TFM
What are the six elements (sets of conventions) that your reading used to define and classify film genres? ("Genre")
The six elements that the reading used to define and classify film genres are story formulas, theme, character types, setting, presentation, and stars.
What are the three basic types of animation?
The three basic types of animation are hand-drawn, stop-motion, and digital
What are the three fundamental principles of film form?
The three fundamental principles of film form are: movies depend on light, movies provide an illusion of movement, movies manipulate space and time in unique ways.
What do we mean when we describe cinematic language as "invisible"? What are some of the reasons why cinematic language is invisible?
When we describe cinematic language as invisible, we mean that not all movie meaning is obvious and easy to see. Movies have a way of hiding their methods and meaning. One of the reasons why is because movies simply move too fast for viewers to consciously consider everything they've seen. it is hidden but portrayed by different shots
Cut
a direct change from one shot to another as a result of cutting; that is the precise point at which shot A ends and shot B begins
Theme
a shared, public idea, such as a metaphore an adage
What do we mean by cultural invisibility? How is his different from cinematic invisibility?
commercial instinct that inspires filmmakers to use seamless continuity also compels them to favor stories and themes that reinforce viewers' shared belief systems. And because so much of this occurs on an unconscious, emotional level, the casual viewer may be blind to the implied political, cultural, and ideological messages that help make the movie so appealing. Cinematic invisibility is different because it refers to the actual hidden/invisible meaning of the movie.
Cutting on Action
common editing techniques designed to hide the instataneous and potentially jarring shift from one camera view point to another - when connecting one shot to the next, a film edidtor often ends the first shot in the middle of a continuing action and starts the connecting shot at some point in the same action
What is "formal analysis" and how does formal analysis differ from other types of analyses that explore the relationship between culture and movies?
concerned with film form, the means by which a subject is expressed -Film analysis that examines how a scene or sequence uses formal elements—narrative, mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, sound, and so on—to convey story, mood, and meaning.
FADE IN/FADE OUT
meant to convevy a passage of time between scenes the last shot of a scene grows gradually darker (fade out) until the scene is rendered black for a moment. the first shot of the next scene then fades in out of darkness.
Protagonist
primary character
Motif
reacting theme, visual, sound or narrative element meaning or significance
What is the difference between realism and antirealism in a movie, and why is verisimilitude important to them both?
realism (an interest in or concern for the actual or real, a tendency to view or represent things as they really are). Antirealism (an interest in or concern for the abstract, speculative, or fantastic) -realism conforms to our real-world experiences and expectations -antirealism uses our perception of reality as a starting point to expand upon or even purposely subvert them -Whether a movie is realistic, antirealistic, or a combination of the two, it can achieve a convincing appearance of truth, a quality that we call verisimilitude. - Verisimilitude is important to them both because regardless, a movie must appear to be true (humanizing), fantasy made real
What is cinematic language?
the accepted systems, methods, or conventions by which the movies communicate with the viewer. combines and composes a variety of elements—for example, lighting, movement, sound, acting, and a number of camera effects—into single shots. *Cinematic language is the tools and techniques that filmmakers use to convey meaning and mood to the viewer, including lighting, mise-en-scene, cinematography, performance, editing, and sound.*
Close-up
the camera pays very close attention to the subject, wheather it is an object or person, but is most often used in close-up of actors faces. -they provide and exclusive view of the characters emotion or state of mind
Low Angle Shot
viewers look up and at the subject, and it sparks an automatic interperation of movie subjects seen from this angle. depending on contect we see these figures as noble strong or threatining
Genre
The categorization of narrative films by form, content, or both
What are the four basic approaches to documentary films?
The four basic approaches to documentary film are factual, instructional, persuasive, and propaganda.
What is the difference between implicit and explicit meaning? (And how do these terms relate to onions, and ogres, and a movie such as Juno?)
An implicit meaning, which lies below the surface of a movie's story and presentation, is closest to our everyday sense of the word meaning. It is an association, connection, or inference that a viewer makes on the basis of the explicit meanings available on the surface of the movie. onions/ogres: many layers to movies Juno: what is it about vs what is the movie trying to say
During production, what are some of factors that determine the size of the crew required to film a specific shot?
During production, the number of people required to film a particular shot depends on the needs of that shot or, more precisely, on the overall scene in which the shot occurs. Also, the use of studio/exterior locations, day or night shooting, shooting on an in a crowded exterior location or a crowded city street, camera and lighting setups, and the extent of movement by the camera and the actors.
What is the difference between form and content? And why do works of art need both?
Form- means by which a subject is expressed Content- subject Rely on each other to make art, form sets expectations Interrelated, interdependent, interactive
Shot
- the implied distance between the camera lense and the subject being photograph - One uninterrupted run of the camera. A shot can be as short or as long as the director wants, but it cannot exceed the length of the film stock in the camera.
Editing
-the basic creative force of filminaking, is the process of selecting arranging and assembiling the essential components of a movie-visual sound and specail effects-to tell a story in a unique way -establishes patterns and rythemes, only to break them for dramatic impact -The joining together of discrete shots gives movies the power to choose what the viewer sees and how that viewer sees it at any given moment.
Verisimilitude
A convincing appearance of truth; movies are verisimilar when they convince you that the things on the screen: people, places, and so on, no matter how fantastic or anti realistic they really are.
Persuasive Film
A documentary film concerned with presenting a particular perspective on social issues, or with corporate and governmental injustice.
Instructional Film
A documentary film that seeks to educate viewers about common interests, rather than persuading them with particular ideas.
Propaganda Film
A documentary film that systematically disseminates deceptive or distorted information.
Factual Film
A documentary film that, usually, presents people, places, or processes in a straightforward way meant to entertain or instruct without unduly influencing audience.
How do movies create an illusion of movement?
A quick succession of twenty-four individual still photographs per second. And as the projector moves one of these images out of the frame to bring the next one in, the screen goes dark. Persistence of vision:the process by which the human brain retains an image for a fraction of a second longer than the eye records it, phi phenomenon: the illusion of movement created by events that succeed each other rapidly, as when two adjacent lights flash on and off alternately and we seem to see a single light sighting back and fouth Critical flicker fusion: when a single light flickers on and off with such speed that the individual pulses of light fuse together to give the illusion of continuous light
What are the six genres explored in your reading? Be familiar with the defining elements/conventions of each of these six genres. ("Six Major American Genres") How does animation differ from the other three basic types of movies?
Gangster: deeply rooted in the concept of the American dream: anyone, regardless of how humble his origins, can succeed. - classic gangster plots typically follow this rags-to-riches-to-destruction formula. Film Noir: more realistic, and thus bleaker, artistic and narrative representations of the world, as evidenced in the written word of the time. - typically has an anti-hero unlike gangster films - elevated women into antagonist -reinforced disorientation Science Fiction:focus is on humanity's relationship with science and the technology it generates. Horror: Like science fiction, the horror genre was born out of a cultural need to confront and vicariously conquer something frightening that we do not fully comprehend. - frightening somethings are aspects of our existence even more intimidating than technology or science: death and insanity - ultimate loss of control and a terrifying, inescapable metamorphosis. The Western: a form of modern mythology that offers narrative representations of Americans as rugged, self-sufficient individuals taming a savage wilderness with common sense and direct action. - The Wild West is a land of opportunity—both a dangerous, lawless country in need of taming and an expansive territory where anyone with the right stuff can reinvent himself and start a new life. The Musica: musicals feature a combination of music, singing, dancing, and spoken dialogue.
What are the four different ways of looking at Narrative? ("The Idea of Narrative")
Is a story. Is a type of movie. Is a way of structuring fictional or fictionalized stories presented in narrative films.: ncludes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement Is a broader concept that both includes and goes beyond any of these applications. *narrative films are directed towards fiction*
How do movies manipulate space?
Movies can move seamlessly from one space to another (say, from a room to a landscape to outer space), or make space move (as when the camera turns around or away from its subject, changing the physical, psychological, or emotional relationship between the viewer and the subject), or fragment time in many different ways
How do movies manipulate time?
Movies manipulate time by recording real time in its chronological passing as well as subjective versions of time passing: slow motion or extreme compression of cast swaths of time.
What are the three categories of movies explored in the reading? ("Types of Movies") Be familiar with the general characteristics for each category of movie.
Narrative:Narrative movies are pervasive and storytelling, the most "normal" Documentary:concerned with recording reality, educating viewers, or presenting political or social analyses. Experimental: generally seek to defy categorization and convention.
In what ways do movies use patterns to convey meaning? How do they create meaning by breaking an established pattern?
Parrallel Editing, Breaking Patterns for dramatic effect. The more patterns meet our expectations the more likely we are to enjoy, analyze, and interpret the work. Patterns established by parallel editing, for example, can create an illusion of connections among various shots. Filmmakers can also use patterns to catch us unaware.
What are the principal activities in each of the three basic phases of making a movie? ("How a Movie is Made")
Preproduction consists of planning and preparation, production is the actual shooting, and post production consists of editing, preparing the final print, and bring the film to the public.
What are the three basic phases of making a movie?
Preproduction, production, postproduction Preproduction: Production: postproduction: editing, preparing the final print, and bringing the film to the public.
