Preliminary Planning

Types of Cinematography and Editing

Types and Techniques

Shot Reverse Shot - where one character is shown looking at another character (who is often off- screen), and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character.

180-degree Rule - a simple guideline concerned with the on-screen spacial relationship between a character and another character or object within the scene.

Match on Action - a film and video editing technique where the editor cuts from one shot to another view of the same scene that matches the first shots action same action.

Eye line Match - a film editing technique associated with the continuity editing system. It is based on the proposition that the audience will want to see what the character on-screen is seeing.

Examples

Shot Reverse Shot

The camera cuts between the two characters as they are speaking to each other.

180-degree Rule

The two characters are stood opposite each other and the camera must be positioned in the 180 degrees on one side of them, in order to avoid confusing the audience.


Match On Action

The camera cuts from him about to walk through the door to a different view of the other side of him as he backs out through the door.



Eye Line Match

Shows a close up of him looking at something, then what he is looking at.

'The Birds' Commentary

Within the thriller genre, many directors and cinematographers include a large amount of point of view, tracking and medium close up shots to help create a sense of ongoing mystery and tension. This type of camerawork is used particularly well in 'The Birds' because it helps to convey the characters emotions and feelings, as well as allowing the viewer to be presented with what the characters see within the scene at the same time, encouraging them to build up a relationship and sympathize with the characters. A significant example of a tracking point of view shot is where the two main characters are slowly edging their way past the antagonists. The pace of the tracking shot builds up tension while the use of a point of view shot allows the viewer to relate to the characters fear and almost puts the in the position of the characters.

Camerawork - Different Shot Types

Editing - Stoptrick and Composite Overlay

Timeline of 'The Avengers' Sequence

'The Avengers' Timeline

Link to the sequence: http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-avengers/

In this sequence I have noticed various aspects that are useful to include in a sequence, in order to create it in the best presentable way, in this case suited to the action, sci-fi genre of 'The Avengers'.

A key feature is to include any words - usually of named people - in bold, clear capital letters. This helps the words to stand out and make them more easily readable to the viewer, making it more efficient at giving credit to the people or companies. This is also further done by making the names larger than the job description which causes the name to become more recognised.

I also noticed that during this sequence, the titles we're very much mentioned in an order of people who helped with production, followed by the main actors being presented, then at the very end it says "A Joss Whedon Film" which therefore gives Whedon most of the credit for the film.

Throughout the sequence the viewer is presented with multiple images of things relating to 'The Avengers', mainly consisting of their well known uniform. This causes us to build up some initial ideas for the different hero/heroine outfits or in some cases gives us a full view as seen in this Iron Man screen shot.

The soundtrack used is all non diagetic music which abruptly begins as the initial writing appears on screen, having a large impact on the audience. This then continued throughout the sequence which builds up the tension and drama, preparing the viewers for the film.