Mise en scene

Here are a few factors relating to mise en scene. Mise en scene can be translated fro french to english to mean, "placed on stage".

Production design:
This explains the overall production of a motion picture, i.e. every last decision, including: the set, the props, the prop placement, the music. But why is it important? well, there are lots of low quality productions that are shot in people's living rooms or with bad backgrounds, and well, this bores the hell out of the viewer. So, when production design is taken to account, a good and informative background goes a long way. Great examples of production designers that could tell a full story in one shot, are Wes anderson and Danny Boyle. Especially, the work of the guy below, Jamie Travis.

Location/setting:
This is the background to the movie. A lot of planning and research has to go into this. With a white wall as the background, production quality would suffer as it would be plain thoughts and boring.
The background can also give us a little hint at what the actual character may be like.




Studio:
There are many different types of studios for every different type of art, however, a production studio is on where a production is filmed. It's important for the storage of props and because it's easy for the cameras to be mapped around.

Set Design:
Also known as scenic design. This is very important, especially for musicals on broadway etc. Set designers have to have a great eye for detail and make sure every colour and prop placement remains relevant so that the viewer can appreciate.



Costume and makeup:
Just some more factors that add effect through detail. It can be dramatic or simple. Note below, Ol' greig.

Props:

Props are important so as not to make it look like the actor is imagining everything. E.G if the phone rings and the actor picks it up, we want to actually see them pick it up.

Lighting:

1) Available: This is the available natural light.

2) Artificial: This is manmade lighting.

3) Key: This is the most important light source as it is in front of the protagonist.

4) Fill: this comes from the side in order to stop silhouettes.

5) Back: this lighting comes from behind the source.

6) Set: This a the lighting that is made onset.

7) Production: e.g. a light that's part of the set already thats just used as the source.

Colour design: 

This is the colour that goes into media. It's pretty important to the production as colours effect our mood as viewers.

Super Sounds

Sounds are as important as the visuals of the movie, especially for those auditory people.

Diegetic sound:

coming from the greek "recounted story", this represents sounds that we see the source off. e.g. a character speaking on screen.

Non degetic sound:

Also known as commentary sound, this represents the sound that does't have an onscreen source and is not typically present to the storyline on screen at that time. e.g. a narrator.

Synchronous sound:

This is when the sounds being played match up to the action being carried out by the person onscreen. e.g someone playing piano.


Asynchronous sound:
This is a sound that does not match what is being carried out onscreen. A Director may decide to put this in to add dramatic effect. e.g. an ambulance siren being heard offscreen.

Sound effects
a sound made artificially to bulk up a movie or to represent something.

Sound motif
This is a collection of sound effects relating to a particular character or theme in order to make it easier to follow.

Sound bridge
The scene begins with a carry over sound before the new sound begins. This creates a flowing effect.

Dialogue:
A conversation. Plain and simple.

Voiceover:
A voiceover allows us to view something on screen with a voice that has been recorded after production. This is good because it allows for mistakes to be covered up.

Mode of address/direct address:
How something is conveyed to an audience. In the occasion of sound, It describes  how the sound directs the audience and pulls them in.

Sound mixing:
Also known as audio mixing, this is how sound is electronically altered after production, using specific methods and softwares.

Sound perspective:
A sounds position in a movie as conveyed by tempo, pitch, volume and timbre.

Soundtracks:
This is the CD following up a movie with all the specific songs and tunes that were in the movie. Sometimes music is written specifically for that music. If so, it may be called a Score.

Incidental music:
This is the music that isn't the main featurette. say for example, the short phrases of music that are written for under a monologue or in an elevator.

Themes and stings:
Just a theme tune, it's catchy and annoying so you can NEVER forget.

Ambient sound:
So here's a full day of "ambient sounds" from star trek. Enjoy. HA.

Cool Composition

Framing:
Think of a frame for a picture. The same applies for cinematography This describes how the space inside a given frame is manipulated to achieve  number of effects. For example, the props can be moved in connection with the subject or protagonist.
The purpose of framing is to give a greater audience reaction and also, to bring more attention to the protagonist and theme.
Different method of framing include: repousoir, depth of field, space, crop, vignetting, perspective distortion.

  
Rule of thirds:
The rule of thirds is applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to section.

Depth of field: (deep and shallow focus)
This describes the distance between one object to another. It means that one object may be placed at a  certain distance and may be brought into focus whilst another, will not be the focal point.
Visually, this helps the viewer to connect and concentrate on the main theme or object.

Focus pulls:
A focus pull is when something is focus and then another gets pulled into focus, whilst the other gets blurred. The reason this is used it because it helps the audience to maintain concentration on the vocal point. 

Extravagant Editing

Transition of image and sound:
The definition of transition is "the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another".Therefore the transition of either image or sound in a motion picture would be a well thought out and smooth change in order for scenes to flow, showing consistency. 

Editing:
We as viewers are the most important people in the film industry, because we are where the funding comes from. lots of things decipher why we might want to watch a particular TV show or movie. Editing is used for inchancing a particular movie to suit our likes.
Cutting is important so something doesn't run on too long whilst the sound and colour are important factors of visual and aural attraction. Below are some types of editing:

Shot/reverse shot:
When one character is shown looking at another character and then the shot gets reversed to show that other character looking at the first. However, there's only really room for one superstar, so usually there is only one actor on the stage.

Eyeline match:

As the audience wants to be as engaged as possible when watching they're favourite TV show, they're going to want to feel everything and sense everything a particular character is feeling. An eyeline match shows us a clip at the character so we can see their emotion, predetermining what we get shown next - the object or character that the first was looking at.

Graphic match:

A subtle merge between two similar looking objects in order to link two scenes and in order to like to objects metaphorically.Also known as action match shot, or in french, "raccord".

Jump cut

A scene taken from two different places at two different points in time, with no attempt to show consistency, hence, showing a jump forward in time and cutting out useless footage.

crosscutting and Parallel editing

The difference between crosscutting and parallel editing is the time difference. Both show different things happening. e.g. in a crosscut, someone could be in the shower and another could be coming to stab them with a fork. the camera flicks between both scenes. However, with a parallel edit, the person could be in the shower having a flashback about someone being stabbed by a fork.

Cutaway

Also known as 'B role', A cutaway is when the camera screen splits in order to conveigh more information to the viewer.

Insert

When something gets boring. e.g. a long, painful conversation, the editor might want to insert some cutaways to spice it up a bit so to speak.

Dissolve

A dissolve works between two cuts whilst Fade-in, Fade-out is a transition from a blank image.

Wipe:

Think jazzy power point transitions. One scene will window wipe another of the screen.

Superimposition

Mostly used in photography, for an example see Dan Mountford. Its when two images/ scenes get merged together. A prime example is the true detective title sequence.

Long take, short take

A long take is a long scene of footage whilst a short scene is a short scene of footage. In english, we have long sentences and short phrases mixed to increase and decrease expo and hence, to provoke excitement.

Slow motion

This is pretty simple. For further reference, just look up the slow mo guys on youtube. They do cool stuff and slow it down. 

Ellipsis & expansion of time

We know an ellipses as a dot-dot-dot. In cinematography, an ellipses of time is simply an elongated scene. Although, it's rarely used as it has the bore factor.

Post production

This refers to all the editing work that goes in to the motion picture/ tv show, AFTER the production has been filmed.

Visual effects

Also known as VFX, this is manipulation of the original visual in order to create an engineered image. can be made on editing software after the actual shot has been taken. Best example is transformers.

180 Degree rule

This involves two characters being on one side of a 180 degree axis. The purpose is that the camera stays within that 180 degree semi - circle so as not to disorientate the audience. This also gives the audience some bearings with regards to the direction of the scene.
Below is a video explaining this rule...

Awesome Angles

Angles

Below are the definitions and examples of some common angles used in the film industry to accent certain themes according to the scene.

High angle:
Lets start at the top... literally. This is a shot taken from an angle above the protagonist in an attempt to physically isolate them on the screen and in doing so, giving off a strong vibe of isolation.

Canted angle:
Most formally known as a "dutch tilt," this is when the camera is tilted on it's side to give a quirky theme in relation to disorientation, someone falling or a building falling down as chaos sets in.

Low Angle:
Last but not least, the low angle shot. It's normally taken from below the protagonist in order to show authority or heroism.

Movement

As well as angles, the movement of the camera is important too, because it ensures that thought is given to a particular theme and also, shows consistency and realism. Below are a select few of cinematographic movements explained...

Pan:
This is when the camera moves from left to right, focussing on one particular object. It can show movement and often, the background is skewed.

Tilt:
Also known as a 'dutch tilt,' this is when the camera is moved to obtain a tilted angle, giving a cookie affect. Often used as a triply, quirky technique, in action films or to show disorientation.

Track:
This is pretty much the same as a dolly shot. In film, we refer to a tracking shot when the camera is mounted on a dolly mount and put on tracks in order to follow the protagonist.

Crane:
A shot where the camera is placed on a crane or jib and moved up or down. Think a vertical tracking shot. Beloved by directors of musicals. Often used to highlight a character's loneliness or at the end of a movie, the camera moving away as if saying goodbye.

Steadicam:
Steadicam is a type of equipment, designed by Garrett brown in 1975, in order to ensure for a more steady shot.

Handheld:
This is where the protagonist holds the camera and it creates a jolty and unsteady motion. It annoys the majority of film buffs and some say that it's just cheap and requires little work, however, others would argue that it screams "REALLLITTTYYYYYYYYYY"

Zoom:
A shot deploying a lens with a variable focal length that allows the cinematographer to change the distance between camera and object without physically moving the camera. This can be used to give more focus on a particular theme or for dramatic effect. Often seen at concerts too. "look you're on the big TV" "OMG I'M ON THE BIG TV!"
This is an example of a dolly zoom:

This is an example of a normal zoom:

Reverse zoom:
Funnily enough, it's a zoom... but reversed.....

Thanks for reading. Know what goes into your film.
-Ellie

Clever Cameras

Below are some very strategically used camera shooting methods of which the directors behind the cameras have planned very carefully. When we watch the box, scarcely do we think of every component making up the show, or of the work that goes in behind the scenes, but after researching the cause a little, I can now tell you that our emotions and reactions would not be effected in the same way without this planning of the camera angles.

Extreme Long Shot:
This is much like a long shot, however can be taken from even further back, up to a quarter of a mile to be exact. What is it's relevance you may ask?... to set a scene. We want to know a little context backing the character, i.e. their surroundings. where they live, do they live in the country? do they live in the midst of war? Peace?...e.t.c.

Close up:
Remember in Wayne's world when garth said "extreeeeeemmmeeee clooosseeeupppp!!!"... yeah, pretty much. A close up basically refers to the camera zooming in or becoming closer to a certain protagonist and/or object. It's use is to show us detail on a more technical level, or otherwise to create more audience anticipation and suspense. its also used in comic strips... "funnily" enough. ha. ha.

Medium shot:
Ok, so, the lines between a medium shot and a close and long shot have sometimes become blared, but to put it as simply as possible, a medium shot is a shot taken from a medium distance. In europe, we recognise it as a shot from the waste up, however, it can also be known as a full body shot.

Long Shot:
Also known as a wide shot or a full shot, the long shot is like an extreme shot, however not as 'extreme'. It shows a background or setting relating to the protagonist, or that particular point in the movie. It also requires a 'wide angle' lens F.Y.I.

Two Shot:
Two shot, Two people. The two shot encompasses two people on the screen so that we can see both their reactions. This is pretty important because in order to find something realistic and almost conversation like, both peoples reaction's should be documented. there are 'two' types of 'two' shot, containing 'two' people.

• An "American two shot" shows the two heads facing each other in profile to the camera.
•  In a "two shot west", one character will turn 180° and face away from the other character while they continue to talk, which enables both characters to appear together in a single shot facing the audience.

Aerial shot:
A shot taken from well above the setting, using a helicopter or crane. Used a lot in action movies to show the movement of a car or a building where it's headed to. Not recommended for use on people... they are too small.

Point of view shot:

Also known as POV shot or a subjective camera, this is a shot from the point of view of the protagonist. It obviously gives us better insight into the protagonist, as in their situation, their personality and their emotions at that time. 

Over the shoulder shot:
This is the most common shot when following a conversation between two characters. It allows us to see the one character's reaction whilst allowing us to see what the other is doing e.g possibly holding a gun at the first character. and guess where it's taken from?!... Over the shoulder of the protagonist. Who'd have thunk? 

So, as you can see, movies aren't all glamour. There's a lot of detail and planning that goes in behind the scenes to make us happy. Camera men, we applaud you.