Film Techniques and Sound Elements

Close-up shot

• A shot that captures a wide view of a scene

• A shot that focuses tightly on a subject, often a face, to show emotion or detail

• A shot taken from a distance to show the entire landscape

• A shot that uses a high angle to depict the subject from above

Over-the-shoulder shot

• positioned behind one character, looking at another, often used in conversations

• a shot taken from a high angle to show the subject from above

• a close-up shot focusing on a character's facial expression

• a wide shot that captures the entire scene and all characters present

Low angle shot

• looks up at subject, making them appear powerful or dominant

• looks down at subject, making them appear weak or submissive

• captures the subject from the side, emphasizing movement

• focuses on the background, minimizing the subject's presence

Non-diegetic sound

• Sound that characters can hear

• Sound added for the audience, not heard by characters (e.g., soundtrack, voiceover)

• Sound that is part of the story's world

• Sound that is only heard in the background

Pan and tilt camera movement

• Pan: camera moves vertically; Tilt: camera moves horizontally, both from a fixed point

• Pan: camera moves horizontally; Tilt: camera moves vertically, both from a fixed point

• Pan: camera moves diagonally; Tilt: camera moves in a circular motion, both from a fixed point

• Pan: camera remains stationary; Tilt: camera moves vertically, both from a fixed point

Diegetic sound

• Sound that originates from outside the film’s world

• Sound that is added in post-production

• Sound that originates within the film’s world (e.g., dialogue, footsteps, music from a radio)

• Sound that is only heard by the audience and not the characters

Tracking shot

• moves alongside or follows the subject, often on rails or a dolly

• is a static shot that captures a scene without movement

• is a shot that zooms in or out on a subject

• is a shot taken from above the subject, often called a bird's eye view

Lighting in mise en scène

• of light and shadow to create mood, highlight characters, or suggest time of day

• to create a sense of movement and action

• to enhance the sound design of a scene

• to establish the genre of the film

Mise en scène

• of everything in the frame (setting, props, actors, costume, lighting)

• the arrangement of sound and music in a film

• the editing techniques used to create a narrative

• the use of color grading to enhance visuals

High angle shot

• looks down on subject, making them appear small or vulnerable

• makes the subject appear larger than life

• captures the subject from eye level

• creates a sense of intimacy with the subject