Camera and Editing

                          Camera and Editing

cinematography

is split in to two the way it moves and the way it shoots

extreme close(ECU) -up to really emphasise an object

close up (CU)-to emphasize how important the character is

long shot (LS) the whole of the body is visible

 

wide shot (WS) shows a vast area

medium shot (MS) from the waist up

point of view (POV) allows us to see through the eyes of the character

low angle -puts the character power making the viewer feel venerable

high angle- makes the character seem venerable and the viewer feel powerful

Over the shoulder (OTS) shows what the character sees but not through there eyes (often used in conversation)

https://youtu.be/3Aqk4I4zmG8

Camera movement

pan-moves from left to right  eg: used in a race

tilt-moves up and down

crane shot- backs out to from a small area to large area

traking shot- used to track movement

rolling shot-

steadicam- shows movement like running to show how disorientated the character feels

Editing

Speed of editing the speed of editing will help determine the mood of what is taking place on screen each scene could last a matter of seconds or could continue for minuets

the length of each scene establishes the pace of the film moving the action along the speed of editing helps determine the mood of what is taking place on screen

 if a film maker wants the audience to feel suspense and anxiety the editing will be quick the scenes and shots will change frequently

if a relaxed mood is desired the scenes last longer and change less frequently for example a romantic comedy

 long scene require split second timing and organization

Trailers for films need to pack information in therefore the editing will be very fast

In the film psycho the editing is slow starting off but when she gets attacked the pace of the scenes speeds up dramatically disorientating and making the audience anxious     

The scene at the beginning of a film are slower as to set the scene and begin to tell the story it is slow for us to understand us and where we are what is going on and to introduce the main characters

As the film progresses the scenes may become shorter as the editing cuts between telling two or more story lines at the same time

Cross-cutting

Cross cutting is editing two sequences together so that the audience need to know that they are connected in some way

Something is happening at the same time in different locations eg: A character reliving a memory

Cross-cutting can be used to very effectively develop a sense of drama it can be used to create tension, increase anxiety, make subtle links between characters

   

Style of editing

How shots are linked together

The movement from one shot to the next is called a transition

Basic transitions include

Straight cut: the most common and invisible form of transition one shot moves instantaneously to the next without attracting the audience’s attention

Straight cuts help retain reality. They do not break the viewers suspension of disbelief

Fade: A gradual darkening or lightening of an image until the screen becomes completely black or white

It is used to indicate the beginning of end of a particular section of time within the narrative

Can show the passing of time

Dissolve: dissolving one shot off the screen while another shot is fading in

The audience will be able to see both shots on the screen at the mid-point of the screen

It is used if the film maker wants to show a connection between two characters, places or objects

Wipe: wipe is when one image is pushed off the screen by another

Images can be pushed left or right

Signal a movement between different locations that are experiencing the same time

It is used a lot in the star wars films 

Advanced Editing Skills

Continuity editing

Eye-line match: We see a character looking at something off screen and then we cut to a shot of what they are looking at.

Match-on-action: We see a character start an action in one shot and then continue it in the next  

180 Degree Rule: The 180 degree rule is a basic guideline that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to the other

If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line    

Shot, Reverse Shot

Is used to show a conversation or arguments