As an introduction to Media Studies, we first learned about codes and conventions in film. This includes things like technical codes, camera angles, lighting, sound, camera movements, types of shots, how different conventions of these codes are used in different genres, and the emotions and reactions these codes and conventions attempt to evoke.
We began experimenting with the camera and different ways to work with it. As a tool, cameras are extremely versatile, learning about different angles and shots.
We used a DJI Phone Gimbal and our phones to recreate shots for ourselves. I particularly liked Dutch/Canted angles.
List of technical codes
Below are the technical codes I learned about and became familiar with during class. We went through these technical codes throughout a few classes, with experimentation between them.
The types of angles include:
- Overhead (self-explanatory)
- Bird’s eye view (Mostly used to establish a setting)
- High view (possibly to show power relationships between characters or between the viewer and the character)
- Eye-level and Shoulder-level shots (used to focus on a character’s face or body, and over-the-shoulder shots are used normally in conversations)
- low and worm’s eye view (to create power relationships like high and bird’s eye view shots, and in some cases, a knee or floor-level shot can create mystery by not including a character’s face in a shot)
- dutch/canted angles (used mostly to create tension or a state of disorientation).
The types of shots include:
- Establishing shots (to establish a setting)
- close-up and extreme close-up shots (to show the exact emotions of a character through giving attention to small details)
- medium shots
- long shots and extreme long shots (as establishing shots, to show a character’s relation to the environment, or to focus on scenery)
- full shots (to focus on a character’s movement), reverse-angle shots (a shot taken from the reverse angle from the previous shot)
- Point of View shots.
- Other special shots such as over-the-shoulder shots are used in special occasions like conversations.
Types of camera movements include:
- Pan (left-and-right)
- Tilt (up-and-down)
- Ped (forwards, sliding up or down)
- Dolly (fixed position moving forwards)
- Track (smooth sideways)
- Zoom (lens moves forward or back)
- Handheld (self-explanatory)
- Steadicam (using a Steadicam to stabilize the camera)
Types of sound include:
- Diegetic sound (sound characters in the scene can hear)
- Non-diegetic sound (the opposite of diegetic sound)
- Contrapuntal (sound in contrast to the image)
- Parallel (sound that goes along with the image)
We also learned about Mise-en-scène, or how the totality of a frame and scene conveys a message. This includes the setting, the props, costumes, hair, make-up, body language, color, and lighting.
As well as this, we learned about certain editing techniques: Jump cuts, fade-outs, dissolves, cuts away, wipes, matches-on-action, and graphic matches.
Putting technical codes into practice
As a preliminary task, we learned how to analyze scenes. We got through two scenes - one from Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and one from Slumdog Millionaire. We also analyzed a movie opening - I chose to analyze technical codes in Apocalypse Now, a movie I am very fond of.
Below is my analysis of the Apocalypse Now Opening. Some things I didn't mention in the PowerPoint but did in my presentation include the use of lighting in the contrast between the main character and the bustle of the city outside as well as illustrating his personal problems (the split between his conscious and unconscious mind) and the placement of props such as a gun and a picture to infer his status as a soldier.
Preliminary Task 1
Having learnt about technical codes and how they apply to films, we began work on our first practical task - a thriller opening. We were given a brief for what we needed to include in the task to demonstrate our skills and understanding of technical codes. I was responsible for the script writing and the construction of the flow of the narrative (it wasn't strictly followed, so the dialogue in the actual scene is very wonky), while my classmates were responsible for most of the filming, acting, and editing.
Here was my script - I used the swearing to show panic, although I don't think it was reflected well in the final project.
And here's the final project:
Upon reflection, the swearing was a bit excessive, the acting wasn't stellar, and the lighting wasn't done very well. However, for a beginning task, I think it was very good. In the future, we could write a more reasonable script and stick to it as well as adjusting lighting and music to fit the scene more.
Epic video bro