Film Language
Camera
Frame
Angle
Movement
Frame- What and where the image is in the frame
1. Extreme close-up- Eye, detail
2. Close up- Face shot, close
3. Medium shot- Face, above waist
4. Medium long short- More zoomed out, but not below knees
5. Long shot- All body, all image of the person/object
6. Extreme long shot- Very zoomed out, landscape for settings
Here is an image to show an example of extreme closeup which I personally took, it shows that an extreme close up inlcudes detail.
Angle- What angle is used for the image/clip
1. Low- Above, looking down or on high objects/places/people
2. Level- Straight on looking in front
3. High- Looking up from below or looking at things low down
4. Worms eye view- From below looking up
5. Bird eye view- From above looking down
Other shots: Over the shoulder shot, point of view shot, cut in and cut away, weather shots.
Movement- How the camera moves from scenes
1. Tilt-Up and down
2. Pan- Left and Right
3. Zoom- In and out
4. Static- Staying still, could zoom in or out
5. Crane shot- E.g. walking down stairs, camera can move smoothly from above to below.
Sound
Music
Contrapuntal/parallel
Diegetic/non-diegetic
Off screen/on screen
Voice over
Emotion
Dialogue
Music- What music is used? Calm/angry/loud/quiet, what instruments are used and why? How does the music fit?
Contrapuntal/parallel- When the clip doesnt fit the music, e.g. when a child is singing in a horror film.
Diegetic/non diegetic- Diegetic is when films have sound in the actual filming and non diegetic is when sounds are added after.
Off screen/on screen- Off screen is when sounds are heard but are not seen in the frame e.g. shouting from outside, on screen sound is sound that you can see happen in the frame e.g. teacher talking in class.
Voiceover- When a voice is recorded seperatly and then added over the top of the clip, e.g. narrator
Emotion- Sound that shows emotion, happy or sad, music can help with this
Dialogue- Speech- how people speak. Relaxed-slow sounds/music, anger- fast and loud.
I have added this image of a fight scene in The Avengers to show that music in this scene could be fast and loud as the scene is too.
Below shows a quieter and less energetic scene from the Titanic which would use calmer music as it is a sader scene.
Editing
Transition
Order of narrative
Pace
Special effects
Transiton- How it goes from one scene to the next e.g. slides, cuts, zooms
Order of narrative- Order of 'story' flashbacks, times in the narrative, what happens when
Pace- Speed of shots, fast and slow depending on scene.
Special Effects- Any effects added to clips e.g. posterize editing
Mis En Scene
Costume
Lighting
Actors
Makeup
Props
Settings
Costume- What the charatcers are wearing, (colours to fit film role?)
Lighting- High key or low key lighting used and why?
Actors- Who is playing the role and why, what they role is
Makeup- Makeup used to improve looks of charatcers.
Props- Useful and needed props what they are used for, icons?
Settings- Where the scenes take place and why.
Film Language described in three opening scenes:
UP
Music and Camera
In the opening scene of the film 'up' there are many film language features. These include a lot of camera characteristics such as movements and frames. For movements, the scene uses a lot of different methods like zooms, pans left and right and tracking shots. These are used throughout the clip as a way of entertaining the audience as there is no dialogue (or voiceover). Pan left and right and zoom are popular and are usually used slowly to provide a slow calm film.
Music also follows the calm emotion in the opening scene as slow quiet music is played constantly in the background. Music is used a lot for the sound feature and slightly changes due to the situation the characters are in, for example when the two characters start off young and happy together the music is louder and more upbeat, when they start to grow older together the music becomes calmer but still cheerful. In sadder scenes, the music changes slightly to become more slow to create the effect of a negative event.
Again for camera, slow zooms are used to illustrate change in time and music does the same. The movement of zoom does this by zooming out when the jar is being filled in the clip which shows how quick time is going by more money being added, opposite to this the zoom is slow which empathises the change even more as it drags the life stages out more. The music supports this by the pace, it stays the same at this point showing it looking like the same moment, but actually years have passed.
Popular camera shots are close ups, they are used for key events in the clip such as the mailbox where the two peoples journey starts and when the money saving jar is introduced to show the importance of the dream the two people share. Another close up is shown when the wife ties the mans tie each day over time which also shows the recognition of time changing.
Angles used in this include mostly straight on views (level) which clearly show the two characters. Another angle used is a high angle shot looking down on the couple in the video.
More camera movements include static, tilts up and down and zooms out.
Editing and Mis En Scene
Costumes used in this opening scene include the tie worn by the man as he grows older. At first he cannot master the task so his wife helps him and is shown to continue doing this over time, this is a key change in the clip therefore costume is important as it also shows the age. Costume is also used in the first image where the couple gets married, they were the traditional clothes of a dress and suit which helps the audience understand the starting scene.
Lighting is used effectively in the scene, at positive happy times, high-key lighting is used a lot to create a bright happy setting. Later on in less cheerful moments low-key lighting is introduced, for example, when the wife looses the baby in the hospital it is dark to show the mood of the couple.
There are two main characters in the clip, the husband and wife who grow old together. Props include the money jar for the 'paradise falls' dream and the balloons which we later find important for the rest of the film.
The main setting for this film is the house where the couple move in together and outside when the couple are enjoying their lives together. Another setting includes the less happy time in the hospital.
Editing used in the film includes transitions such as slide and cuts to each video and are used to order the story of the time quickly passing for the two characters.
Skyfall
Sound and camera
In the first scene of Skyfall, there is a chase scene which involves many camera frames, angles and movements which makes it more dramatic. To begin with there are tracking movements to show the fast travel of the main characters in a car and on a motorbike. Sound is used fiercely to show the genre of action using sounds of car tyres, glass smashing from cars and people shouting. Further in the clip other sounds are introduced which includes tense music, car horns and shouting that continues through out the scene.
When the main chase starts between two main males on motorbikes a lot of tracking shots are used again to show the speed of them moving. As the setting changes from outside to inside the camera tilts up to show a woman on the phone and as she walks, the camera remains static but she becomes as close up showing her importance. After this scene, it quickly changes to the outside action which again shows the man on the motorbike, at this stage less camera movements are used but the characters are close up in the frame making it more tense as their concentrated faces are shown clearer.
As the men begin to ride above everyone seen earlier they speed along rooftops, a high angle shot is used as it looks down on all the buildings they spin across showing how these men are superior and skilled.
Once again tyres spinning sounds are used to match the illustration of the chase and car horns are used in the disturbance of the scene. The camera follows the action of the two men by using zooms and close up angles which quickly change into long shots to show the distance the two roles have taken. Extreme long shots are also used to show the wide setting of a built up area with many buildings, the buildings the characters are using as paths for their destructive vehicles.
Editing and Mis-En-Scene
The narrative order of this scene from Skyfall is a chase involving two men who are disturbing everything and everyone in its way. A woman is also seen in a car who is clearly involved, the chase starts in a local setting, a small market which has attracted many people, but when the chase breaks out these innocent people become scared as one man pulls out a gun. The chase then continues on rooftops above the town which changes the setting from a busy area to an empty area. This change shows the speed of the two men as they climb above the market onto the highest point in the town.
High-key lighting is used in the scene which makes the event bright and active, this restless atmosphere is supported by the sounds of shouting and screaming. The high-lighting is used a lot as the majority of the scene is set outside, this creates an energetic and engaging display.
Not many props are used in this performance but one main object is a gun which one of the men use at the start which commences all the commotion and uproar. This prop automatically tells the audience that the genre is action because many other action films involve a gun as it shows danger between characters.
Costumes used in this scene are used to describe the characters personalities and importance as a role. For example the main male in the clip is wearing a suit which is not normal for a chase as it is seen as formal relaxing wear where a chase is seen as dangerous and lively. The other man is also wearing official clothing which suggests the chase was not planned, however the prop of the gun in hand suggests differently.
Facial expressions and body language show this situation are serious as they all look intense and focused. As an audience, we can tell the scene occurring is negative as facial expressions are gloomy. Another feeling we get is from the woman's body language as she smashes the cars window screen with her hand which presents how significant the situation is.
The camera positions the characters mainly in the centre of the frame which tells us they are important and critical roles of the film. This is important as the audience know straight away who the 'good' people are and who the 'bad' people are as this is common in action films.
Clueless
Sound and camera
The film is introduced with the music of 'Kids in America' which immediately tells us the setting and genre. The song is upbeat and fast and includes the lyrics 'kids' the image of young teenagers are then introduced so we know it is about young teen set in America. Not only does the song show it is set in America, the setting is a built up area with large houses and palm trees are shown which suggests it is a wealthy country. Overall, just the first few seconds tell us it is a teen drama.
The song is continued through the first part of the opening scene where young teenagers are enjoying time with their friends and one girl is gradually included the most showing she is the main character.
Camera shots used include tracking and zooms which help introduce the role in the film. Panning left and right shows the amount of characters used which also supports the genre which involves many people of the same age.
As well as the main sound being the music, laughing is used in the background which shows the film is cheerful and happy this is backed up by the smiles on the young peoples faces. Other sounds include chatting and the movement of the car which again shows the genre clearly.
When the car is driving, a birds eye view shot is used looking down into the car as it moves along the road.
A voiceover is then used next to introduce the main role who is female, her voice is matched to the genre as it is a young voice which has an American accent. When we first see this voice owner, a close up is used to view her face so the audience know what this girl looks like, this is when we officially find out she is the main character in the film. The voiceover continues as the girl doesn't actually speak in the scene, as the girls close-up is seen the camera then zooms out to see that she has a large bedroom which is typical for a teen drama and then a tracking shot is used when she skips over to her large wardrobe.
Whilst this voiceover is still being used, music is still quietly playing in the background however it is a different song to before.
After this scene, it shows the doors opening to very wealthy house as the man walks through it. This is used by a close-up of the doors opening then a zoom in to the man walking down the stairs. Tracking shots are then used as the girl talks to her father in the kitchen this dialogue is when we first see the girl talk in the opening scenes, as the two characters walk the camera follows them viewing the wide kitchen.
After the scene in the kitchen the camera then flicks back to the road where the same car is seen again slowly driving, once again a birds eye view angle is used to show the roofless car. A long shot is then used when the girl drives away and the camera stays static and the voiceover is used again.
Editing and Mis-En-Scene
The setting of 'Clueless' is in America, we know this from the music lyrics and how the area is wealthy. In the streets of this country, palm trees are seen on the side of the road which is normally associated with wealthy hot countries. The girls house is also typical for this genre location as it is very grand as all the rooms shown are bigger than normal. The girls bedroom is large and the staircase shown second is colossal followed by an expensive kitchen diner. These rooms tell the audience how wealthy this family is and shows how the girl is spoilt with her royalty room.
The opening to this film uses many other settings, such as the shopping street where the girl is seen holding many bags, a wide road and an outside pool also when the girl drives to her friends house this is also a costly setting.
High-key lighting is used in this film to show the radiant settings and backgrounds and it supports the genres merry storyline. High-key lighting creates a content mood for this film which is classically used in other teen dramas.
Costume is used to describe the characters in this film as they show what sort of person they are. The girl for example has a personal device to pick out her outfit for each day which shows that she is a fashionable (wealthy) young female. Her father is then introduced in the kitchen who is wearing a suit, this suggests he is a rich man with importance in the film. Other roles in the opening scene are wearing summery clothes showing the time of year is summer this is important as it adds more detail to the narrative. Hair and makeup are also used as the genre involves fashionable young teenagers who care about their appearance.
The camera positions this main female role in the centre of the frame to show how she is a major personality in the film and uses many other young people around her to suggest she is popular.
