Basic Cinematic Techniques

Television 3210 with Biddle at University of Georgia

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By: Meredith Martin
Created: 2009-01-27
Size: 19 flashcards
Views: 0

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pan

The horizontal axis of camera movement; it turns left and right; used to follow characters or vehicles as they move around

tilt

the vertical axis of camera movement; it pivots up and down; commonly used to look over tall objects such as a cathedral or office building

dolly

when the camera simply moves horizontally through space; similar to a person walking or riding on a moving platform

Steadicam

an alternative device that allows a camera to be carried without experiencing bumps and jiggles usually associated with handheld camera work

mechanical

includes the use of devices that allow filmmakers to create unique and interesting camera movements; cranes and jibs are the most common examples

pull focus

a natural camera technique, similar to the concept of our eyes focusing on objects

zoom

allow the frame to transition from a wide shot to a close-up without ever moving the camera; considered an unnatural technique because our eyes aren't able to incrementally change their focal length

transition

any method for switching from one image to another; the simplest is called the cut; dissolves, fades and effects are also common

cut

a transition that may appear seamless to the audience or it may be used to create harsh jumps in time and space

dissolves

very common in movies, layers a new image over the old one, gradually increasing the new image's opacity until the transition is complete; creates a "soft" transition

fades

slowly change to an image from a colored screen or from an image to a color; often begin and end scenes

effects

transitions use these to transform one image into another; there are wipes, page turns, vertical blinds and morphing

montage

a specific sequence of images in a film, usually without words and often set to music; many films use this to express the passage of time

composition

describes the way a director positions, groups, arranges and views objects within the frame when he's filming a scene

dramatic angle

adds to the emotional impact of a scene, a low one makes characters and objects seem tall and powerful; a high one makes them seem diminished

extreme angle

the magnified version of a dramatic angle

birds-eye view

an extreme angle in which the camera is positioned directly above a scene facing straight down

screen direction

the direction an object is facing in a scene (left or right); can maintain a visual community when making cuts, or it can be used in a non-standard way to add impact to a scene

tilted horizon

tipping the camera slightly to the side in order to increase the tension in a scene

About this deck

By: Meredith Martin
Created: 2009-01-27
Size: 19 flashcards
Views: 0

About StudyBlue

“I have used this website for three exams, and I see a huge difference in my test results.”
Naj