Classwork

 This part of my blog will demonstrate my understanding of technical elements and how to utilise them

Camera

Shots

Here is a video that helped with my understanding of camera shots

Establishing shot:

• Introduces the viewer to the time and setting of the narrative

Master shot:

• Confirms the location and time of the scene
• Shows the characters and their relation to each other

Wide shot:

• Defines the character's relationship to their environment
• Focuses in the scale of the subject
• Effective at making a subject appear lost or vulnerable

Full shot:

• Full-body shot of the character
• Able to show their expression while also showing their body language

Cowboy/medium full shot:

• Shows a character from their head to their waist (where a gun holster typically is)
• Can be used to make a subject appear more confrontational/confident

Medium shot:

• Not too dramatic or too distancing
• Captures subjects similar to how we interact with people in real life

Medium closeup shot:

• Reduces details to focus on story
• More intimate

Closeup shot:

• High focus on subject  -> signifies importance (on expression, detail etc)

Extreme closeup shot:

• Even more focus on subject, emphasising their importance
• Even more intimate

Angles

Eye-level shot:

• Natural
• Feels intimate

High

• Makes a subject appear vulnerable/powerless

Low

• Makes a subject appear strong/powerful

Canted

• An unnatural angle that gives the scene the feeling of something being 'off'

Movement

Static

• Can be used to make a scene appear calmer but also can be used to make a character seem trapped or helpless

Pan

• Can be used to follow a character's movement
• Can be used to reveal information

Whip pan

• Adds energy to a shot

Tilt

• Can reveal information
• Can be used to make a character appear more dominant but can also make a character appear more vulnerable

Push in

• Emphasises a moment

Pull out

• Deemphasises a character
• Can be used to unveil a scene's context, setting or characters
• Can be used to detach from a scene
• Can be used to symbolise negative emotion

Zoom

• Zooming out can reveal context
• Zooming in can draw our attention to detail
• Slow zooming can create uneasiness

Crash zoom

• Can be used for either dramatic or comedic effect

Dolly zoom

• Creates a vertigo effect
• Can be used to portray (internal/external) conflict
• Adds immersion

Camera roll

• Can be disorienting and unsettling
• Can match character movement in moments of panic/conflict

Tracking

• Can be a hermeneutic code that makes the viewer wonder where the character is going and what will happen when they get there
• Immersive
• Draws attention to specific actions
• Can be used to build tension

Trucking

• Can be used to establish characters and the world in the film

Arc

• Creates energy in a shot
• Makes a shot appear more dynamic without needing characters to move
• Centralises focus

Boom

• Can be used to reveal information
• Can be used to follow characters in action
• Can be used to capture the world around

Random movement

• Appears more natural
• Looks more like a documentary

Sound

Diegetic

• Sound that exists in the diegesis
• Creates immersion/realism
• Adds to the world

Non-diegetic

• Sound that exists outside of the diegesis
• Added to invoke an emotional reaction to the viewer

Trans-diegetic

• Adds a meta element to the scene by blurring the lines between reality/fantasy

Dialogue:

• Feeds the audience direct information verbally
• Can be used to show the relationship of characters through the language they use when communicating with one another (formal, informal, polite, rude etc)

Asynchronous sound:

• When sound is not synced with the scene
• May be used to indicate a different scene happening
• Can be used to relate and highlight scenes

Contrapuntal sound:

• When sound does not match what is going on in the scene
• Can show a character's distorted state of mind
• Makes the scene appear feel bizarre

Sound effects:

• Added sound to create realism or exaggerate actions
• Immersive
• Can be used to create tension/suspense

Sound motif:

• Repeating sounds
• Can be used to create symbolic themes
• Can be used for foreshadowing

Sound bridge:

• Sound that continues to another scene
• Links scenes together

Voiceover:

• Narration
• Gives the audience extra information

Score/soundtrack:

• Music added to a scene
• Sets an ambience/tone
• Can encourage audiences to feel a certain way

Ambient sound:

• Sounds natural to the environment
• Adds a sense of realism
• Sets the scene for the audience
• Immersive

Mise-en-scene

Character:

• Hair
• Makeup
• Clothing
• Build
• Body language

The design and behaviour of a character can reflect their role, ideology and personality. Design and behaviour can be used to push stereotypes that may reinforce a media producer's own ideologies which follows Stuart Hall's representation theory.

Binary opposites (Levi-Strauss) is also another way media producers can incorporate meaning into their text. This can be reflected in character mise-en-scene by creating juxtapositions that show the different sides to a narrative that can be used to push the media producer's ideologies.

Mise-en-scene in characters can also be used to make a character stand out from their environment by making them visibly different from other characters or the setting. 

Props:

• Accessories
• Weapons
• Gadgets
• Items

Props, when in relation to characters, can also tell the audience of the character's role, ideology or personality. Often times, they are paired with character mise-en-scene to make a character appear more recogniseable

They can also be a part of a narrative's worldbuilding. They let the audience know of the world's history and culture without immediately revealing a lot of information. Through this, they make the world seems more believable and realistic.

Set:

• Location
• Dressing
• Space
• Time
• Lighting

The set is also an aspect of worldbuilding. It shows the audience the sort of world the characters are interacting with and tells them how they feel about it by exaggerating certain aspects of the set (for example, a set with very little space makes the scene feel more claustrophobic). Using this, the set can be an excellent tool for reflecting the themes of the narrative

The set can further emphasise the established themes through the utilisation of narrative codes such as hermeneutic codes (keeps the audience engaged by taking advantage of their need to find out), semantic codes (strengthen themes through semiotics) or cultural codes (gives the audience understanding of the scene through real-world contexts). 

Editing

Cutaway:

• Cuts away from the main action
• Creates pacing

Eyeline match:

• Cuts to the object of a character's attention
• Tells the audience information
• Builds intrigue/suspense by making audience wait for the reveal of what the character sees or not showing it

Cross-cutting:

• When the editor cuts to multiple scenes happening at the same time
• Links different scenes
• Keeps the plot/action moving forward
• Can be used to create parallels

Eye trace:

• When an editors cuts between two or more shots that focuses on the same area on the frame
• Keeps the audience focused
• Can guide a viewer's eyes through blocking/camera movement
• Good for fast paced action scenes

Split edit (J-cut/L-cut):

• Sound/scene changes before the other
• J-cut: sound plays first
• L-cut: Scene plays first
• Used to link multiple scenes together
• Gives editors control over rhythm

Intellectual montage:

• Puts seemingly unrelated images together to create a certain feeling/idea
• Makes use of the Kuleshov effect where meaning is created out of juxtaposition
• Evokes emotion/meaning

Cut on action:

• Cutting on a character/object's movement
• Creates a seamless transition
• Feels natural
• Good for fast paced fight scenes

Reflection:

• Although I'm already familiar with these technical elements, I found it helpful to revise as it keeps my knowledge fresh. I also managed to learn a few new things which I find would be helpful to incorporate into my own media products