Textual analysis terminology

Shots

Extreme close up - a very close shot of a person or object. It can be used to create shock and to focus on a symbolic or important object

Close up - A lose shot of a person or object. It is used to show facial expressions and focus on an important object.

Medium shot - shot that shows half of a person. Used to show people talking.

Two shot - shows two people in the same shot. Used to show two people on equal terms.

Over the shoulder shot - a shot that show another character from over the shoulder of the character in the foreground. Used to show people talking. High and low shots can be used.

High shot - the camera position is higher than eye level. Used to show a person is inferior.

Low shot - the camera position is below eye level. Used to show a person is superior.

Long shot - shows all of the person. Used to show people moving and reveal things about their environment.

Extreme long/establishing shot - show the entire surrounding from a distance. Used to establish the environment the scene is taking place.

Movement

Pan - camera rotates from side to side.

Tilt/pitch - camera rotates up or down.

Zoom - increases or decreases the cameras field of view to magnify a portion of the scene.

Dolly/track - the camera's position changes. Dolly in moves the camera closer to a subject while dolly out backs it away

JOKE WARNING

The other day on strictly come dancing one of the judges was replaced by a camera. It was Lens Goodman.

 

 

Editing is very important when creating a film and many different techniques can be used to create effects.

Continuity - continuous action show in a sequence

Montage - a series of seemingly unrelated shots that the audience must work to connect

Cross-cutting/parallel-editing - simultaneous occurrences. In other words two different shots that appear to be happening at the same time

Transitions - refers to what happens between shots. How an editor transitions to the next shot

Cut - indicates the end of a shot

Dissolve - a type of transition. One shot blends into the next one. Indicates a large passage of time between shots.

Fade - a type of transition. One shot blends into a single colour, usually black or white.

Wipe - a type of transition. One shot moves off screen to be replaced by another. Different wipes signify different things. Eg: a wipe up or down can connote a hierarchy.

Digital effects - most editing software offers a variety of effects to be used for transitions. Pixilating, animation and focus drops can be used.

Juxtaposition - two shots that contrast each other. This type of editing can be used to show differences.

JOKE WARNING

The other day I was at football training and my coach said to me "when this cross comes I want you to head it in" Then I said "but I don't have any editing equipment"

 

 

Music, sound effects and voices all create an atmosphere and connote different things.

Diegetic sound - sound that comes from a source that is visible on screen. Eg: voices, animals, objects

Non-diegetic sound - sound that doesn't come from a source on screen. Eg: music, narration, sound effects.

Major key - connotes happiness and joy

Minor key - connotes sadness

Crescendo - gets louder and builds up

Diminuendo - gets quieter

Staccato - short sharp notes

Legato - long notes

Leitmotif - a tune associated with a character

Dynamics - levels of volume

Atmospheric sounds - low ominous rumbles

Hypersensitive sounds - exaggerated noises

Another good way to describe sounds and music is to use adjectives and to describe what emotions the sound connotes.

JOKE WARNING

I like to use building blocks to play long notes. The technical term is legoto.