CONVENTIONS

OF FILM
Learning Objective
We will revise the elements of
construction that film makers use
to bring their stories to life.
 FILM
STRUCTURE
 When we study film, we consider the following:

1 2
How the film employs narrative How the film employs film
conventions conventions (in other words,
(in other words, the ‘story') what we see and hear)

This includes elements like This includes visual techniques and

character, setting, plot events, audio techniques.
theme etc.
To start discussing a film's construction, you'll
need to understand the following terms...

Shot
A single 'run' of the camera. This is the basic unit
from which a film is constructed. The length of
each shot determines the pace and rhythm of the
scene. The typical shot lasts around 5-8 seconds.

A Long Take – reveals complex scenes, often

with in them, as they unfold in real time.

A Short Take – can last under a second and

switches rapidly.
Sequence Scene
A group of shots depicting A group of sequences which
one action, or, which seem depict an event in the
to belong with or depend story and occur in one
upon each other. place.

A typical sequence might A scene is generally a

be between 3 to 18 shots) larger unit than a
sequence.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
& LIGHTING
 Camera shot types are also
referred to as viewing distance.

They describe the distance

between the camera and the
subject.

There are four main types of

camera shots.
 Close-up Shot
An object or an actor’s
head takes up most of the
screen. It is used to reveal
emotion through facial
expression.
Mid Shot
An actor is seen from the
waist up (this is the most
common type of shot). It
shows emotion through
facial expression as well as
body language.
Long Shot
An actor’s entire body is
seen as well as some of the
setting. It shows a
character's emotion
through posture and
gesture.
 Extreme Close-Up Shot
This is a very close shot and may be
only a small part of an object or
person. It is used to raw our focus to
show a specific detail.
Extreme Long Shot
This shows the landscape of the film
with a barely visible character in the
distance. It is used to show setting or
make a person look small or vulnerable
in their surroundings.
 Camera angles are also referred
to as viewing perspective.

They describe the angle ofthe

camera in relation to the subject.

There are six main types of

camera angles.
 High Angle
The camera is positioned
above the subject, looking
down. This makes the
subject looks small, weak,
powerless or insignificant.
Low Angle Eye Level Shot
The camera is positioned The audience sees the
below the subject, looking subject straight on (this
up. It makes the subject is the most common type
looks large, imposing and of shot). The subject is
powerful. observed with no bias.
 Birdseye View Undershot Dutch Tilt

The camera is placed The camera is positioned The camera is tilted on it’s
overhead or directly above directly beneath the axis so it produces an
the subject. Characters subject. It is often coupled image that is similar to
and objects are made to with point-of-view shots tilting one’s head on the
look small compared to when the character is side. It’s often used to
their surroundings. looking up at something. convey tension or chaos.
There are four main types of camera movement.

Panning Shot Tilt Shot

The camera is stationary and the
head moves from left to right or
right to left on a horizontal axis. It is
usually used to show a setting or
landscape.
The camera is stationary and the
head moves up or down on a vertical
axis. It is used to show the height of
something or to mirror someone
raising or lowering their head.
There are four main types of camera movement.

Zoom Tracking Shot

The camera is stationary and the The camera moves on tracks or

focus changes to zoom in or out on wheels, from a helicopter or crane or
an object, character or setting. It is from the body of a person. They
used to draw focus to a particular often follow a traveling or moving
detail. subject.
 There are two main types of lighting.

High Key Low Key

Lighting Lighting
Description – Description –
Brightness, Sharp contrasts
openness, light between light and

dark
Effect - Allows a

range of moods Effect - Creates a

to be conveyed mood of mystery
and suspense
EDITING
Editing
This is the process of assembling and splicing
together the various shots which comprise a
film.

The editing speed (or tempo) of a particular

sequence is also an important consideration.

Fast editing generates excitement and

anticipation and slow editing has a calming
and relaxing effect on the viewer.
Some Cut – two shots are joined in a way
that looks like an instantaneous
common change between shots.
editing
techniques Fade – The image appears or
are as disappears gradually by slowly
fading to black, white or another
follows: colour. The fade is often used as a
division between scenes.

Dissolve – an image on screen slowly

fades away while the next image
slowly fades in (either a voiceover or
a piece of music).
Some Parallel Editing/Cross-cutting – cuts
between scenes that are happening
common simultaneously but in different
editing locations.

techniques
Point-of-view Edit – a series of shots
are as reveal what a character is seeing
follows: and their reaction to it via facial
expression

Montage – a series of shots from

different settings or times shown in
sequence to create a continuous
reality. There is usually voiceover or
music played over the top.
 AUDIO
TECHNIQUES
 Music
Music in film is a powerful
emotional trigger that
achieves a number of things:
It creates mood or atmosphere
It establishes setting
It reinforces or foreshadows
certain events
It gives meaning to a character's
actions or translates their
thoughts
 Sound Effects
Sound effects are any sound, other
than music or speech, artificially
reproduced to create an effect.
Sound effects are most often added into the
movie post production.
Many times when filming a scene with
multiple actions going on at the same time,
such as dialogue, sword fighting and other
background action, sound effects are added
to make the effect louder.
 Dialogue & Voice

Dialogue is defined as a conversation

between two or more people in a
movie.
In addition, a movie could have a monologue
where a character is speaking out loud when
he or she is alone or a voiceover where they
speak over a sequence of events.
A character can convey a range of emotions
or ideas through the voice they adopt when
delivering dialogue.
THEATRICAL
ELEMENTS
 Setting
The setting is the place in which the action
occurs. It gives us information about the time,
location and atmosphere.

It can also provide challenges for the characters

to overcome.

Settings can convey ideas for example opulence,

squalor, a particular culture etc.
 Costume
Costumes can quickly convey a good
deal about characters.

Costumes are carefully chosen to

represent a range of things about
characters – their occupation, age,
status, personality, mood and so on.

Colours are generally used

symbolically when it comes to
costume.
 Props

Objects that actors manipulate or that

are a part of the set are called props.

They too can reveal information about

character, setting, and themes.

Think about the symbolism or

connotations of different objects.
 Acting
Acting, like painting and filmmaking, is an
art and there are many tools that an actor
has at his or her disposal to communicate a
character to an audience. Consider the
following:

Body language – Including facial

expression, gesture, posture and movement,
Voice & delivery of lines - the way that an
actor chooses to say his or her lines
ELEMENTS USED:
ELEMENTS USED: