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STUDYING A FILM AS TEXT

A film is a narrative- just like a novel. It is more than just presenting a script. The director carefully adds
production techniques to the narrative to create what we finally see on the screen.

We can use the acronym CAMELS to help us analyse the film techniques used.

CAMERA

 Shot type- close ups, long shots, mid shots, wide shots, extreme long shots and extreme close ups
 Camera movements- track, tilt, pan, still, hand-held effect
 Angle- point of view shots, high, low, side

ACTORS

 Gestures
 Expressions
 Tone of Voice
 Age/Size/ Race/ Gender
 Actions- what are they doing?

MISE-EN-SCENE & VISUAL COMPOSITION (SETTING)

 Inside or outside?
 Features of the landscape/ room
 Dominant colours
 Costumes
 Time- day/night? Period in history? (How do we know?)
 Props in the scene

EDITING

 Length of shots
 Transitions- cuts, fades, dissolves, wipe
 Sound matching vision (eg. when the sound for the next scene cuts in before the current scene is
finished)

LIGHTING

 Colour
 Brightness
 Shadow
 Natural or Artificial

SOUND

 How does the sound help our understanding of the movie?


 How does the sound affect our emotions and how we perceive the scene?
 Music/ musical score
 Dialogue
 Silence
 Voice-overs
 Background noises or sound effects
CAMERA TECHNIQUES
Camera shots and camera angles are two key visual techniques that can affect mood, meaning and pace.

Camera Shot/Angle Description Draw a picture to show understanding


Tracking or dolly shot A shot in which the camera moves along,
following the action.

Long shot Shows figures and subjects at full height


with detailed background above, below
and beside them.

Full shot The figure or subject is shown fully but


with very little background visible. This
shot is often used to show the relationship
between the characters in the shot.

Medium shot Frames the figure from the knees or waist


up. This shot is useful for dialogue
between characters and to show their
body language.

Close-up Shows detailed facial expressions or details


of the subject with almost no background
visible in the frame. This shot may help
reveal thoughts and feelings of the
characters.
Extreme close-up Shows a specific detail of a figure or
subject in a single camera frame. This shot
may show suspense, tension or create a
mood.

Ariel or bird’s eye The camera is directly above looking down


on the figure or subject of the frame.

High angle This shot is taken from above the figure of


subject, but not directly above. This can
create a sense of threat, weakness or lack
of control.

Low angle This shot is taken from below the figure or


subject. It can convey dominance, power
or control.

Eye level This front-on shot gives a sense that the


viewer is directly opposite the figure or
subject, on the same level. This shot has a
“real-life” effect.

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