Basics of Filmmaking

Test Guide
Composition Basics
Composition refers to
● The arrangement or placement of the various
elements like the Scenery/location, Props,
Actors/Main Subject
● Within a frame - a specific area (on screen)
● That looks aesthetically appealing
● Conveys an intended message
Rules of Composition
The Rule of Thirds
Framing of a subject or
picture looks more
appealing and attractive
if they are placed near
the intersection points.
It will also ensure
enough head room.
Rules of Composition
The Rule of Thirds

Placing the subject in a way to give more

space/room towards the eye direction thereby
making the framing look pleasing.
 Types of Shots

This Indicates how much of the Actor or subject is

filmed within the camera frame.

Full Shot
Types of Shots
Types of Shots

Importance of Various types of shots

● Every shot has a story or thought to convey
● Different shots portray different emotions
● A combination of these variations promotes convincing storytelling
● It enhances visual interest of the audience.
 Camera Angles
Various Camera Angles
Different angles of framing the subject help to instigate various emotional appeal.
Usually shots are picturised at eye level. This makes the audience feel that they are
actually in the scene.
 Camera Angles
Various Camera Angles
A high camera angle makes the character look timid weak and powerless.
 Camera Angles
Various Camera Angles

A low camera angle means it makes the character or subject look Big and powerful
Camera Angles
Camera Movements
Camera Movements
Basic Camera Moves
● Zoom: One of the most
well-known camera move
is Zoom. It gives the
impression of moving
closer or further away
from the subject.
 Lighting
Various Lightings
The lighting is a very crucial part
of picturising a shot.

Light should neither be too low

not too high as depicted in the
image.

Each part of the frame should be

appropriately visible as per the
intent of the shot.
Film Genres
 Film Genres
Action: These films would generally involve a lot of action scenes, violence, like fighting
or shoot-outs (with weapons), car chases and often lots of explosions. Examples: John
Wick, Fast and Furious, The Rock
 Film Genres
Adventure: These films would involve some journey or voyage that often takes place in
exotic unknown locations which involve in the exploration or some kind a quest.
Examples: Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tomb Raider, Journey to the center of
the Earth.
 Film Genres
Animated: These films would use Computer Generated Imagery or drawn characters
Instead of real actors on the screen to tell the story.
Examples: Toy Story, Shrek, Coco, Frozen, Ice Age, Kungfu Panda
 Film Genres
Comedy: The core concept of these films focus on the fun element.
Examples: Dunstan checks in, The Hangover, Baby’s Day out
 Film Genres
Drama: These films are serious and focus on the emotions of realistic characters and the
conflicts they have.
Examples: The Godfather, Marriage Story, The Sound of Metal
 Film Genres
Fantasy: These are films where situations, locations, events are surreal and usually
depict some form of magical or supernatural element with unrealistic creatures too.
Examples: Harry Potter, Highlander, Lord of the Rings
 Film Genres
Historical: The narrative takes place inside an accurate depiction of a historical setting.
Sometimes these are biographical movies, also known as Biopics.
Examples: Braveheart, Amadeus, Dunkirk, Cleopatra, Julius Ceaser
 Film Genres
Horror: These films focus on a fearful setting dark and scary and if possible, make the
audience scream (often done with a jump scare).
Examples: Nightmare on Elm Street, The Exorcist, Annabelle
 Film Genres
Musical: These are movies where songs are sung by the characters as a part of the
narrative and usually help advance the plot or develop the film’s characters.
Examples: La La Land, Grease, Mamma Mia, The Sound of Music
 Film Genres
Romance: These films are love stories that focus on the romantic involvement of the
main characters and the development of their relationship.
Examples: An Officer and a Gentleman, The Notebook, The Lake House, Roman Holiday
 Film Genres
Science fiction: Also known as Sci-Fi, these are fictional stories based on science. They
can be about the future or other worlds, and often include spaceships, extraterrestrial
beings (aliens), and advanced technology we don’t currently have.
Examples: Star Wars, Blade Runner, Avatar
 Film Genres
Thriller: A thriller film evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. A common theme
in thrillers involves innocent people dealing with a deranged adversary.
Examples of thrillers: The Silence of the Lambs, The Sixth Sense, The Da Vinci Code,
Shutter Island
 Technical Settings

Resolution: This determines the

amount of detail in your video,
or how much clarity exists in the
visual quality of the video.
A higher number of pixels
indicates a higher resolution,
and a lower number of pixels
makes for a low-resolution
video.
Technical Settings
Tripod: Tripods are used for both motion and still
photography to prevent unwanted camera
movement and provide stability.
Technical Settings
Frame Rate: When you produce video for television, it's best to stick between 24
and 30fps. This ensures that your videos look realistic and fit what people expect
from broadcast television. Live broadcasts, such as news and sports, are almost
always shot at 30fps, whereas TV shows and movies are usually shot at 24fps.
The higher the frame rate the more details you can capture.
Technical Settings
Audio: Sound is the most important element of any video or Film. It is used to
enhance the movie experience.
Technical Settings
Editing Packages: Shooting and capturing is not all that entails in the making of a
video or film. Arranging the clips or shots in an appropriate sequence helps to make
the story flow to appear realistic.

Examples: Adobe Premiere Pro, Davinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro