Set Extensions

Set Extensions are often used to make a film location feel bigger and more expansive.

The most common use of a Set Extension would usually be in establishing shots where the film maker wants to make the location of the opening scene more impressive / dramatic. 

A green screen is sometimes also used so that parts of the footage can easily be replaced or extended in post production.

Fig #1

A Set Extension in action.

The Fly-Over Shot

A Fly-Over is a cinematic technique where a camera is carried by a drone or other flying air craft, for example a helicopter or an aeroplane. 

Fly-Over shots can be used to show on screen a large area from a birds-eye view and are therefore often used as Establishing Shots at the start of a film or a dramatic moment. 

Additionally, the Fly-Over technique can be employed as a way to following a moving object (for example, a car or a speedboat) which couldn't be tracked by a person on foot. 

Recently the use of drones has become more affordable for film maker on a budget and they can provide manoeuvrability than any ground based video rig would not be able to match.

Genre, Genre Conventions and Iconography

Genre

Genre is the classification of different types of media.  For example, in music it would describe the difference between classical and rap, or in film it would describe the difference between a sci-fi, comedy or drama.

The are many way conventions which distinguish the different genres in films, for example the characteristics in the story line, the location, the period it is set in, or props, or musical score.  

A good example of genre being established very early in a film can be seen in Star Wars where the opening scene shows a spaceship and the audience immediately know it is a sci-fi.

Fig #1 

The iconic opening scene from star wars 

Opening sequence of Star wars

Conventions and Iconography.

Genre conventions and Iconography are aspects or characteristics of a film (or visual material) that can be collected in to sets to describe Genre.  Here are some examples of Genre Conventions:-

Horror = dark, jump scare, blood/gore, scary story, low pitched sounds, tension.

Action = fast, loud, car chase, weapons/fighting, tense, hero, epic music.

Comedy = funny, slap-stick, costume, piano.

Drama = mystery, intrigue, detective, argument, suspense, string music.

Western = cowboys, horses, guns, fighting, duel.

Documentary = facts, information, interview, reality.

Mediation in Media

Mediation refers to the alteration (for example through editing or changes in presentation) of media that is made before it reaches the public.

In media production, mediation is the middle point, in between the recording of the raw material and the final cut which would be released to an audience.  This can be thought of in a similar way to which a Mediator would stands in between two people with opposing views.

Mediation can change and manipulate the way in which people understand the content being presented.  One example of mediation being used in a manipulating manor would be the way in which a Reality Show (such as Big Brother, or GoggleBox) is edited.  Here, even though the film crew would be recording 24 hours per day, all the raw footage is then condemned down into a short 40 minute presentation which only includes the most interesting sections.  During this process of mediation it would be very possible to portray a person being filmed in certain way - for example as a moody person - even if they were actually very happy for most of the time.

Mediation in media is also seen in newspapersm and different newspapers can present the same story in different ways, according to whether they are Left- or Right-Wing in their political views.

Fig #1

This is my example where I have made my teacher appear like

 he is saying something that he isn't to add new

 context to the piece.

Todorov's Narrative Theory

Tzvetan Todorov is a Bulgarian/French historian and philosopher who is credited with the concept of Narrative Theory, a structure that can be applied to most story forms and films.

Narrative Theory is a three part plot where at the start there is an equilibrium where everything appears to be fine, then something happens that disrupts the balance and causes a problem, and then at the end there is a resolution and the balance is restored.

Fig #1

The basic structure Narrative Theory

Zooming

A ZOOM is where the focal length of the camera lens changes. For example, it changes from a Wide Angle to a Close-Up and gives the impression that someone is moving closer to the object.  A special zoom lens is needed to perform a zooming shot.

Fig #1

An example of different frames

 gradually zooming in of a surfer

Zooming differs from the Tracking Shot because when zooming, the camera does not actually move.

Pull Focus

Pulling Focus (or follow focus) is performed by changing the focal point within the depth of field to keep the same object of interest in focus (if it is moving), or to move the focus point from one object to another.

Fig #1

This shows how different objects in the shot

can be brought in to focus.

When film makers need to use this technique, they often need an additional member of the film crew (called the Focus Puller) to assist the main camera operator.  The Focus Puller will concentrate on keeping the correct focal point, whist the camera operator would be in charge of moving the camera and starting/stopping the filming.

Fig #2

The Focus Puller in action.

A great example of how to pull focus can be seen in the YouTube video below:

Fig #3

How to Pull Focus

From '60 Seconds on Set'

Mechanical Shot

Similar to the Tracking Shot the MECHANICAL SHOT uses some form of machinery to assist the film maker.  Usually when you make a Mechanical Shot you use some kind of Crane or Jib with a mechanical arm.

The Mechanical Shot allows the camera to physically move from one position to another and creates a smooth sweeping shots.  They can also be employed to make the camera move through small or unusual spaces that would be difficult to achieve hand held.

Fig #1

A Jib being used to create a mechanical shot

Camera Movement - Panning, Tilting and Tracking

PANNING, TILTING and TRACKING are ways to describe the movement of the camera when filming.

PANNING: A panning shot is where the camera is rotated from side to side along the horizontal axis.  A good example use would be to show a really wide mountain range by sweeping the camera from one side to the other.  Here we would give the audience a sense of just how massive the mountain range is over time.

Fig #1

An example of a panning shot used to create an panorama

TILTING:  A tilting shot is similar to the panning shot, however the camera is rotated up and down, along the vertical axis.  A good example use of a tilting shot would be to show a skyscraper by sweeping the camera from the bottom to the top.  Here we would give the audience a sense of just how tall the building is over time.

Fig #2

Tilt Camera Movement.

TRACKING:  A tracking shot (or Dolly Shot) differs from Panning and Tilting in that the camera actually moves (as opposed to just rotated).  The camera can move either forwards/backwards (called Tracking In), or from side to side (Tracking sideways).  In order to create a tracking shot which is smooth a Dolly System is used.  Here the camera is physically mounted on to a moving carriage which can be pushed along a track (this is why is it called a "Tracking Shot"), similar to a roller coaster.  The dolly creates a feeling like the camera is floating which would be difficult to achieve hand held.

Fig #3

A Dolly Tracking System

The Wide Shot

In film-making, the WIDE-SHOT (or Long-Shot) is most often used at the start of a scene to help to establish the location and show where the character(s) is situated within it.  They are also used for Master Shots in dialogue scenes (ie. a shot where both characters are seen together).

Fig. #1

An example of a Wide-Shot

From Pirates of the Caribbean 

Long-Shots are created by using a Wide-Angled lens (typically a lens of 35mm or wider/lower) which can capture a great expanse of the location in a single shot without needing to pan the camera from side to side.

Fig. #2

A 25mm Wide Angled Lens

The Medium-Shot

The MEDIUM-SHOT (or Mid-Shot, MS), or as I like to call it the Natural Shot, is a camera angle taken from a medium distance.  It is the most commonly used shot in films as it provides a good view of a character, their facial expressions and the background.

Fig #1

A example of a Medium Shot

 From The Hunger games

The Medium Shot is often framed from the waist of a character upwards.  As opposed to the Close-Up Shot, the medium shot focuses less on the details or emotions of the character but more on the action or the larger details, for example hand gestures or big movements that wouldn't be seen in a Close-Up.

Fig #2

A 50mm Prime Lens

50mm lenses are favoured for Medium-Shots because they provide a natural and flattering image which is sized to feel like what you would see if you were actually standing at the location and looking at the action though your eyes.  The 50mm lens was created to provide shot which is similar to what the human eye can capture.