LANGUAGE FOR FILM

Useful Terms For Film Analysis

READING A FILM
Reading a film is much like reading a novel or play in
terms of narrative elements; however, the
language of film creates the unique semantic and
syntactic features that compose the narrative. In
addition to dialogue, character, and narrative structure
you should also consider the following basic
film elements.
BASIC FILM ELEMENTS

1. CAMERA SHOTS
2. CAMERA ANGLES
3. CAMERA MOVEMENT
4. EDITS
5. LIGHTING
6. SOUND
CAMERA SHOTS

In film editing, a shot is the continuous

footage or sequence between two edits
or cuts.
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ESTABLISHING / LONG / WIDE SHOT

This is a shot that shows the

subject within their surrounding
environment. A wide shot tells the
audience who is in the scene,
where the scene is set, and when
the scene takes place
Often establishes the setting or
atmosphere.
CLOSE UP (inc. extreme & medium)

A type of shot that tightly frames a

person or object. It is used to
draw the audience closer
and to involve them in what is
happening. Also used to observe
reactions and emotions.
MEDIUM SHOT

A camera angle shot from a

medium distance. It is Used to
show more detail – often of
interaction between characters.
FOCUS
The focus of a shot is
its central point of
attraction or attention.
Focus is manipulated
to highlight certain
parts of a shot,
guiding the viewer’s
attention and creating
different effects.
POINT OF VIEW

A point of view shot

enables a viewer to
see a scene through
the eyes of a
particular character. It
provides a single,
personal, perspective
of the action.
CAMERA ANGLES

The camera angle describes the

relationship between the location at
which the movie camera or video camera
is placed and the subject of a shot.
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HIGH ANGLE
A cinematic technique where
the camera looks down on the
subject from a high angle and
the point of focus often gets
"swallowed up".
Often makes the subject look
vulnerable, isolated or
powerless.
LOW ANGLE
This is a shot from a camera
angle positioned low on the
vertical axis, anywhere below
the eye line, looking up.
Psychologically, the effect of
the low-angle shot is that it
makes the subject look strong
and powerful.
STRAIGHT ON or EYE LEVEL
When the level of your camera
is placed at the same height as
the eyes of the characters in
your frame. An eye level
camera angle does not require
the viewer to see the eyes of
the actor, nor does the actor
need to look directly into the
camera for a shot to be
considered eye level.
The shot is normal in relation
to the subject.
AERIAL SHOT
An aerial shot is taken from an
vantage point above what is
framed in the shot.
It gives a clear view of the
action and is often used to
emphasise a spectacle.
CAMERA MOVEMENT

This term refers to the way in which the

camera follows the action. It shapes the
viewer's perspective of space and time
and controls the delivery of narrative
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information.
PAN, CRANE & HANDHELD

Pan – camera moves horizontally

across/around the scene.

Crane – camera above the action

Handheld - camera used without a

tripod. This produces an immediacy
and a feeling of excitement
TILT

In a tilt shot, the camera

moves up or down.
ZOOM
Zooming can either be performed
towards longer focal lengths, giving a
"zoom in" effect: The filmed object
will then increase in apparent size,
and fewer objects become visible on
film. Or it is performed towards
shorter focal lengths, giving a "zoom
out" effect: The filmed object will
shrink in apparent size, and more
objects come into view. Zoom is used
to involve the audience and focus on
the expression of a character.
TRACKING SHOTS
In a track shot the camera
moves along a track beside,
in front of or behind the
subject of the shot e.g.
alongside athletes in a race.
DOLLY VS ZOOM
A camera dolly is a wheeled
cart that enables smooth
horizontal camera movements.
As with tracking shots, moving
the camera in relation to the
subject of a shot will create
effects. By combining
movement with the use of
zoom, further effects can be
created.
CAMERA MOVEMENT & EMOTION
The position of the camera in
relation to the subject of a shot
greatly influences mood.
Adding movement to directly
manipulate that relationship is
very effective as a means to
control and manipulate the
viewer’s emotional response
to a work.
EDITING

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Editing refers to the process of
manipulating the component pieces of the
work in order to prepare the final version.
This process involves the deleting,
arranging, and splicing of all the individual
sections of film / video & sound from each
shot and synchronizing everything with the
soundtrack.

More information & examples here.

SPEED OR PACE OF EDITS
The length of the shots and
the way in which shots change
guides the viewer’s emotional
response to the scene.
Editing will control the pace
and flow of action within a
sequence and will create &
enhance moods e.g. fast cuts
for action or to create
suspense.
JUMP CUT or CUT AWAY SHOT
A jump cut or cut away shot is
when a single shot is broken
with a cut that makes the
subject appear to jump
instantly forward in time. ...
They are seen as a violation to
typical continuity editing,
which seeks to give a
seamless appearance of
time and space to the story.
Camera moves to a significant
object or close-up
SIMPLE STRAIGHT CUT
A cut is where one shot is
instantly replaced with another
usually from a different camera
angle. A simple straight cut is
the continuation of one shot
too another in the same place
and at the same time. Used to
create smooth continuity
of events and ‘normality’.
FADE TO BLACK or DISSOLVE

One image is slowly brought in

underneath to indicate the end
of an event – gives time for
audience to think about what
has happened.
MONTAGE

A series of short, interrelated

shots used to convey the
passage of time, plot
progression, or information.

More information & examples here.

EDITING
Useful links for further information and examples.
● Brilliant Moments - Here
● Top Editors Explain - Here
● More Excellent Examples - Here
MONTAGE
Useful links for further information and examples.
● Five methods of Montage - Explanation
● Five methods of Montage - More Examples
LIGHTING

Lighting refers to the way in which the

amount, size, color, and harshness of
light in a scene in a shot is controlled or
manipulated in order to achieve specific
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dramatic and emotional effects.
LOW-KEY

Low-key lighting has greater

contrast between the dark and
light areas of the image with
a majority of the scene in
shadow (creating contrast).
HIGH-KEY
High-key lighting reduces
the lighting ratio in the scene,
meaning there's less
contrast between the darker
tones and the brighter areas
(More natural lighting).
USE OF COLOUR / TINTS
This is the process of adding
colour to black-and-white film,
usually by means of soaking the
film in dye and staining the film
emulsion. The effect is that all of
the light shining through is
filtered, so that what would be
white light becomes light of
some colour. Colour effects
enhance mood or setting.
SOUND

This refers to any music, dialogue, effects,

ambient noise, and/or ground noise within
the work as well as its soundtrack. 6
INCIDENTAL MUSIC

The use of music to highlight

the mood/emotion/tension.
DIEGETIC SOUND

Sound which is recorded with

the image or added later to
give the impression it is part of
the natural sound of the scene.
NON - DIEGETIC SOUND

Sound whose source is not

visible on the screen or
implied to be present in the
action of the film.
For example: incidental music,
voice of the narrator.
FURTHER EXAMPLES

Clips providing further information and examples.

EDITING
EDITING
EDITING
MONTAGE
MONTAGE