Vocabulary for Analysing Filmic Texts

Vocabulary for Analysing Filmic TextsCW Date

On a single sheet of A4, underneath your title and the date, write the sub-heading “Shots” and draw five boxes, thus:

Shots

Now draw each of the following pictures in the appropriate boxes:

In box one, draw a landscape:

In box two, draw a person:

In box three, draw a torso:

In box four, draw a face:

In box five, draw an eye:

Vocabulary for Analysing Filmic TextsCW Date

Your A4 sheet should now look like this:

Shots

You have just drawn diagrams for five types of camera shot. Write the following explanation next to each picture:

The ‘Long Shot’.

Often called the ‘Establishing Shot’ because it establishes a context.

The ‘Full-Length Shot’

Head to feet.

The ‘Full-Length Shot’

Head to feet.

The American variation, called either the ‘American Shot’ or the ‘Knee Shot’, finishes at the knee.

The ‘Medium Shot’

Head to chest, or head to

waist.

The ‘Close-Up’

A shot of a single character’s face; used to draw attention.

The ‘Extreme Close-Up’

Often used to unsettle; to suggest that something is strange or that something may be wrong.

Vocabulary for Analysing Filmic TextsCW Date

Your A4 sheet should now look like this:

The ‘Extreme Close-Up’

Often used to unsettle; to suggest that something is strange or that something may be wrong.

The ‘Close-Up’

A shot of a single character’s face; used to draw attention.

The ‘Medium Shot’

Head to chest, or head to waist.

The ‘Full-Length Shot’ Head to feet.

The American variation, called either the ‘American Shot’ or the ‘Knee Shot’, finishes at the knee.

The ‘Long Shot’.

Often called the ‘Establishing Shot’ because it establishes a context.

Shots

Vocabulary for Analysing Filmic TextsCW Date

Now add ‘Zoom In’ and ‘Zoom Out’ arrows:

The ‘Extreme Close-Up’

Often used to unsettle; to suggest that something is strange or that something may be wrong.

The ‘Close-Up’

A shot of a single character’s face; used to draw attention.

The ‘Medium Shot’

Head to chest, or head to waist.

The ‘Full-Length Shot’ Head to feet.

The American variation, called either the ‘American Shot’ or the ‘Knee Shot’, finishes at the knee.

The ‘Long Shot’.

Often called the ‘Establishing Shot’ because it establishes a context.

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On a new sheet of paper copy the following:

Tracking Shot:

The whole camera moves (to follow character / event) literally along tracks. Dolly shots and hand-held (steady cam) shots are also types of tracking. Pan or (Panning Shot):

Camera remains on a central axis and swings / swivels.

Under the new sub-heading “Camera Angles”, draw and label this picture:

High Angle

Low Angle

Add notes:

High Angle:Looking down on character. Makes character look diminutive / small / powerless.

Low Angle:Looking up at character. Makes character look big / strong / powerful.

Copy the following:

SOUND

Diegetic Sound: Within the actual film itself; accounted for by what we see.  Non-diegetic sound: Not within the film itself; unaccounted for by what we see. E.g. music