My research of techniques

Camera work

Camera moves:

Pan – a movement which scans a scene horizontally (left to right) often used to follow a moving object.

Tilt - a movement that scans a scene vertically (up and down)

Dolly – the camera is placed on a moving vehicle and moves alongside the action, generally following a moving figure or object.

Hand-held – the camera can be moved in and out of a scene with speed. Hand-held camera crate a gritty realism and they can make the audience feel as though they are part of a scene.

Zoom – a zoom lens contains a mechanism that changes the magnification of an image

Aerial – an exciting variation of a crane shot, usually taken from a helicopter. This is often used at the beginning of a film in order to establish setting and movement.

Camera shots:

Long shot – used to let viewers know who is involved in a scene and where they are located.

Medium long shot – a closer view of the character whilst still providing a view of the location.

Medium shot – shows facial expressions gestures and movements

Medium close up – shows details of people or objects and to eliminate all non-essential details.

Close up – facial expressions

Extreme close up – expressions, for example an eye

Two shot – two key characters are shown

High angle – looking down at the subject, can create the illusion that the subject is small, weak, threatened or lonely.

Low angle – below the subject, makes it appear stronger, more impressive or threatening.

Sound

Non-diegetic – sound that comes from the outside of the frame.

Diegetic – sound that comes from within the frame such as a phone ringing.

Contrapuntal – sound that works against or in conflict with an image.

Parallel – sound which matches an image.

Dialogue- is in literary and/or theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people.

Voice over – A voice which is not a part of the narrative shown.

Soundtrack – background music

Sound effects – computers sounds

Silence – no sound which is mostly used to build tension. 

Editing   

Transitions	Description	Conventional use
Cut	From one sequence to another, it’s the most common transition.	Fast and efficient to keep the action rolling at a good pace.
Jump cut	Two sequences shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only slightly.	A violation of classical continuity editing.
Dissolve	A dissolve is a gradual transition from one image to another.	Slowing the pace, creating a mood a sense of passing time or changing location.
Fade	A gradual transition from one image to another.	Beginning and end of the scene, indicates the change.
Wipe	One shot replaces another by traveling from one side of the frame to the other.	Are a good way to show changing of location or viewpoint.

 

Film styles

The director

A film director has a unique filmmaking style that is different from others, just like an author’s own distinguishing writing style. The analysis of film techniques shows the different styles of filmmaking.

There are several technical methods to use in a film, so no film can have every single technique. Historical situations do limit the options for the director, in the silent film era filmmakers were not able to use synchronized dialogue till sound became achievable in the late 1920s.

The films just before the 50s had to be black and white but now directors have the choice of shooting in colour or in black and white.

The clearest way to adjust film style is through mise-en-scène, which means what appears on the screen. For example lighting, costumes, props, camera movements, sets, actors.

The plot

Most films conform to the Classical Hollywood narrative film style, which has a set of rules that the films tend to follow. These rules where created by Tzvetan Todorov. He simplified the idea of narrative theory while also allowing a more complex interpretation of film texts with his theory of Equilibrium and Disequilibrium. The theory is the fictional environment begins with a state of equilibrium (everything is as it should be). It then suffers some disruption (disequilibrium). Then recognition which builds up tension of the disruption, followed by attempt to repair. This is at the highest point of tension and there is a change in the disruption dynamic. Lastly reinstatement, everything is back to how it was. An example would be to consider the plot of the Disney film “Finding Nemo”

Genre and style

Film style is different from film genre. Genre categorizes films based on similar narrative structures, for example Sci-fi films are about the future, aliens, new technology, and so on. When film style categorizes films based on the techniques, such as cinematography, lighting and costume. Two films may be from the same genre, but they will probably look different based on the film style.

The Lumière Brothers - First short films

The Lumière brothers were the earliest filmmakers in history. They directed "The Arrival of a Train" and "Demolition of a wall", both of these films were French short black-and-white silent films. They consists of a single unedited view of an aspect of everyday life.