Lily Dlhosh

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

Sound

1. Diegetic- Sounds whose source is visible on the screen, or whose source is implied
to be present by the action.
2. Non-diegetic- The sounds whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has
been implied to be present in the action.
3. Internal diegetic- sound which only one character can hear

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

How does it enhance the viewers perception of a scene
or character?
Could be used for
Could be used for sound effect for dramatic effect, mood
music, or narrating
Shows internal monologue or supernatural voices for the
audience to understand what the character hears

4. Voice Over- off-camera narration by either a character or a commentator

Focus

Framing
(Shots)

Camera
Angles

1. Deep focus- all objects remain in focus

2. Rack focus- brings either the background or foreground into sudden focus
3. Soft focus- slightly out of focus

Allows viewers to choose which objects to view

Makes viewers focus their attention on one thing
Can create a lighter mood or uncertainty

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.
2. Extreme Close-up shot- a shot that focuses on a single body part or object, a
monogram
3. Establishing shot- complete view of scene or characters

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

viewer a choice of where to focus.

4. Close-up- just contains a single characters face (80% of screen)

5. Mid shot- characters from the waist up
(medium)
6. Extreme Long shot- a shot in which the camera is so far away that the result is a
broad, panoramic view
7. Two-shot/ three shot- two or three people in the shot
1. Birds eye angle- look directly down onto a scene
2. High angle - look down upon a subject
3. Eye-level angle- equal level with characters
4. Low angle- looks up at a character

Used to draw attention to that object

Establishes the scene or location
Understand characters emotions and feel empathy for
character.
See face clearly but also interaction with other characters.
Establishes a scene
Shows relationship between the characters
Establishes an angle and setting.
Makes a character look small and vulnerable/ gives the
audience a perspective of the character.
Allows viewers feel comfortable with character.
Makes a character look more powerful and makes the

8. Dutch angle- camera is slightly tilted

Lighting

1. Side Lighting lighting from the side that leaves the subject half in light and half
in the shadows.
2. Under lighting- lighting a subject from a point below the subjects
(bottom lighting)
3. Fill light- reduce the contrast of a scene to match the same amount of detail
typically seen by eye in average lighting/ considered normal
4. Soft lights- creates soft-edged shadows/ the larger the light source, the softer the
light
Hard lights- smaller source of light on character
5. Key lighting- high key and low key lighting for intense or not much lighting with
dark shadows
6. Backlighting- illuminates the subject from the back

Camera
Movement
and
Transitions

1.
2.
3.
4.

Crane shot- camera can be put on a crane that moves upwards

Tracking shot- camera is mounted onto a trolley
Panning- moves camera left to right or right to left
Tilt- moves along vertical axis, moving up or down

5. Zoom- focal length of the lens changes, making the object grow or shrink
6. Mobile camera-general term for camera in a moving state
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
2. Dissolve- image slowly fades to another image
3. Crosscut/Parallel- showing clips of separate places, quickly transitioning

Editing

4. Flashback/ Flash-forward- gives viewer important information after fast events

5. Point-of-view a shot from the characters point of view
6. Wipe- a new image wipes off the previous image (can move vertically, horizontally,
or diagonally)
7. Shot reverse shot- switching back and forth between two characters
8. Cut- abrupt movement from one scene to another
9. Eye-line shot- cut from a person to an object and back to the person

audience look small by looking up at the character.

Indicates tension, uncertainty, or anger
It can indicate a split personality or a secret/something
hidden by a character.
Creates a spooky effect for the scene
Makes the viewer feel like they are in the scene or
connected
Makes the character look good
Either enhance a sense of liveliness and the character is
shown without misunderstanding/ emphasize intensity
of the scene or show mystery or creepiness
Creates a sense of depth or disort the identity
Signifies the end of a scene
Explores the setting/ gives a detailed tour of a situation
Gives the viewer a panoramic view of the setting
Used to show size, distance, or strength
Directs the viewers attention on an object the director feels
to be important
Follow an object
It indicates a passage of time or the end of a segment.
Makes a connection between two objects that viewer might
not have made otherwise
Creates suspense or linkages between characters or plots
Helps understand what the character is going through in
present time.
Makes the audience feel like they are in the clip
Move from one scene to another
Show a reaction in a conversation
Show transition of scenes
To focus on what the character is looking at