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Micro Features Lesson
This document provides an overview of micro features in film including mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, narrative, and sound. It discusses key elements of mise-en-scene like setting, decor, props, costumes, and figure expression. Cinematography techniques covered include shots, angles, camera movements, depth of focus, lighting, color, and special effects. The document also distinguishes between diegetic and non-diegetic sound.
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Micro Features Lesson
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- 2. MICRO FEATURES ARE… Cinematography Editing Miseen Scene Narrative Sound
- 3. MICRO VS. MACRO MacroFeatures– Genre, Narrative, Ideology (Messages and Values) Micro Features– Mise n Scene, Cinematography, Sound, Editing
- 4. MISE EN SCENE ‘Whatis in the shot’
- 5. WHAT IT INCLUDES: Setting Décor Props Costumeand make up Figure expression and movement
- 6. SETTING The actualsetting of a film will create a lot of meaning for an audience. The setting conveys the world of the film and can go a long way to setting the mood and atmosphere of a film. Remember the setting can also be the interior of a building not just the exterior world.
- 7. IN TAXI DRIVER(SCORCESE 1976), THE DARK DIRTY STREETS OF NEW YORK ADD FEELING AND MOOD TO THE SLEEZY ATMOSPHERE OF THE FILM
- 8. IN AMERICAN BEAUTY(MENDES 1999) WE SEE THE PERFECT WORLD OF SUBURBAN AMERICA WITH ITS WHITE PICKET FENCES AND PERFECTLY MANICURED GARDENS.
- 9. DÉCOR The décor isbasically the objects contained in the setting of the scene. It can be used to amplify character emotion or the dominant mood of the film In a film, the décor of the set can also give us very specific indicators about period, the world of the characters, the lifestyle of the character and the functionality of the setting.
- 10. WHAT DOES THEDÉCOR IN THIS SHOT TELL US?
- 11. PROPS The Props oritems from the property department are the items used to dress the set. But they can communicate just as much meaning to an audience. For example, in Sci Fi, we expect to see futristic weapons – Like the LifeSaber in Star Wars.
- 12. COSTUME Costume simply refersto the clothes that characters wear. Costume in narrative cinema is used to signify character, or advertise particular fashions/periods in time, or to make clear distinctions between characters.
- 13. WHAT DOES THE COSTUMEIN THESE SHOTS TELL US?
- 14. FIGURE EXPRESSION ANDMOVEMENT Like everything else in the mise en scene figure expression is used to support the narrative Figure expression refers to the facial expressions and the posture of an actor, whereas figure movement refers to all other actions of the actor, including gestures.
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- 16. WHAT THIS INCLUDES: Framing/composition Camera shots Camera angles Camera movement Depth of focus Lighting Colour Special effects
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- 18. OVERHEAD SHOT This iswhere the camera looks down on the action
- 19. EXTREME LONG SHOT Thisis where the setting fills the frame. It establishes location and sets the scene.
- 20. LONG SHOT This iswhere we see the entire subject in relation to their surroundings (with space above the head and below the feet).
- 21. MEDIUM LONG SHOT Thisis where we see almost the entire subject, the shot is tight with no space above the head and below.
- 22. MEDIUM SHOT This iswhere the subject is cut off at the waist. You can still see their costume and surroundings but also some of their emotions.
- 23. MEDIUM CLOSE UP Thisis where the head and shoulders of the subject is shown in the shot.
- 24. CLOSE UP This iswhere the subject fills the frame. It shows emotion clearly.
- 25. EXTREME CLOSE UP Thisis used to emphasise something in the shot.
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- 27. Movement Name Static camera? What movement doesit make? Meaning Produced Zoom Yes The camera mechanically moves closer or father away from the subject changing the camera shot Makes the audience feel closer or further away from the action. Can be used to highlight something. Tracking No The camera is mounted on a track and moves smoothly to follow the action Makes the audience feel involved in the scene following the action with the characters. Pan Yes The camera moves from side to side on the tripod Shows more information Tilt Yes The camera tilts up and down on the tripod Shows more information Hand Held No The camera is not fixed to anything and moves in all directions Makes the scene appear more real or chaotic. Crane No Basically, a tracking shot in the air. A crane (or jib), can move up, down, left, right, swooping in on action or moving diagonally out of it. The audience are able to get stuck in to the action. Ariel No Basically a crane shot but using a helicopter Gives a god like overview of the scene
- 28. DEPTH OF FOCUS Thedepth of focus can give us as the spectator an insight into the character/action on screen Deep focus can make the film appear more real Shallow focus can tell us that the character is disconnected from their surroundings or only concerned with what they are doing, everything else is irrelevant.
- 29. DEEP FOCUS The wholeimage is in focus. Nothing is the centre of the spectators focus all characters and setting have equal focus
- 30. SHALLOW FOCUS By usinga restricted depth of focus only one plane in sharp focus The rest of the shot is out of focus and blurred.
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- 35. CAMERA SHOTS, ANGLESAND MOVEMENTS VIDEO Video
- 36. LIGHTING The intensity,direction, and quality of lighting can have a huge effect on the way an image is perceived. It can focus attention on particular elements of the composition or hide others. Most mainstream films use three-point lighting Other films, for example documentaries and realist cinema, rely on natural light to create a sense of authenticity.
- 37. THREE POINT LIGHTING Theback light picks out the subject from the background Bright key light highlights the object The fill light from the opposite side makes sure that the key light only casts a faint shadow
- 38. NATURAL LIGHTING Elephant (2003,Gus Van Sant)
- 39. COLOUR The greatest inventionafter sound in the movie business? Regardless it is very effective. A modern film like La Haine shot in B&W is very powerful in communicating the bleakness of life. Traffic, uses a grey/blue filter at times to represent the different situations to us Collateral was shot in HD, illuminating the colours of the night even more
- 40. Colour alsocan create mood and atmosphere, Shindlers List for example uses a touch of colour during the rounding up of the Ghetto scene. The red coat of the little blond girl, highlights the pain of the situation with great clarity and emotion.
- 41. SPECIAL EFFECTS Sin City (2005,Miller, Rodriguez, Tarentino)
- 42. FRAMING/COMPOSITION This refersto the organisation of pictorial elements in a frame. The purpose of the frame is to direct the spectators attention to the focus of the narrative in the scene
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- 44. We have alreadylooked at figure expression and movement, we are now going to look at the performance of an actor as a whole and what it contributes the sensory impact of the film
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- 46. DIEGESIS There are twomain types of sound that you can hear in films. Sound can be broken down into diegetic and non diegetic sound
- 47. DIEGETIC SOUND Diegetic soundis sound that is recorded at the time of filming the scene. Sometimes sound is added post production but we know the characters are supposed to hear this sound. This is still classed as diegetic sound, but you should note that you understand that the sound had not originated from the original recording.
- 48. DIEGETIC SOUND The soundgenerated from within the narrative of the text. The characters and the audience can hear the sound.
- 49. EXAMPLES OF DIEGETICSOUND Characters speech Sounds made by objects in the narrative e.g a creaking door Music That is played by characters on screen in a band Radio that a character has turned on Some sound effects – Dog barking, sirens, car passing
- 50. THE EFFECT OFDIEGETIC SOUND Reinforces the narrative It helps to set the scene and make the scene more believable. e.g. if you see two characters talking in a café, you expect to hear other people chatting, cups clinking, and people moving around. If the scene was silent it would not be believable.
- 51. NON DIEGETIC SOUND Non diegetic sound is the opposite to diegetic sound. It is sound that the characters in the story can not hear. Non diegetic sound is added post production
- 52. NON DIEGETIC SOUND Soundthat is generated outside the narrative of the text. Only the audience can hear the sound
- 53. EXAMPLES OF NONDIEGETIC SOUND Narration by an off screen character (Voice Of God Sound effects that are added for dramatic effect Mood music Film score (background Music) Theme tune
- 54. THE EFFECT OFNON DIEGETIC SOUND Non Diegetic sound helps to create the atmosphere and mood of the film and scenes within the film. The background music can completely change the mood of the film and convey the emotion that the director wants them to feel
Editor's Notes
- #8 Tell me the elements of the mise en scene L Explain how these elements have been used to construct meaning M Argue a alternate reading of this mise en scene H
- #9 Tell me the elements of the mise en scene L Explain how these elements have been used to construct meaning M Argue a alternate reading of this mise en scene H
- #11 Tell me the elements of the mise en scene L Explain how these elements have been used to construct meaning M Argue a alternate reading of this mise en scene H