Cinematic Terms

Camera Movements

Steadicam

It was introduced in the late 70's. The camera operator will have a special mechanical harness to help make the shots smooth and steady whilst the camera is still handheld to let the camera operator move along with the action.

Dolly

A moving shot in which the perspective of the subject and background is changed. The camera is mounted on a hydraulically powered wheeled platform. It can be pushed noiselessly around whilst the camera is running during filming. Dolly out, the camera moving back to reveal acharacter or object that was out of frame. Dolly in, the camera moves closer. Dollying along with, the camera moves beside with the subject also known as the tracking shot.

Camera Composition

Depth of field

The depth of composition of a shot. The elements captured in the shot appear in sharp focus.

Objects or characters close in the frame's foreground appear massive, while other objects appear smaller in the background.

Focus Pulls

Useful for directing viewers attention. e.g if their are two people in the shot and one of them is in

focus that person is the subject for attention. This is often used in drama dialogues where the focus moves back and forth bewteen characters.

Framing

The way in which the image is framed to compose the character in the shot when they are surrounded by boundaries such as a doorway or arch.

Editing

Jump Cut

An abrupt, disorienting transitional device in the middle of a continuous shot in which the action is noticeably advanced in time and/or cut between two similar scenes. This is either done through bad editing or to create discontinuoity within a shot.

Superimposition

Where an image will be layered over another image. e.g film titles at the beginning of films composed as a double exposure.

Ellipsis and expansion of time

A break between the plot and a sub-plot ususally marked with a fade or a jump cut.

Transition of image and sound

One of several ways of moving from one shot or scene to the next, including such transitional effects or shots as a cut, fade, dissolve, and wipe; a transition focus between two scenes means the current scene goes out of focus and the next scene comes into focus.

Preliminary task film shots

Shot 1: Medium close up establishing the two main characters.

Shot 2: Long shot show the two main characters walking down the corridoor. Camera zooms out as they gradually get closer.

Shot 3: Close up as they approach the double doors which leads them through the other section of the corridoor.

Shot 4: Long shot, shows the two characters from behind going through the double doors.

Shot 5: Long shot, cameras moved in front of them to make it seem contiuous. same hands that where used to push the doors need to be the same when coming from the other side.

Shot 6: Low angle medium shot as they walk into the the classroom.

Shot 7: Camera cuts to them walking through the door into the classroom. Birds eye view shot.

Shot 8: Camera zooms out to show them walking round the desk as they go to sit down for a confruntation.

Shot 9: Camera pans as they sit down on the desk.

Shot 10: Over the head shot as they have an argument, close up of one of their faces.

Shot 11: Long shot showing them facing each other

Shot 12: Birds eye view shot as one of the character walks out.