Key Film Terminology to Know for Screen Language

Understanding key film terminology is essential for grasping how movies communicate meaning. Concepts like mise-en-scène, cinematography, and editing shape the viewer's experience, influencing emotions and storytelling through visual and audio elements. These tools create a rich cinematic language.

1. Mise-en-scène

   • Refers to the arrangement of everything that appears in the frame, including settings, props, actors, and costumes.
   • Establishes the mood and tone of the film, influencing audience perception.
   • Involves the use of space and composition to convey meaning and character relationships.

2. Cinematography

   • The art of capturing images on film or digital media, including camera work and lighting.
   • Influences the visual style and emotional impact of a film through shot selection and movement.
   • Involves technical aspects like exposure, color, and focus to enhance storytelling.

3. Editing

   • The process of selecting and combining shots to create a coherent narrative.
   • Shapes the pacing and rhythm of the film, affecting audience engagement.
   • Can create meaning through juxtaposition and transitions between scenes.

4. Sound design

   • The creation and manipulation of audio elements, including dialogue, sound effects, and ambient sounds.
   • Enhances the emotional experience and realism of the film.
   • Differentiates between diegetic (on-screen) and non-diegetic (off-screen) sounds to support storytelling.

5. Framing

   • The way subjects are positioned within the frame, affecting how viewers perceive them.
   • Can emphasize or diminish the importance of characters and objects.
   • Influences the viewer's focus and interpretation of the scene.

6. Shot types (close-up, medium shot, long shot)

   • Close-up: Highlights details, emotions, and reactions of characters.
   • Medium shot: Balances the subject and background, often used for dialogue.
   • Long shot: Establishes context and setting, showing the subject in relation to their environment.

7. Camera angles

   • The position of the camera in relation to the subject, influencing perspective and meaning.
   • High angle: Makes subjects appear smaller or weaker.
   • Low angle: Makes subjects appear larger or more powerful.

8. Camera movements

   • Techniques like panning, tilting, tracking, and zooming that create dynamic visuals.
   • Can enhance storytelling by following action or revealing information.
   • Influences the viewer's emotional response and engagement with the scene.

9. Lighting techniques

   • The use of light to create mood, highlight subjects, and establish time of day.
   • Key lighting: The main source of illumination, shaping the scene's focus.
   • Low-key lighting: Creates shadows and a sense of mystery or tension.

10. Composition

    • The arrangement of visual elements within the frame to create balance and harmony.
    • Guides the viewer's eye and emphasizes important aspects of the scene.
    • Utilizes principles like the rule of thirds and leading lines for effective storytelling.

11. Diegetic and non-diegetic sound

    • Diegetic sound: Sound that originates from within the film's world (e.g., dialogue, footsteps).
    • Non-diegetic sound: Sound that comes from outside the film's world (e.g., score, narration).
    • Both types contribute to the film's atmosphere and emotional impact.

12. Montage

    • A technique that combines a series of shots to condense time and convey information quickly.
    • Can create emotional resonance or thematic connections between disparate images.
    • Often used to show character development or significant events in a short span.

13. Continuity editing

    • A style of editing that maintains a seamless flow of action and time.
    • Ensures spatial and temporal coherence, helping the audience follow the narrative.
    • Utilizes techniques like match cuts and shot/reverse shot to enhance clarity.

14. Jump cut

    • An abrupt transition between shots that disrupts the continuity of time and space.
    • Can create a sense of urgency or disorientation, often used for stylistic effect.
    • Challenges traditional narrative flow, prompting viewer engagement.

15. Cross-cutting

    • Alternating between two or more scenes happening simultaneously in different locations.
    • Builds tension and suspense by juxtaposing actions and events.
    • Enhances narrative complexity and character relationships.

16. Color grading

    • The process of adjusting the color and tone of the film during post-production.
    • Influences the mood and atmosphere, enhancing emotional responses.
    • Can signify themes or character arcs through color symbolism.

17. Aspect ratio

    • The ratio of the width to the height of the film frame, affecting the visual composition.
    • Common ratios include 16:9 (widescreen) and 4:3 (standard).
    • Influences how scenes are framed and the viewer's focus.

18. Depth of field

    • The range of distance within a shot that appears acceptably sharp.
    • Shallow depth of field isolates subjects, drawing attention to them.
    • Deep depth of field keeps multiple elements in focus, providing context.

19. Focus

    • The clarity of the image, determining which elements are sharp and which are blurred.
    • Can be adjusted to direct viewer attention and create visual interest.
    • Techniques include rack focus, where the focus shifts from one subject to another.

20. Point of view (POV)

    • The perspective from which the story is told, influencing audience identification with characters.
    • First-person POV immerses viewers in a character's experience.
    • Third-person POV provides a broader perspective, allowing for multiple character insights.