filmmaking 101

 Rule of thirds

The rule of thirds is a concept where the frame is divided up into 9 imaginary sections. This creates reference points which act as a guide for the image. Typically the main point of interest is in line with the subjects eyes. In some other cases it may not be possible for the point of interest to be on the eyes. In a typical shot the subject should be somewhere within the lines this could also be an object as they work together. Objects need room around them to be able to enable the viewer to see them more clearly. If the character is in a specific section of the frame , this allows you to add depth and meaning by filling the rest of the frame accordingly here is an example of the rule of thirds.

 On set calls 

Recording-said by camera operator 

Action-assistant director 

Cut-director 

These are said to prepare the crew that filming is about to take place this is important as people talking through the scene can cost lots of money and time.

It is also important to stay safe on set we can do this by a recce this is to make sure the set has an appropriate amount of space for the scene that is going to be filmed it is a survey of the location to determine technical aspects, lighting, sound, logistics and anything else the shoot requires.

180 degree rule 

first we start with a master to establish which side we are on 

                 Then we move in closer with the camera on the same side to show more depth 

next we can use over the shoulder shots still in the same side so the characters look like they are having a back and forth 

finally we can still adhere to the rule but also bend it by moving the camera to the other side in shot during the scene so it can show a shift in power or tone.

me and some of my colleagues at cheeky bugger productions have compiled a short list of shots and a failed attempt at a story inside a video : 

The 180 degree rule is a cinematographers guideline that states two characters in a scene should maintain the same left/right relationship to one another. When the camera passes over the inviable axis connecting the two subjects the line is broken.

Shot angles

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kJBgkWS0yRO0Q9p9tt7IOWeKVf9ueNHG/view?usp=sharing

Shot types and shot sizes 

Shot types are the way in which a shot frames its subject it can change depending on the number of people in the shot and the feeling the director is trying to create around the subjects. These type of shots can be combined well with shot sizes these are a few examples of shot sizes.

This is an example of a one shot mid close this helps display the characters emotions if its a two shot mid close it can help show a relationship.                       

 

 

  This is an insert shot insert shots help add extra detail to the scene. 

This is an example of a pov shot this helps the audiance hear and see from the characters perspective. 

      This is an example of a crowd shot this is good for establishing the scene or a transition.

This is an example of a close up shot close up shots help display characters emotion and makes the audience feel uncomfortable.

This is an example of a long shot this establishes the scene and is good to show scale of the environment can also depict loneliness in a single shot.

This is an example of an over the shoulder shot (ots shot) this is primarily used in conversations to focus the person that is talking it is usually a lot of dirty singles shots as well

Mise en scene

Mise en scene is the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play. Translated from French it means setting up the stage but in film analysis the term mise un scene refers to everything in front of the camera including the set design lighting and actors. In royal Tenenbaums directed by Wes Andersons, Wes Anderson shows what mise on scene is with the sets, props, costumes, actor blocking, composition, all adding to the story in their own unique way hence why Wes Anderson picks the same cinematographer for his films as they are very good with shot size and composition Wes Andersons very unique style is very obvious in all of his work his standout being the composition of the shots and the set design his unique use of colour to change the mood or feeling. Overall Wes Anderson succeeds in this giving his films a picture book feeling with every scene giving great additional detail to the scene and the colour providing the feeling for example in this image the over abundance of the colour pink represents the feelings the characters have for each other.

This is our group project where we used all of the different types of shat angles and sizes 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kJBgkWS0yRO0Q9p9tt7IOWeKVf9ueNHG/view?usp=sharing

Editing

The basics of editing include:

-cutting

-layers 

-adding music 

-colour grading 

-importing/exporting footage 

Lighting types

There are many types of lighting first of all there is directional lighting the way in which the lighting is reflected upon or directed towards the character.

Frontal lighting- The light source is placed in front of the subject.

Effect- It is a neutral lighting that diffuses shadows on the face. You will find it is mostly used for portraits or to emphasise an object or subject.

Sidelight- The light source is placed on either the side of the subject (left or right)

Effect- Sidelight creates a shadow on one half of the subject and sculpts the subjects features. The contrast between light and shadow creates a sense of mystery.

Backlighting- The light source is placed behind the subject.

Effect- Backlighting creates silhouettes and a glowing effect on the subject. This is used to create a dramatic effect and emphasise the subject in a mysterious way. You may see directors use backlighting to introduce a superior character without revealing their identity.

Underlighting- Light source is placed underneath the subject and shines upwards.

Effect- Underlighting can either be used as monumental lighting (light up a statue) or distort the subjects features (ghost stories around the campfire). It creates feelings of fear, curiosity or awe.

Top lighting- The light source is placed above the subject and shines downwards.

Effects- Top lighting tends to glamourize the subject it places the subject in divine light. As such, we usually feel awe, pride to dominance.

Quality of lighting

Hard/harsh lighting- Hard lighting has clear, crisp shadows and contrast.

Effect- It creates dramatic and intense atmosphere.

Soft/diffused lighting- Soft light has very little to no shadows and low contrast.

Effect- It creates a romantic dreamlike or magical atmosphere.

High-key light- High key lighting creates low contrast. nearly everything in the shot is lit. This is created by fill light and backlighting to achieve this effect.

Effect- High-key lighting has a very neutral effect. You usually see it in beauty shots. However, extreme uses of high-key lighting can create a very sterile atmosphere (think hospital) or peaceful atmosphere (think heaven scenes)

Low-Key lighting- Low-key lighting creates stronger contrasts like chiaroscuro. Usually, only one lighting source is used

Effect- Low-Key lighting creates a sense of mystery and drama.

Key lighting- Key lighting refers to the main source of light. It is usually the brightest and creates shadows.

Effects- Key lighting is used to emphasise the subject.

Fill light- Fill light is used to "fill in" the shadows in a shot. It is secondary to the key light

Effects- Fill light softens the shadows in a shot to create less contrast. It is often used as a neutraliser. However, it can also be used to create a soft, dreamlike effect.

Today we watched clips from drive and a short film called lights out, the lighting in drive is used as a narrative and a antagonist the light represents danger and intensity because they are trying to stay clear of the light the lighting is also very harsh in the scene getting harsher as the scene becomes more intense it also pairs well with the lighting being cold.

We also looked at another clip from drive this time the lighting has drastically changed from the opening scene the lighting is a lot more warm and comfortable portraying how the characters are comfortable with each other and there is no threat, the warm lighting also displays the characters happiness.

This shot is taken from a film called her, throughout this film there is a constant use of a red hue in most shots, the film is also very good at displaying the characters emotions through the colours used in the scene. In the film the colour red tells us the emotional state of the character and the isolation he's dealing with, it also shows us his desire for love, and to not overuse this constant colour there is scenes with the absence of red to show the absence of love in his life this creates a colour palette for the film one that rotates and changes throughout the film and the colours that change due to the intensity of the film.