Film Terms
What is Proxemics
Proxemics is placement of characters, props and scenery within a frame.
Why do we use eye level shots?
Purpose: neutral shot, has little to no psychological effect on the viewer.
What is the purpose of internal framing?
Purpose: To show that a character is trapped literally or metaphorically.
What is a high angle's purpose?
Purpose: It makes the subject seem vulnerable, weak, powerless, small, insignificant, etc.
What is a close up?
It’s time for a close-up shot when a subject’s emotions and reactions are revealed. The close-up camera shot fills the frame with a part of the subject. If the subject is a person, it is often their face.
What is a Long Shot / Wide Shot
If the subject is a person then their whole body will be in view -- but not filling the shot. In other words, there should be a good deal of space above and below your subject.
What is a Pan shot?
The word pan is a contraction of panoramic
The tripod remains still, camera moves side to side.
Think of shaking your head “no.”
When do you use a long/wide shot?
The wide shot also lets us see the beautiful background imagery. A long shot gives us a better idea of the scene setting, and gives us a better idea of how the character fits into the area.
What is the purpose of negative space?
This can indicate loneliness, incompleteness, or absence.
What is an eye level shot?
Camera is level or looking straight on with the subject.
What is a low angle?
Camera is lower than the subject, looking up.
What is a Extreme Long/Wide Shot
An extreme long shot makes the subject appear small against their location.
What is a Tracking/Dolly?
Smooth movement, camera/tripod is pushed back and forth, usually on a set of tracks.
The camera could be mounted on a car, train track type setting or pushed on a dolly.
What is a Full Shot?
Full shots often position the frame just above the subject’s head and just below their feet. This gives a more personal connection than the long shot and provides surrounding information in the scene without having to cut away.
What is an angle of destiny's purpose?
Purpose: It represents a subject making some sort of decision, irrevocable change OR demonstrates a danger that will occur. (It often precedes a death or serious injury).
What is Negative Space?
The subject is positive space and what remains in the frame is negative space
What is a Zolly Shot?
The dolly zoom, also referred to as the Vertigo effect or a Zolly shot, is a technique wherein the camera is dollied either forward or backward while the zoom on the lens is pulled in the opposite direction.
When do you use extreme wide/long shots?
An extreme long shot makes the subject appear small against their location.
What is internal framing?
The placement of a figure or figures (or other important objects) within boundaries formed by other mise-en-scene elements (sets, objects, other figures, etc). A composition often referred to as "frame within the frame."
When do you use full shots?
The full shot can also be used to feature multiple characters in a single shot.
What is a medium shot?
The medium shot is one of the most common camera shots. It frames the subject from roughly the waist up. It emphasizes more of the subject while keeping their surroundings visible.
What is a Point of View?
The camera records the scene from a particular person’s viewpoint.
Sometimes the POV shot is taken over the shoulder of a character.
Sometimes a POV shot is shared and represents the joint POV of two (or more) characters.
It is generally followed by a reaction shot to show what a character is looking at.
What is an angle of destiny?
The camera is positioned from a high angle in a diagonal corner.
What is a high angle?
The camera is higher than the subject, looking down.
What is a low angle's purpose?
Purpose: makes subject seem imposing, large, powerful, dominant, intimidating etc.