The document analyzes the dual nature of film as both a narrative and a visual-aural medium, emphasizing how films convey narratives through various elements such as plot, characters, and themes. It covers the significance of mise-en-scène, visual symbolism, camera movements, and sound in shaping the film's atmosphere and meaning. Additionally, it offers insights into editing techniques and genre analysis, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding film as an art form.

1. Comenius Reading Film Film Analysis

2. Reading a Film The dual nature of film: Narrative content: novel short story Visual & Aural content: Painting / photography Theatre / drama Symphony / opera

3. Reading a Film The Visual & Aural A unique combination How films convey the narrative Less abstract than writing Must also be "read"

4. Reading a Film The Narrative Films can be compared to written texts. Contain many narrative elements: Plot / story Characters Setting Point of view Themes / Message

5. Reading a Film Film Related to other arts The novel - expansive scope of narrative Theatre - visual & aural in real time Music - evocative like a film's sound picture Architecture (environmental art) - requires 3-D spaces

6. Film Visual Mise-en-scene Construction of the scene How it is done Meaning of objects Purpose of the arrangement

7. Mise-en-scene

8. Film Visual Symbolism Signs / connotations / codes Cowboy "merely" a cowboy ranch hand with specific job Symbol for: Masculinity America Historical era

9. Signs / connotations / codes

10. Signs / connotations / codes

11. Signs / connotations / codes

12. Iconography Objects we EXPECT to see on screen in a certain genre guns in a thriller saloon in a western pretty girls in horror flicks

13. Iconography

14. Film Visual Lighting create atmosphere and mood light and shade can suggest codes of meaning (e.g. in a horror film) strong light is harsh, soft light romantic spotlight picks someone out full face = trust and honesty shadows = fear and lack of trust

15. Lighting

16. Low-key lighting High contrast Dramatic Dangerous

17. High-key lighting Evenly shaded Lit background Non-threatening Fun

18. Film Visual Camera angle Width Wide Normal Telephoto Elevation High to Bird's-eye view: Eye level Low to Worm's-eye view Canted

19. Camera angle

20. Film Visual Camera and Lens Movement Left / Right: pan, crab or track In / Out: zoom or track Up / Down: tilt or ped Role Wild Film (speedy, blurred movement) Handheld (for closeness, intimacy)

21. Film Visual Shot Editing - the cutting and joining of lengths of film that makes the narrative flow.

22. Shot Single take Size (close-up, long shot, panoramic) Subjective point-of-view-shot (through the eyes of a character in the movie) . Eye-line shot (that makes YOU feel like you are part of the movie, seeing things from your angle).

23. Shot Size Long shot Medium shot Close up

24. Editing Jump-cut = a dramatic cut that breaks the time continuity/ jumps in time or space Cross-cut = a cut that follow parallel action in two or more separate scenes at the same time Follow-cut = follows an action to its consequence Fade (sometimes into black) Split screen Collage /matte

25. Visual (special) effects Used to create realism and meaning example: Space craft in Star Wars Animated monkey in King Kong

26. Frame Rate Film speed Time laps fast motion slow motion freeze frame

27. Film Sound wind-noise screeching cars background music footsteps music for mood etc. narrative (musicals)

28. Film Sound Actual sound Commentary sound

29. Actual Sound Voices of characters Sounds made by objects in the story : coffee cup, foot steps Music from : instruments, record players, radios, tape players in the scene Basic sound effects : dog barking, car passing as it is in the scene

30. Actual Sound

31. Commentary Sound Narrator's commentary Voice of God Sound effect which is added for dramatic effect Mood music Film Score

32. Commentary Sound

33. Genre - type of narrative western detective story musical comedy thriller sci-fi drama action horror

34. Genre

35. Analyses The point of analysis is to figure out: THEMES: What we should think about MESSAGES: What we should understand

36. Further Reading: Monaco, James. How to Read a Film, The Art, Technology, Language, History and Theory of Film and Media. Oxford University Press Inc, USA. 1981. ISBN 0195028066