Elements of Film Structure

Elements of Film Structure

StructureThe audio-visual design of the
film and the tools needed to create that
design: camera, lighting, set, performance,
editing, sound.

ContentThe story, theme, and
characterizations.
The Film-making Process
Pre-production Production Post-production
Script (optioning,
writing, revisions
Filming & Sound
recording of scenes
Editing of sound &
film
Hiring of cast and crew Music scoring

Foley recording (sound
effects)
Design of
sets/costumes
ADR (automated
dialogue replacement)
Planning of
cinematography
Digital Effects
Rehearsals Lab work and release
of prints
The directorcoordinates and organizes the
work of the cast and crew.

The producerhas administrative control
over budget and schedule.
Time components of film
Running timethe full duration of a film.
(Feature films are generally 90-120
minutes.)

Story timethe amount of time the plot
covers. (Could be hours or centuries.)
Internal structural timethe tempo of a
film, which is affected by length of shots
and editing of film.

A shot is the time occurring between the
camera being turned on and shut off.
Spatial components
Framethe projected area on screen, but
also an individual image on a strip of film.

Camera positioning
Long shot (often used as an establishing shot)
Medium shot
Close-up (may be used to show expressions)
Camera angles
Low (used to make figures appear to tower)
Medium (eye-level views)
High (used to diminish subjects in size)
Canted angle (gives an off-kilter effect)

Angles must be used in context with scenes.
Low angle
Medium Angle
High angle
Focal lengththe distance between the film
and optical center of the cameras lens.
Normal range lens is 50mm
Telephoto lens has greater focal length
Wide-angle lens has shorter focal length
Zoom lens


Depth of fieldthe amount of area from
near to far that will remain in focus. (Wide-
angles have greater depth of field than
telephotos.)
Camera Movement
Pan and tilt
Dolly or tracking
Boom or crane
Steadicam

Motion perspectivethe changing distances of
framed objects due to the motion of a moving
camera, such as one with a zoom lens.
The Dolly Shot
The Zoom
Panning
Tilting
Creative choices
Flashingexposing film to a small amount
of prior to filming in order to mute color
and shadows.

ENR (Ernesto N. Rico)a developing
process that makes shadows darker and
edges crisper.
Perception of film
Perceptual transformationthe ability of
the camera to show things in a way that
differs from human visual perception.

Perceptual correspondencethe camera
showing things in a way common with
visual perception