Theatre 200 UAB

Opened Up MUSIC

Adds interest to scene and influence emotional response of audience.

Kim Novak Grace Kelly

Alfred Hitchcock

Typecasting

An actor is prescribed to a narrow range of role -helps audience easily identify a character

Diegetic Dound

Any sound the characters in the film can hear within the world of the film Anything within the diegesis

Casting

Assigning actors to play particular roles Must demonstrate skill or technique through audition

Blocking/ Staging

At the center of the mise-en-scene is the actor. Positioning of furniture, actors, other props.

Motifs/symbols

Becomes concrete in film and less abstract

Instrumental props

Books, fans, glasses - objects are engaged with their original intended purpose

Extras

Carefully cast when they will stand near the lead. Audience must believe their role - don't talk or attract attention -add life to the environment

Buddy Films

Cast so there is contrast in age, build, heights, voices

The Star System

Casting assumes movie goers were more interested in the actor than the story or the art of the film. Stars have mass appeal, movies created around the image of their personality (1930s to 60s)

Translation

Changing one set of symbols into another

Opened Up CHARACTERS

Characters are sometimes added or blended together in film translations

Action=Dialogue

Characters are talking their way to what they want/need

Conflict

Holds your attention

Costume Design

Narrative maker - costume is used to illustrate an emotional/intellectual/ physical change the character has made - used to distinguish one character from others - uses makeup to to point out characters personality (moles, facial hair, tattoos)

Opened up LOCATION SCENES

New physical and geographical location in film translation not directly used in the script

Impersonators

Leave their personality behind them and assume the personality of the character. Some actors will alter their appearance

Supporting roles

Not as big as leading role not as small as extras - often become memorable roles in the film - i.e. Friends, employers, neighbors

Point of View

Objective: the camera as observer Subjective: seeing the scene from the characters point of view

Casting Director

Often hired by the producer 1. Find name with box office draw 2. Introduce new talent 3. Make recommendations

Art Director

Responsible for execution of the design -oversees construction, set dressing, props, location and special effects

Costume Designer

Responsible for the look of the clothing the characters wear

Production designer

Responsible for the look of the setting

Non diegetic sound

Sounds only audience heard Characters can't hear narration, voiceovers and scores

Opened Up CINEMA SPACE

Theatre has a fixed point of view. Films have use of camera movement to change the relationship with the scene. More locations and movements. Not bound by physical limitation of the stage or budgets of plays.

Bookend Plot

Told in flashbacks. The beginning if the drama is the end of the sequence of events.

Drama is life with the dull stuff left out

True; only highlights showed

Medium Shot

Usually from the waist or knees up

Objective

Wants desires or needs

Shot

What is photographed/ recorded by the camera

Story

What the play is about

Character

Who's good/bad

Director

Will select actors they want to work with often casting stars in roles they played before. This can increase efficiency during production; actor and director can slip into comfortable work patterns -often considers actors appearance

Opened Up LANGUAGE

becomes secondary and simpler in films because of visual aids.

Suspense

Actions protrayed set up expectations fir further actions. The ending should be anticipated without being predictable

Personality

Actors are themselves. While very popular this actor doesn't assume a variety in roles. The actor must fit the role or the role must be tailored for their personality

Scene

A segment of a narrative film that usually takes place in a single time and place, often with the same characters

Contextual Plots

Featues short peices that link two things together without a linear narrative. No fixed beginning middle or end.

Linear plot (Episodic)

Features a chronological feature of events. Always moving forward in time

Cinematic Plot

Features flashbacks and flash forwards

Climatic Plot

Features one location, brief time, one story being told.

Protagonist

First to act. Starts the drama. Not always the good guy.

Environment

-Political -Economical

Sound Score

-Signature melodies attached to characters/moods leit motif

Plots are strengthened by...

... limited time, limited place, limited action

Producer gets last word

....

Climax

"Ladder" top of the action. Where all issues are resolved.

Radical Translation

Director broadly interprets the script and makes broad changes to accomodate the camera and film conventions

Close Up

Distance between camera and subject is very short. Close ups emphasize detail

Ensemble Film

Doesn't always feature a large cast. All characters have equal importance regardless of screen time. (Avengers,Fast 5)

Sound effects

Doorbells Phones Traffic Exclusive of dialogue or score

Quintessential Characters

Embody the essence of human virtues or vices. Usually on the extreme ends of the scale. Actions are larger than their circumstances.

Graphic Blocking

The position of the actors creates a specific pattern or shape

Opened Up LITERARY SYMBOLS OR MOTIFS

In film translations symbols cease to be abstract and are now realized

Exposition

Information about past events

Producers

Invent an idea or buy a script/book, hire a director, convince studio to back project, find an actor everyone will agree on, supervise budget and fight for money to supervise production and post production (leveraging)

Chiascuro

Italian term that means light/dark

Props

Items physically handled by actors - can drive the actions of the drama

Metaphorical props

Items repurposed for a new use; the fan becomes a weapon, the umbrella becomes a mode of transportation

Cultural Props

Items unique to that community or culture

Extraordinary Characters

Larger than life. At the extreme ends of the scale of humanity. Extremely kind or extremely mean

Lightning Chiascuro

Light/Dark Look for strong deliberate contrast between areas/characters that are lit and areas/ characters left in shadows

Non Human Characters

Makes human behaviors more palatable. Easier to believe and accept as opposed to human characters

Traditional translation

Most satisfying Meets satisfaction of audience Script is filmed as written accomodating the camera and film conventions (rules of film)

Antagonist

Opposed to the will of the protagonists. Stands to loose something if the protagonist reaches his super objective

Stage Directions

Part of script not spoken.

Social Blocking

Personal/social/professional relationships are illustrated through the positioning of the actor

Mise-en-scene

Place in a scene The design elements and features that exist independent of the camera and the process of filming and editing

Interpreters

Play characters closely resembling themselves, and interpret these parts without loosing their identity. No radical changes in physical characteristics or vocal quality

Opened Up CINEMA TIME

Plays are performed in real time films are not. It can take one hour filming to capture 2 mintutes of film perfomance

Opened Up ACT DIVISIONS

Removed to make films appear more continuous

Sound bridge

Scenes/sequences are connected by sound effect/music that continues through the visual transition

Score-Background Music

Score often maintains and manipulates a theme

Plot

Sequence of events. Determines the structure of the story.

Dialogue

Soft, loud, mumbled, overlapping

Sound Stage

Sound proof building provides precise control of the mise-en-scene

Dialogue

Speeches the characters give. What they say

Opened Up

Strategies used to translate the drama from the language of stage conventions to the language of screen conventions

Blockbusters w/o stars

Studio system is dead, soon to be replaced by the casting director

Extreme Close Up

Subject fills the screen. You may have a "open composition" where the part of the subject spills outside of the view of the camera

Literal translation

Text is kept verbatim Running time of film is the running time of the play

Representation Time

The amount of time that passes in the world of the play

Characterization

The artistic representation of human character or motives

Cyclical Plot

The beginning and the ending are the same

Theme

The big idea. Holds the story together

Crane

The camera is mounted on a crane and moves vertically or horizontally through space. Usually results in a high angle

High Angle Shot

The camera is placed above/ higher than the subject. Can make the subject appear weak, inferior or lonely.

Low Angle Shot

The camera is places below/lower than the subject. Can make the subject appear powerful or superior

Dutch Angle Shot

The camera is tilted so that the subject horizon is at an angle and not straight. This Angle gives an uneasy/ villainous feeling

Tilt

The camera moves up and down on a vertical plane

Dolly/ Tracking

The camera moves vertically through space.

Zoom

The camera remains fixed, only the lens actually moves as focal length is adjusted. No changes in environment only increased magnification

Given Circumstances

The facts of the play. 1. Setting (when and where) 2. Environment 3. Social Environment (norms of society) 4. Religoius Environment 5. Time of Year/Day 6. Date 7. Climate

Setting

The location (and time period) fictional or real where the events take place

Bankability

The name will guarantee a minimum box office

Long Shot/ Establishing Shot

The object is at a distance from the camera. You see the object relative to its surroundings

Set

The physical environment where the film takes place (kitchen,courtroom, tent or cave)

Drama

The playscript.

Stock Characters

Transcend gender. Defined by external circumstances: class, occupation, or marital status