the language of filmrichardponton.com/uploads/3/4/8/1/34811519/languageof...from silence of the...
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The Language of Film
Richard Ponton
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The great thing about literature
is that you can imagine,
the great thing about film is that
you can’t.
James Monaco, How to Read a Film
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The better a viewer reads an image the
more the viewer understands…
• its physical reality
• what it means based on cultural references
• its various sets of meanings
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When you look at a frame, one of the first
things to consider is distance.
How much do you see of the character(s)?
•Is it a close up?
•Is it a full shot?
•Is it a medium shot?
Can you see the whole body or a part of the
body?
A Place in the Sun 1951
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In general the closer the camera gets to the
characters, the closer the viewer feels towards the
characters.
This is why close ups are often used for:
love scenes
scenes where the character is suffering or
fearful
any other scene where the viewer is supposed
to understand what the character is feeling.
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As the camera moves further away from the character(s), the
viewer is provided more information about them or about their
situation.
From Pirates of the Caribbean
From Lord of the Rings
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The further the camera is from the subject, the moredistant you will feel from what is happening in the sceneor to the character(s). Further cameras let theaudience have a look at the subject in relation to itssurroundings.
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The Establishing Shot
It lets the audience have a look at the subject in relation to itssurroundings. It usually appears at the beginning of a film orscene to establish the setting or to introduce a film.
The Illusionist 2006
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The Two-Shot
Makes two characters the subject of the frame. It allows you to
understand how the characters interact and react to each other.
Avatar 2009
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Another thing you should consider when observing
a frame is the angle or camera position.
Was the frame shot from high above?
(a high angle)
Was it shot at eye level?
Was it shot from a low angle?
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A frame shot from a high angle is often referred to as
God’s eye view because it suggests that ‘someone’
is observing the characters. It can suggest danger
and helplessness.
300 2006
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Apocalypto 2007
The Fountain 2007
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A frame shot from a low angle makes the subject seem larger.
The Postman Always Rings Twice 1946
Citizen Kane 1941
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The Dark Knight 2008
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Inglorious Bastards 2009
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A character that seems larger than another in a frame is usually the
dominant character.
From Double Indemnity 1944
From
Rebecca
1940
From
Gone with the Wind
1939
From Letter from an Unknown Woman
1948
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The Departed 2006
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A canted (Dutch) angle suggests that something is
wrong either in the character or the story’s situation. It
also may show dramatic action, making viewers
uneasy.
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Besides shots and angles, you should also watch for symbols.
Some common symbols are:
Images of entrapment are usually shown through characters framed by
doors, gates, or confined spaces (like closets).
From The Kid 1921
From Carrie 1976
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Pan’s Labyrinth 2006
Atonement 2007
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A Beautiful Mind 2001
The Departed 2006
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Images of duality are usually represented by characters reflected
in mirrors , water, glass.
Psycho 1960
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The Lady from Shanghai,1947
The Matrix 2003
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Black Swan 2010
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Stairs, dark alleys, canted angles, darkness enveloping a character,
seeing only part of a character are some images of imminent danger.
From Silence of the Lambs
From Kiss Me DeadlyFrom Halloween
From The French Connection
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Light cutting through a character(s), lines
which divide the frame, usually mark images of
characters that are in turmoil.
From The Usual Suspects
From Blade Runner
From The Awful Truth
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Sweeney Todd 2007
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Eyes – In general, they are themost important
feature to film.
From Un Perro Andaluz
From The Blair Witch Project
From Psycho
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Other definitions
• Cliché- overuse of situations, symbols
• Voice over-a narrator whose voice is heard throughout a film
• Restricted narration-limited to one character
• Omniscient narration-changes from one character to another, the viewer receives information from many
sources.
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Auteurs/genre
• An auteur is a director who manifests a consistency of style and theme across his/her films. Auteur films are inventive and creative. Auteur films emphasize their uniqueness.
• Genre refers to a mass produced product of the Hollywood film industry.It studies the conventions of certain kinds of films. Genre categorizes films according to their thematic and visual similarities.Genres are not static, they evolve. They also create certain expectations in the viewer.
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Bibliography
Buckland, Warren. Teach Yourself Film studies.
Hodder & Stoughton, 1998.
Monaco James, How to Read a Film.
Oxford University Press, 3rd edition, 2000.