Camera shots and angles
Match on action - a character/vehicle leaves the frame on the left, then enters the next shot on the right to maintain continuity
Aerial shot - a shot directly above the scene to show a clear view, often used to emphasise a spectacle.
Close up (and variations) - close ups (extreme, big and medium) are used to draw the audience closer to the scene and involve with what is going on. They are mainly used to observe reactions and emotions, like happiness, elation and tension
Crab shot - a camera shot inside of a confined space
Crane shot- a shot in which the camera is positioned onto a specially-manufactured crane that can be lowered or raised
Establishing shot- a shot that is normally used at the start of a film/TV show or a new scene in a film to constitute the relationship between the set and the characters in that scene
Head on shot- a shot were the action goes directly towards the camera (mainly used in action/war films to increase tension
High angle- a shot were the camera is positioned above the subject(s), often used to make them seem vulnerable or powerless
Long shot- a shot were the camera is positioned in the distance from the subjects being filmed
Low-angle shot- a shot were the camera is placed below eye-level of the subject(s) being filmed
POV- a camera shot from the perspective of the character used to create realism and involve the audience in the scene
Reaction shot- created for an interview between 2 people, commonly used to display an interviewer reacting to their respondent's answers
Subjective shot- a shot where the camera is positioned as if it looking through the subjects eyes
Tracking shot- a shot where the camera moves along rails to follow the subject/character
Two shot- shot of 2 people, normally a medium close up/medium shot. It shows the spatial relationship of 2 people, who often are in a conversation. Commonly used in TV soaps.
Wide shot- can be used as an establishing shot of a set/location or of a large crowd.
Transitions/Editing
Crosscut- a moving image edit involving a number of cutaways and also cuts back from a sequence of narrative action to another one taking place at the same time
Cutaway- a short shot that briefly interrupts the primary action of the film by displaying a related action, thing or character, not necessarily part of the current scene
Jump cut- a sudden, disorientating transition in the middle of a continuos shot in which the action the is obviously advanced in time and/or cut between 2 similar shots, normally done to create discontinuity for artistic effect
Dissolve- a type of transition when one image dissolves into another image
Match on action- emphasises continuity of time and space by matching the action of the previous shot with continuation of the action
Visual effects- the enhancement or removal of certain elements within a scene
Parallel editing- when two locations are cut together to imply a connection between the two sets of events
Montage editing- several images juxtaposed together to create meaning
Graphic match- an effect in which two different objects of the same shape are dissolved into one another
Juxtaposition- placement of two, often opposed, images on either side of an edit to create an effect
Continuity editing- type of editing that aims to create a sense of reality and time moving forward. Also nicknamed invisible editing referring to how the technique does not draw attention to the editing process
Eyeline match- type of editing that maintains eyeline on level when cutting from a character to see what the character sees
Flashback- scene or movement in a film in which the audience is shown an event that happened earlier in the film
Slow motion- indicates intensity or importance of an action scene
Credits- information at the beginning or end of a film giving details of cast and crew etc.
Linear narrative- style of storytelling in which events happen chronologically
Lighting/Sound
High key lighting- lighting that appears to be natural (but infrequently is). A three point system is used to decrease shadows and be flattering to the character
Low key lighting- lighting system which intensifies shadows and gives a moody or scary effect
Back lighting- when a character is lit from behind, thus silhouetting them
Diegetic sound- sound that can be heard by the characters within a scene/ sound part of the imaginary world
Non diegetic sound- sound that cannot be heard by the characters and is not part of the storyworld in the film. Can be musical soundtrack or voiceover
Score- Musical component of a film's soundtrack, usually composed specifically for a scene
Sound effects- sounds that are added to a film during the post-production stage
Sound motif- sound effect or combination of sound effects that are affiliated with a certain character, setting, situation or idea
Sound bridge- can lead in or out of the scene. Can occur at beginning of scene when the sound from the previous one carries over briefly before the sound from the new scene begins
Dialogue- words spoken between characters
Incidental music- non-diegetic sounds which add atmosphere to an action or revelation
Ambient sound- background sounds that are present in a scene or location. It provides audio continuity between shots, reinventing an unnatural silence when no others sounds are present and establishes or reinforcing the mood of a scene
Sound perspectives- sense of a sound's position in space, yielded by volume and pitch. Used to create a more realistic sense of space, with events happening closer or further away
Voiceover- when a voice (often of a character in a film) is heard while we see an image of space and time in which that character is not speaking. It is often used to give a sense of a character's subjectivity or to narrate an event told in flashback
General terms
Mise-en-scene- everything that is a scene e.g. costume, props, lighting etc.
Location- place where the scene is being shot
Set design- the decoration of a set that expresses certain characteristics
Costume- clothing of the characters connotes different things about them
Iconography- visual style of a film/TV show
Props- things used by characters in particular scenes
Proxemics- physical distance between characters
Physicality- physical presence of a character and what they bring to the role
Gesture/posture- physical movements of characters and what it says about them
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