Video auxillary equipment

Track and dolly

A camera dolly is a wheeled cart or similar device used in filmmaking and television production to create smooth horizontal camera movements. An advantage of using this over a handheld camera is that you get a smoother shot. However, a disadvantage would be that it may retract your movements as its bolted to the track only. 






Stead-icam

The steadi-cam is a camera stabiliser mount for motion pictures cameras that mechanically isolates it from the operator's movement. It allows for a smooth shot, even when moving quickly over an uneven surface. An advantage of using this instead of a handheld is that allows your shots to be smoother and therefrom more professional. However, a disadvantage is that some shots need to look shaky, for instance, a POV shot of someone running, 






Tripod

In camera work, A tripod is a portable three-legged frame, used as a platform for supporting the weight and maintaining the stability of a camera shot. An advantage of using a tripod is that it allows you to fully focus on creating the perfect shot and not on holding the camera. However, a disadvantage is that it may restrict your movements, as to move the camera, the whole tripod needs to be moved. 






H1N

H1N is a portable, digital voice recorder. This is used to gather sound recording in a portable device. An advantage over using a the in camera sound recorder is that it means your sound is recorder separate and possibly clearer sounding audio. A disadvantage over using the in camera sound recorder is that its more equipment you need. 


Shotgun Microphone 

A shotgun microphone is connected directly to the camera. A advantage of using this over the in camera microphone is that its will allow your audio to be more professional as it will be clearer. However, a disadvantage of using a shotgun microphone over the in camera microphone is that its more equipment you need.

Health check29092016 from annabelminns

Camera composition

Camera Composition

The clip ill be analysing is front the movie 'Inside Man'. This scene includes several head shots, this encourages the audience to focus on what the actors are saying, resulting in a more intimate viewing as the audience fully understand the characters thoughts and feelings.




                                                                                  This shot is a birds eye view. This shot is used as it allows the audience to see the scene from a different point of view, allowing them to have knowledge of the whole setting not just from one basic angle.



This is a two shot as two people are shown in the same shot. This is a useful shot as it allows the audience to see the facial expressions of two people at once. Consequently increasing the audiences understanding of the characters roles.







What is a script?
In screenplay, a script is the dialog and language for a film or play.

Why do film makers invariably use a variety of camera shots?
Generally, different camera shots are used in film as it allows the audience to see different perspectives of the scene, this is useful as it increases the understanding of the scenario at hand.

Different shots include:

• An establishing shot
• Wide angle shot 
• Head shot 
• Birds eye view 
• Over the shoulder shot 
• Two shot 
• Low angle shot 
• High angle shot 
• Long shot
• Closeup
• Medium shot
• Extreme closeup
• Mid shot 
• Medium close up 
• Dutch angle 
• High angle 
• Pan
• Cut in 
• Over the head 
• Tilt 
• Dolly zoom (with tripod)
• Medium two shot 

The antagonist is the character who is seen as the villain within a story.

The protagonist is the character who is seen as the hero within a story. 

A close up shot is used as it allows the audience to see the emotion of the characters through the facial expressions. giving the audience a full understanding if the characters thoughts and feelings within that scene. If the character is feeling sadness and despair this will be evident though their eyes, a close up shot allows this to be evident. 

Film makers use a long shot as it allows more to be seen at once, this is useful as it increasing the knowledge for the audience of what is exactly in that scene. 

Editing

Types of cut:

• Cutting on action 
• Cut away 
• Cross cut 
• Jump cut 
• Match cut 
• Fade in/ fade out 
• Dissolve 
• Smash cut 
• Iris 
• Wipe
• Invisible wipe 
• L-cut - audio transitions from one shot to another 
• J-cut - when the audio starts for the next scene before you see it 

Editing is to prepare a media text for publication by correcting, condensing, or otherwise modifying it. Its a stage ini the film making process in which sound and imaged are organised to contract an overall narrative.

The key word in continuity is CONTINUE,  to make sure things are continuous.

In the clip from the 'The Matrix' a dissolve cut is used to show the changing of the alien to a human. This is found at 0:10 in the video. At 0:39 slow motion is used to show the actor dodging the bullets. At 0.05 a match cut is used. At 0:02 a cut away is used.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg

Examples of  Causes of continuity errors 

• Shots/angles
• Costume/props
• Lighting etc

0:30 - drink changes from orange juice to water 

0:35 shirt changes from purple to white

0:44 wine bottles appear

0:44 another shirt change 

0:51 lady disappears 

0:57 food changes 

Continuity editing: 180 degree rule

Purpose: Is to orientate the viewer, to establish the placement of characters. Breaking the 180 rule, it will place the characters in a different place.C

Continuity editing: match on action

Is multiple cuts to show one continuous action. Match on action is part of invisible editing which creates flow when watching a scene.The cuts MATCH together so that the audience know it is one action.

An example of match on action is in 'the matrix' where the man is punched and he bleeds from his mouth and then it cuts to another scene where his also bleeding from his mouth. Therefor matching the action.

Shot reverse shot is when a shot goes from shot A, shot B, shot A, shot B etc. It goes continuously back and forth between the 2 shots to show there is a connection between them. It is often used in conversations so you see what both characters are saying.

Eye-line match:

Shot A: character is looking off screen

Shot B: what character is looking at

Is a following shot that follows what character is looking at, makes cuts smoother the audience expects the cut to happen and is eager to see what happens next/what character sees.

Example,

a)A person’s phone rings, she turns and looks in direction of phone

b)Close up shot of phone ringing

Cross cutting:

Technique of continuously alternating 2 or more scenes that often happen simultaneously (at same time) but in different locations. As they cross, pace gradually gets faster and fast and tension builds. Often the parallel scenes will intersect to create a climax. 

In film, an insert is a shot of part of a scene as filmed from a different angle and/or focal length from the master shot (original/establishing shot). Inserts cover action already covered in the master shot, but emphasize a different aspect of that action due to the different framing. 

An insert differs from a cutaway as cutaways cover action not covered in the master 

 Example

CLOSE-UP of the gunfighter,
INSERT of his hand quivering above the holster
TWO SHOT of his friends watching anxiously
INSERT of the clock ticking.

Sound

Key Terms

•Diegesis - What the audience witness on screen. The things that make up the diegesis are the diegetic elements.

•Sound Scape - Scape= the wider scene 

•Score (music)- 

Music composed, arranged and played specifically for the production

Example: 

1)Adele = Skyfall  (James Bond)

2)Celine Dion = My heart will go on (Titanic)

•Diegetic- sounds the characters can hear

•Non-diegetic - Sounds the characters cannot hear.

•Volume control- The control of how quiet or loud the sound is. This is to set the mood/ atmosphere. 

•Dialogue is speech made from characters when talking  (what they say)

Consider:

Language (what they say and meanings of words)

Tone (aggressive, serious, sympathetic)

Accent (where from?)

Volume (whisper or shouting)

–Speech, language and accents

•Mode of address- This is the manner in which the narrative comes across to the audience.

•Direct Address- When a narrator and character speaks directly to audience (at the camera)

•Voiceover- Where voice from outside the diegesis gives the audience information. Often this voice tells us a story (narrator) or may be from a character in the story to communicate their thoughts or feelings.

•Ambient Sound- Background sound in diegesis

Does not have to be in field of vision

IN field of vision = crowd in restaurant

OUT of field of vision = traffic outside

•Sound bridging  (part of continuity editing)- Where sound (diegetic or non-diegestic) continues across one or more cuts/transitions. 

•Sound perspective- Sound recording that helps us place a sound as either near or distant or coming from a particular place within the diegesis

•Sound effects

–Naturalistic vs unnaturalistic

–Foley

•Synchronous- Synchronous sounds are those sounds which are synchronized or matched with what is viewed. For example if the film portrays a character playing the piano, the sounds of the piano are projected.

•Asynchronous- Where the soundtrack is deliberately out of sync (out of time) with what we see.  

•Incidental music- Incidental music is often "background" music, and adds atmosphere to the action. It may take the form of something as simple as a low, ominous tone suggesting an impending startling event or to enhance the depiction of a story-advancing sequence. 

•Sound motifs-Sound associated with a character or place.What would you expect to hear in a scene
 in a: School? Arcade?