or even LEGOs to life
Stop-motion
A device where the audience knows something the characters don’t, like in Romeo and Juliet when Juliet is only sleeping, but Romeo believes she's dead.
Dramatic Irony
When an unseen narrator or character provides commentar
Voice over
When you film at a higher FPS and play it back at a standard frame rate, this technique makes action appear smoother and more dramatic
Slow-motion