Film Techniques Vocabulary and Descriptions

Instructions:
1. Research to find the various techniques used in film making.
2. You should NOT copy/paste, but include information in your own words to show comprehension.
3. Visit several websites and documents to collect comprehensive information.

Category

Technique and Description

1. Diegetic: this type of sound is the sound that is visible on the screen, like a sound
that goes with an action.

Sound

Focus

Framing
(Shots)

2. Non-Diegetic: Sounds that are not exactly visible on the screen, like a sound that
does not go with an action.

What is the purpose of the technique? Why is it useful?

How does it enhance the viewers perception of a scene
or character?
The purpose is to apply to the senses, such as when
someone gets hit you hear a smack or when someone is
speaking you heard the words come out of their
mouths. Ex. soundtrack
The purpose of this technique is to also apply to the senses
but not exactly how diegetic is used. For an example, if
the setting is at night then in the film you would
possibly hear crickets in the background but not
necessarily seen the crickets that are making sounds.

3. Internal diegetic: only one of the characters can hear the sound.

The purpose of this technique is for monologues, etc.

4. Voiceover: off camera narration by either a character or a commentator, can come

from more than one character.

The purpose of this technique is explain what exactly is

going on, maybe when the character is having flash
backs.

1. Soft focus: the scene is soft and somewhat blurred.

The purpose of this technique is to create depth and raise

the energy of the film.

2. Rack focus: brings background into sudden focus.

The purpose of this technique is because they want you to

focus on one thing.

3. Deep focus: all objects remain in focus

The purpose of this technique is to give the viewers

freedom to choose what they focus on.

1. Long-Shot The object seems small or is seen from a distance. If a person is in the
shot, it is the entire body and a great deal of background visible.

Offers viewers a sense of time and place; also offers the

viewer a choice of where to focus.

Camera
Angles

Lighting

2. Extreme close-up: a shot that focuses on a single body part or object.

The purpose is to draw attention to that object.

3. Close-up: this shot only keeps the face in the frame, and it builds a dramatic edge to
the storytelling. Takes up 80% of the screen.

The purpose is to create a dramatic scene, to show a

characters reaction to something.

4. Medium shot, mid-shot: usually from the waist up and is extremely common.

The purpose of this is basically a normal shot for when a

few characters are speaking to each other or something
along that line.

5. Extreme long shot: which subjects and or objects

The purpose is to show the details of the entire set.

6. Establishing shot: It is usually the first shot at the beginning of a scene to show the
setting of that scene.

The purpose is to let the reader see the setting before it

takes place so they can see exactly where the scene
well be.

1. Dutch angle: camera is slightly tilted.

The purpose is to create tension, uncertainty or danger.

2. High angle: the camera looks down on a character or whatever the scene is trying to
portray.

The purpose is to show the audience the perspective of the

character. Makes the object look weak or more
vulnerable.

3. Eye-level angle: the camera is equal with the character, almost like the views are
standing right in front of the characters.

The purpose is primarily for the views or audience to

become comfortable with the character and
understand them more. Most common and natural.

4. Low angle: the camera is looking up toward the character.

The purpose is the make the character to look more

authoritative, and add drama to the scene.

1. Side Lighting lighting from the side that leaves the subject half in light and half
in the shadows.

It can indicate a split personality or a secret/something

hidden by a character.

Camera
Movement
and
Transitions

2. High Key lighting: Brightest and most dominant light.

The purpose is to separate the person from the setting,

create a natural looking scene.so characters or situation
may be seen without misunderstanding.

3. Low key lighting: shadows and harsh lighting, perfect for horror.

The purpose is to create depth to the scene and it is also

used in art to add volume.

4. Bottom lighting: lighting comes from the bottom up, puts subject in half light, half
in shadows.

The purpose is to add some sort of horror, and suspense to

the film, makes subject appear threatening or sinister.

5. Front lighting: lighting from the front.

The purpose is basically just an auxiliary light, creating a

softening effect or an ageless look.

6. Back lighting: lighting from the back.

The purpose is to be used to create sense of depth, produce

a halo-like aura.

1. Zoom: camera is stationary, zooming in and away from the object, shirk or grow.

The purpose is to add drama, depth and show the object that
is being talked about or too. To focus attention or a
person or object.

2. Pan: the camera pivots on a horizontal axis from left to right.

The purpose is to show the settings as the characters move

to a new one, or to move to side to side.

3. Tilt: on vertical axis, tilting up and down.

The purpose is to show size, distance, and strength. Used to

simulate a point of view or to reveal a person or object,

4.
5. Crane: the camera to mounted on a crane enabling the camera to take an overhead
shot

Can be considered a type of mobile camera shot.

6. Mobile camera: general term for the camera is moving

Could be on a dolly or tracks. To follow a subject.

7.

Editing

1. Fade a scene fades to black (or any other color) for a very short time as is slowly
replaced with another image; may start the next scene or change subjects

It indicates a passage of time or the end of a segment.

2. Dissolve: the image slowly fades away but does not go completely black.

The purpose is to make connections between two or more

characters that the viewers did not notice before hand.

3. Crosscut or parallel: showing clips of other places and quickly moving from one to
another that takes place at the same time, but not necessarily in the same place.

Creates suspense between characters and viewers not

knowing what is going to appear next.

4. Eye-line match: a shot of the characters and a shot of what the character sees.

Builds tension and revelation, to focus on what the

character is looking at.

5. Point-of-view: what the character sees

Makes the audience feel a part of the scene.

6. Cut: joining of two separate shots so that the first is instantaneously replaced by the
second, two pieces of film are spliced together.

Transformation from scene to scene, something is ending or

some kind of closure.

7. Wipe transition: a new image wipes off the previous image, can move vertically,
horizontally, or diagonally.

Move from one scene to another.

8. Flashback/flash forward: segment of a film that dramatizes what has happened in

the past or what will take place, can be achieved through any editing technique.

To give additional information of the character or in the

story.

9. Shot-reverse-shot: switching back and forth between two characters.

Often used to show a reaction.