🎞️ DP Film Guide – IB English L&L

Film as a Text: Even though film is one of the most regularly accessed and powerful forms of art in our society, there is a tendency to consider it simply as entertainment. In English, film has to be considered as a text designed to be analysed and evaluated in the same way as a novel, a play, a poem or a speech.

The intellectual and emotional power that a film can have on an audience comes from the fact that it incorporates elements from virtually every other type of text. It retains the themes, characters and dialogue from novels and plays, the visuals from photography and paintings and the music from ... music.

Throughout your high school years, understanding how films are made, what their purposes are and what techniques are used to transmit meaning is vital to ensure your success in English.

👥 Roles

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Unlike a poem or a novel, which are usually written by one person (the author or poet) with the help of others (editor), film is a much more collaborative medium. In order to create the final product, hundreds of people are required to work together.

The most important member of the filmmaking process is the director. He/she is the person who has the overall vision of what the film will look like, what the main message or idea of the film is, and how the audience is supposed to feel. Ultimately, their role is to make sure the other crew members are able to transmit this vision onto the screen.

The cinematographer, the designers (production, set, costume), and the editor(s) all contribute to the final look of the film.
The composer(s) and sound engineer(s) control what we hear throughout the film.
The writer(s) and actors are in charge of portraying the meaning of the film, both intellectually and emotionally.

In the end, however, everyone has to answer to the director – they have the final say.

🎬 Mini Activity 1 – Favourite Film Roles +

For your favourite film, fill in each of the roles below:

Director

Cinematographer

Production Designer

Editor

Composer

Sound Engineer

Writer(s)

Lead Actor(s)

📷 Insert a film poster or behind-the-scenes image here:

images/film_guide/poster.png

🪜 Structure

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Usually a film consists of THREE acts:

Act One provides information about the main character or characters and the time and place in which they live. It tells us what the story will be about and sets up a problem that must be solved. This act contains the catalyst, which is the event that sets the story in motion.
Act Two contains the journey that the character or characters make while trying to solve the problem that was presented in the first act. In trying to solve this problem, they encounter obstacles that they must first overcome.
Act Three concludes the story. The action reaches a climax – the ultimate obstacle the character or characters face before the problem is resolved. Once they overcome this ultimate obstacle, order is restored and they continue, having changed from their experience.

Acts often begin and end with turning points – events that change the direction that the story will follow.

🎬 Mini Activity 2 – Favourite Film Acts +

For your favourite film, explain what happens in each act (2 sentences each maximum):

Act	Major Events	Why we know it has moved to the next act
Act 1
Act 2
Act 3

✋ Big 5 Cinematic/Filmic SFs

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Consider films as visual novels. Where a book tells a story with letters, which make words, which make sentences, which build up to paragraphs, a film tells a story with frames, which make shots, which make scenes, which build into sequences.

Film Term	Definition	Book Equivalent
Frame	A single still image	Letter
Shot	A single continuous view within a film	Word
Scene	A series of related shots	Sentence
Sequence	A series of scenes that together tell a part of the story	Paragraph

There are 5 basic language features which you need to be aware of both when watching and analysing film and also when creating your own:

Cinematography
Mise-en-scene
Editing
Sound/Music
Script/Acting

While it is important that you are able to identify each of these features, it is vital that you are able to explain why they are used. Ultimately, the director wants to manipulate the audience into feeling or thinking something, and it is by controlling these elements that he/she is able to do this.

🔗 External Links to Film Analysis Websites +

Film SF Analysis:
Professional Breakdowns:
- Notes on a Scene
- In Focus

🎥 Cinematography

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The most noticeable way that a director can manipulate or influence his/her audience is through cinematography. The term cinematography literally means to write or record with motion/movement. It relates to the lighting and camera choices made when recording photographic images for the screen.

An easier way to think about it is that cinematography deals with anything relating to the movement of the camera. A cinematographer's job is to make sure that the film looks the way the director wants it to look.

The key to understanding cinematography is to appreciate that the director is visually positioning the audience in certain ways, in order to get a desired response. The two most important ways the director positions us is through the types of shots and the camera angles used.

📷 Types of Shots +

Activity: For each shot and angle, choose ONE film or TV show and find a new example from that source.

Very Long Shot (VLS) / Extreme Long Shot

This is usually an establishing shot in a sequence and (almost) shows the entirety of a setting.

Example	Your Version
`images/film_guide/vls_example.png`

Long Shot (LS)

Shows the entirety of an object or a human within the frame.

Example	Your Version
`images/film_guide/ls_example.png`

Medium Shot (MS)

Usually from the chest or waist to the top of the head.

Example	Your Version
`images/film_guide/ms_example.png`

Close Up (CU)

A tightly framed shot of the subject where, for example, the face of a person takes up the entire frame.

Example	Your Version
`images/film_guide/cu_example.png`

Extreme Close Up (XCU)

An even tighter shot than the CU whereby only a portion of the subject fills the frame.

Example	Your Version
`images/film_guide/xcu_example.png`

Note: There is no official point where a shot changes from being one kind to another. For those in between shots, you can simply use both labels (e.g., MCU, MLS).

📐 Camera Angles +

Note: Each of these angles is talked about in conjunction with the type of shot used. So you may have a high angled close up shot for example.

High Angle

High angle shots describe the camera being above the subject, looking down on it.

Example	Your Version
`images/film_guide/high_angle_example.png`

Low Angle

The camera is placed below the subject looking up at it.

Example	Your Version
`images/film_guide/low_angle_example.png`

Point of View (POV)

The camera is positioned from the point of view of a character or the audience; so in essence, we are seeing what they are.

Example	Your Version
`images/film_guide/pov_example.png`

Two Shot

A shot where two subjects (usually people) take up the frame.

Example	Your Version
`images/film_guide/two_shot_example.png`

Over the Shoulder

Similar to the POV with a shot of a subject from behind another.

Example	Your Version
`images/film_guide/over_shoulder_example.png`

🎞️ Miscellaneous Shots/Angles +

Pan: When the camera pivots horizontally, usually on a tripod – as if you were standing still and turning your head.
Tilt: Like a pan, but a vertical movement rather than a horizontal one.
Dolly Shot or Tracking Shot: The camera actually moves, usually when mounted on a dolly or a crane, often on tracks.
Crane Shot: The camera is mounted on a crane (and sometimes a dolly as well), usually to rise above, or descend to, the scene.
Handheld Shot (Shaky Cam): The camera operator simply holds the camera manually.
Steadicam Shot: Similar to handheld shots, but with much smoother and fluid movement.

📷 Insert examples of these shots here:

images/film_guide/misc_shots.png

📐 The Rule of Thirds +

In film, as well as photography, there is a general rule that the frame should be broken into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. While the reason for doing this can be to highlight certain themes, or in order to position the viewer in a specific way, it is primarily an aesthetic guide.

📷 Rear Window – Alfred Hitchcock

images/film_guide/rule_of_thirds.png

✍️ Cinematography Exercises +

Scene A – 2001: A Space Odyssey

How do we see the size of the spacecraft?

📷 Insert screenshot(s) from 2001: A Space Odyssey here:

images/film_guide/2001_spacecraft.png

Screenshot of the specific shot	AC – what type of shot is it?	Deconstruction – how does that shot show the size?

Scene B – The Battleship Potemkin

📷 Insert screenshot from Battleship Potemkin here:

images/film_guide/potemkin_scene.png

Which characters do you think are the most important in this scene?
What are the two most important shots and angles the director uses to force us to think that? Deconstruct HOW they show us importance.

🥻 Mise-en-scene

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Mise-en-scene (or framing) refers to all the elements that make up a single frame in a film. These elements include:

Costume
Lighting
Setting
Props
The position of the actors
The colour scheme

As with the other film languages, while it is vitally important to be able to identify each of the components, it is more important to try to determine WHY the director has used each component, i.e. what effect does it have on the audience?

Note: we talk about features that are placed within the mise-en-scene; mise-en-scene can be used as a synonym for 'frame'.

✍️ Mise-en-scene Exercises +

Definitions

Watch the videos linked below and complete the table:

Element	1. What are 2-3 key parts identified by the expert?	2. What effect does the expert want each to have?	3. What are 2 other aspects not mentioned?	4. What specific effects may they have?
Costume
Lighting
Setting
Props
Position of Actors
Colour Scheme

Creative Exercise

You are now an expert in your specific element of mise-en-scene. You are going to combine with other experts to offer a portfolio for a director. Based on the scenario given, each expert will include either: (1) A description of what you would include, and/or (2) Images of the types of things you would want to include.

Scenario 1: Legal

Where: A fancy lawyers office
When: Mid 00's
Who: Female (doesn't care), Male (serious), many lawyers
What: Male is suing Female for millions
Why: If Male wins, Female's company goes bankrupt. Female thinks it's a waste of time.
Audience: General audience – more older people
Genre: Drama

Scenario 2: Murder

When: 1950s, America
Where: A rich lady's house
Who: Rich lady (murderer), Detective (investigating)
What: Rich lady killed a man. Detective is questioning her. She is holding a gun at him but he isn't too concerned.
Why: They had a relationship. Detective just realised she murdered her ex-husband. He confronted her.
Genre: Detective thriller

Analytical Exercise

Frame 1

📷 Insert Frame 1 image here:

images/film_guide/frame1.png

Identify each of the components that make up the mise-en-scene?
Write a one paragraph description of what you think is happening in this scene.
What components (from a) inform how we/the audience are supposed to interpret this scene?

Frame 2

📷 Insert Frame 2 image here:

images/film_guide/frame2.png

Using the elements that make up the mise-en-scene, write a two paragraph analysis of HOW the director has created tension in this frame.

Bonus: Where is Nosferatu in this scene?

✂️ Editing

▶

Film editing is part of the creative process of filmmaking. At its most fundamental level, film editing is the practice of assembling shots into a coherent whole.

Editing can bring out the emotional truth in an actor's performance; guide the telling and pace of a story; create an illusion of danger where there is none; give emphasis to things that would not have otherwise been noted; and even create a vital subconscious emotional connection to the viewer.

The two most common types of edits are cuts and transitions.

Cuts: An abrupt, but usually trivial, film transition from one shot to another.
Transitions: A technique by which scenes or shots are combined. May include dissolves, L cuts, fades (usually to black), match cuts, wipes and smash cuts.

Note: If a sequence contains one continuous shot, this long take of an unbroken or un-edited shot is still considered part of editing.

✍️ Editing Exercises +

Film 1 – Reorder the Frames

This is a scene from a thriller of a policeman arriving at the scene of the crime, not realising the killer is inside. Order these frames into a sequence so that suspense is heightened. Note: The first and last frames are correct.

Identify the types of shot of each frame
Consider the natural flow of those shots
Determine how often you would transition from an external shot to an internal one
Reorder frames 2-9

1 (Fixed)

frame1.png

frame2.png

frame3.png

frame4.png

frame5.png

frame6.png

frame7.png

frame8.png

frame9.png

10 (Fixed)

frame10.png

Your order (list the numbers in sequence):

Film 2 + 3 – Compare the Sequences

📷 Insert screenshots/links to the two sequences here:

images/film_guide/sequence1.png images/film_guide/sequence2.png

How many cuts/edits are in each scene?
From whose point of view do we witness each scene from?
What are the different emotions created because of the alternative approaches to editing?
Which is more effective and why?

Bohemian Rhapsody's Terrible Editing – A Breakdown

Watch the video and explain the key problems identified.

Problem	Technical reason it didn't work	How this affected the audience

🎼 Music/Sound

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🎵 Music +

The music that accompanies a film can be categorised as being part of the soundtrack or the score. In both cases the purpose of music is primarily to elicit an emotional response from the audience.

Soundtrack: Technically any music used, but commonly refers to songs (pop, jazz, blues etc.).
Score: Original music written specifically to accompany a film. Comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental or choral pieces called cues which are timed to enhance the dramatic narrative.

Music Exercises – Hans Zimmer

Watch the Hans Zimmer video and complete the table based on three examples given:

Film	Key mood/tone/genre	Unique aspects of the score	Direct evidence for why Zimmer created it as he did	How effective is the score?

Activity – Score Analysis

Imagine you are a director. Your composer has offered you the following options as your score. Analyse each:

Score	What emotions will this allow you to elicit?	What visuals will match the music?	What part of the plot is occurring when this plays?	Find the real film – how close were your guesses?
Score 1
Score 2
Score 3
Score 4

🔊 Sound +

Sound refers to any audio/sonic component in a film. There are two main categories:

Diegetic sound: Any sound presented as originated from source within the world of the film (e.g., voices of characters, sounds made by objects). Often added later during Foley or ADR.
Non-diegetic sound: Sound from a source outside the world of the film (e.g., narrator's commentary, sound effects, music/score).

📷 Insert image/screenshot from the Hugh Jackman Logan sound recording clip:

images/film_guide/logan_sound.png

Mini-activity: Come up with three reasons why Hugh Jackman had to record the sounds for the clip in a studio (and not when they recorded the visuals).

Sound Exercises – Foley Creation

You are the sound designer for the following film. What choices of diegetic and non-diegetic sound would you include to bring this sequence to life?

📷 Insert the scene/screenshots here:

images/film_guide/foley_scene.png

Key visual 1	Key visual 2	Key visual 3	Key visual 4	Key visual 5	Key visual 6

Diegetic Sound + Intended Effect:
Non-Diegetic Sound + Intended Effect:

Foley Analysis

Watch the Foley video and write down the three most interesting ways that the Sound Editors created the sounds for the film.

📁 Image folder: Save your .png files to images/film_guide/ with the filenames used above (e.g., vls_example.png, frame1.png).
All interactive fields are editable – click and type to complete the activities.