Cinematography is a micro-element that filmmakers can manipulate to influence audience responses. Different shot types like close-ups, low angles, and high angles can be used to make audiences feel closer to characters or make them appear threatening. For example, in Lord of the Rings, close-ups build tension and low angles used on the Nazgul make them appear dangerous. Understanding how to analyze cinematography techniques is essential for success in the film studies course.

2. Starter Task
Think of one film that has either:
Made you cry
Or
Provoked a strong emotional response from you
Then note down a few of the reason why that film had
such a strong emotional impact for you
Consider
• Themes (issues raised / portrayed by the film)
• Technical aspects (Music / Sound / Effects / Setting)

3. Learning Objectives
Introduce the WJEC
1
specification and evaluate
what we are going to be
learning
2 Introduce ‘The Micro
Elements’ that we will be
studying
3 Analyse the use of Cinematography in
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the
Rings

4. Aims of FM1
The WJEC specification says the following:

5. Aims of FM1
Throughout this module we will be looking at how
filmmakers can manipulate camera angles, sound
effects, performances and lighting to make us
feel, or react in a certain way
They can do this by appealing to our sense of
humour, or drawing on our worst experiences
and forcing us to re-live them

6. Sensory Impact
One of the most basic ways to increase or alter the sensory
impact of a film is to add, or in some cases remove, music
and sound
Watch the following extract without
sound and note down how an
audience might respond

7. Sensory Impact
Now watch the scene again and note
down how an audiences response to
the scene has changed with the
addition of music
The music gives the scene a sense of
grandeur and resolution. The
emotional impact is heightened
because the music swells and
indicates the significance of the event

8. Absence of sound
Alternatively the absence of sound can be very effective in
creating a response from the audience
Watch the following scene and note
down how the unusual use of sound
influences how we respond to the
scene
Consider
Use of Music
Voices fading out
Lack of sound effects

9. Sensory Impact
Adding or removing certain pieces of music, sound effect, visual
effects and even the choice of performer can have a dramatic effect
on how we respond to a film

10. Micro-Elements
The Micro-Elements that we will study are tools that filmmakers can
use create a film and manipulate our emotional response
They include:
• Cinematography
• Editing
• Sound
• Mise-En-Scene
• Performance

11. Micro-Elements
The first Micro-Element we will study is Cinematography
In your note pads write down a definition for the term
Cinematography
Film authors Bordwell & Thompson
define Cinematogprahy as
“Deciding where to place the camera
and what to include/exclude in the
shot produces what Bordwell and
Thompson call ‘a certain vantage
point’ “(Bordwell & Thompson, Film
Art: An Introduction)

12. Micro-Elements
Cinematography is primarily concerned with the
following:
• Shot Types
• Camera Angles
• Camera Movement
• Framing
• Lighting
Heroes are primarily
seen through ‘close-
Through your entire Coursework project
up’s’ – it is important
you must demonstrate how micro
to see what they are
elements, such as cinematography are
feeling – it also places
used to create meaning and generate
the audience closer to
responses from the audience
that character

13. Hot Shots?
Using your cinematography booklets complete the
Cinematography quiz in pairs
You must use shot guide on pages 3 – 5 and identify
the different shot types
Be sure to label each shot type – bonus points if you
can name the films!

14. Extreme Close Up
(ECU) –
Blade Runner

15. Wide Shot / Long
Shot –
Once Upon a Time in
the West

16. Medium Close Up
(MCU)
Fight Club

17. Two Shot
Wayne’s World

18. Extreme Wide Shot
/ Establishing Shot
Harry Potter

19. Point of View (POV)
– We see Morpheus
in a close up through
the eyes of Neo, who
is reflected in the
glasses
The Matrix

20. Close Up (CU) –
The Godfather Part II

21. Balance of Power?
Watch the following sequence and complete the
following tasks:
On your handout tick off the shot
types as they appear in the film
Consider the use of camera shots –
How does the use of close up’s add LOTR: Fellowship of
the Ring
tension to the scene?
Dir: Peter Jackson
What effect did filming the Nazghu’l
from below have on the audience? Budget:
$109,000,000
Box Office:
$869,390,266

22. Balance of Power?
This is called a LOW ANGLE
shot and it is used to make
characters look dominant,
strong, over bearing,
threatening and dangerous
Any guess what this shot is called?
This is called a HIGH ANGLE
shots look down on
characters and give the
impression they are weak,
vulnerable and afraid

23. Film Review
Watch the scene again and this time make notes on how the
different shot types create meaning –
Use the handout as a guide
How do the Close up shots make us feel closer to the
characters?
How do the Low / High angle shots create a sense of threat
/dread within the scene?

24. Film Review
Using your notes you have 5 minutes to write a short
paragraph analysing the use of cinematography in the Lord
of the Rings extract we have studied
Swap your paragraph with a partner and compare each
others work.
Write down 2 positive points
Write down 1 area for improvement – this could include
more use of proper terminology, accurate analysis etc

25. Summary
In order to be successful in your FM1
coursework you must be aware of the
micro elements
Micro elements such as
cinematography and sound can be
manipulated to direct an audience
members response to a film, and even
induce an emotional response
Shot types are important in
establishing character relationships
and indicating aspects of their
personailities