Media Language

Media Language ♡

Micro  Elements:

cinematography

editing

mise-en-scene

sound

Use of the camera:

camera shots and angles

• extreme close up: really emphasises an object/character
• close up: emphasises how important the character is
• long shot: gives mise-en-scene
• wide shot: shows a vast area, sometimes called an establishing shot
• medium shot: connotes normality 
• point of view: allows us to see from the eyes of the character
• low angle: the character in a position of power, viewer is inferior
• high angle: the character seems vulnerable, viewer has power
• over the shoulder: reveals what they're looking at, often used in conversations - shot reverse shot

camera movement

• pan
• tilt
• crane shot
• tracking shot
• rolling shot
• steadicam

Editing

speed of editing

• in a film, each scene may last a matter of seconds, or it could continue for minutes
• the length of each sequence establishes the pace of the film moving the action along
• the speed of editing will help to determine the mood of what is taking place on the screen
• if filmmakers want the audience to feel anxious and suspenseful, the editing will be quick - the scenes/shots changing frequently
• if a relaxed mood is desired, the scene may have less cuts
• nevertheless a film may not have any editing, and filmed in one take

scenes at the beginning of a film - as it begins to tell its story - must be long enough for us to be able to understand where we are and what is going on. Also introduces the main character

As the film progresses, scenes may become shorter as the editing cuts between telling two or more storylines at the same time

Cross cutting

• cross-cutting: to edit together two sequences that the audience need to know are connected in some way. Something is happening at the same time in different locations. A character is reliving a memory
• Cross cutting can be used to very effectively develop a sense of drama. It can be used to create tension, increase anxiety, direct emotion, make subtle links between characters or provide further information - dramatic irony

style of editing

how shots are linked together
the movement from one shot to the next is called a transition
Basic transitions: straight cut, fade, dissolve, wipe

• straight cut: most common and 'invisible' form of transition. One shot moves instantaneously to the next without attracting the audience's attention. Straight cuts retain reality. They don't break the viewers suspension of disbelief
• fades: a gradual darkening or lightening of an image until the screen becomes completely black or white. Used to indicate the beginning or end of a particular section of time within the narrative
• dissolves: dissolving one shot off the screen while another shot is fading in. The audience will be able to see both shots on the screen at the mid-point of the dissolve. Used if the film maker wants to show a connection between two characters, places or objects
• wipes: one image is pushed off the screen by another. Images can be pushed left or right, up or down. Used to signal movement between two different locations that are experiencing the same time

advanced editing skills

• continuity editing: eyeline match - we see a character looking at something off screen and then we cut to a shot of what they are looking at. match on action - we see a character start an action in one shot and then see them continue it in the next
• 180 degree rule: a basic guideline that states that two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line
• shot reverse shot: used to show conversations/arguments, but also helps to establish relationships

Mise-en-scene

The elements of mise-en-scene are:

• Settings and props
• Facial expressions and body language
• Costume, hair and make-up
• Lighting and colour: key light is the most influential and the brightest.The Back Light helps counteract the effect of the key light or creates an outline or silhouette. The Filler Light helps to soften the harsh shadows that the use of key and back lights create. Underlighting is when the main source comes from below the subject. Used in thrillers and horror films. Back Lighting is when the source is behind the subject. If no other lighting is used silhouettes are created
• Positioning of characters and objects in the frame: Objects and characters can be in the foreground, middle-ground or background. This can emphasise the relative importance of the object or character. If characters or objects are positioned evenly within the frame this will give a balanced feel to the shot. If the characters are positioned at the outside edges of the frame then this indicates a distance between the characters. Deep Focus: Where both foreground and background are in focus. This enables the audience to choose where to look

colour

From the 1930s to the 1940s black and white represented reality and colour represented fantasy and spectacle

• Denotation: the literal description of an idea, concept or object
• Connotation: what we associate with a particular idea, concept or object
• Colour works on the subconscious mind to create mood

Sound

• diegetic: refers to the world of the text. Eg: dialogue, sound effects, music with a source within the text
• non-diegetic: anything outside the world of the text. Eg: voiceover, soundtrack, captions, titles, subtitles
  
• on screen: the audience can see the source of the sound
• off screen: the audience can't see the source of the sound
• parallel sound: matches the action
• contrapuntual sound: does not match the action
• sound bridge: helps create a smooth transition between one scene to another - 'bridges' two scenes

jaws opening scene: first minute - diegetic sound (waves, talking, splashing). after - non diegetic parallel sound (sinister classical music that creates tension to viewers, reflecting the danger of the character)