Authors: David Bordwell,Kristin Thompson
B0041VYHGW EBOK (201 page)
special effects
A general term for various photographic manipulations that create fictitious spatial relations in the shot, such as
superimposition, matte shots,
and
rear projection.
story
In a narrative film, all the events that we see and hear, plus all those that we infer or assume to have occurred, arranged in their presumed causal relations, chronological order, duration, frequency, and spatial locations. Opposed to
plot,
which is the film’s actual presentation of events in the story.
duration
,
ellipsis
,
frequency
,
order
,
space
,
viewing time
.
storyboard
A tool used in planning film production, consisting of comic-strip-like drawings of individual shots or phases of shots with descriptions written below each drawing.
style
The repeated and salient uses of film techniques characteristic of a single film or a group of films (for example, a filmmaker’s work or a national movement).
superimposition
The exposure of more than one image on the same film strip or in the same shot.
synchronous sound
Sound that is matched temporally with the movements occurring in the images, as when dialogue corresponds to lip movements.
take
In filmmaking, the shot produced by one uninterrupted run of the camera. One shot in the final film may be chosen from among several takes of the same action.
technique
Any aspect of the film medium that can be chosen and manipulated in making a film.
telephoto lens
A lens of long focal length that affects a scene’s perspective by enlarging distant planes and making them seem close to the foreground planes. In 35mm filming, a lens of 75mm length or more.
normal lens
,
wide-angle lens
.
three-point lighting
A common arrangement using three directions of light on a scene: from behind the subjects (
backlighting
), from one bright source (
key light
), and from a less bright source balancing the key light (
fill light
).
tilt
A camera movement with the camera body swiveling upward or downward on a stationary support. It produces a mobile framing that scans the space vertically.
top lighting
Lighting coming from above a person or an object, usually in order to outline the upper areas of the figure or to separate it more clearly from the background.
tracking shot
A mobile framing that travels through space forward, backward, or laterally.
crane shot
,
pan
, and
tilt
.
typage
A performance technique of Soviet Montage cinema. The actor’s appearance and behavior are presented as typical of a social class or other group.
underlighting
Illumination from a point below the figures in the scene.
unity
The degree to which a film’s parts relate systematically to each other and provide motivations for all the elements included.
variation
In film form, the return of an element with notable changes.
viewing time
The length of time it takes to watch a film when it is projected at the appropriate speed.
whip pan
An extremely fast movement of the camera from side to side, which briefly causes the image to blur into a set of indistinct horizontal streaks. Often an imperceptible cut will join two whip pans to create a trick transition between scenes.
wide-angle lens
A lens of short focal length that affects a scene’s perspective by distorting straight lines near the edges of the frame and by exaggerating the distance between foreground and background planes. In 35mm filming, a wide-angle lens is 35mm or less.
normal lens
,
telephoto lens
.
wipe
A transition between shots in which a line passes across the screen, eliminating one shot as it goes and replacing it with the next one.
zoom lens
A lens with a focal length that can be changed during a shot. A shift toward the
telephoto
range enlarges the image and flattens its planes together, giving an impression of magnifying the scene’s space, while a shift toward the
wide-angle
range does the opposite.
Grateful acknowledgment is made for use of the following:
Figure 1.10
–
1.11
Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research;
1.14
Courtesy Scott Sklenar, Rocky Gersbach, and Matt Rockwell of Star Cinema, Fitchburg, Wisconsin;
1.26
–
1.27
The Museum of Modern Art Film Stills Archive;
1.33
Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research;
1.41
Courtesy Keith Stern,
McKellan.com
;
1.44
Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research;
4.131
Courtesy of Norman McLaren with permission of the National Film Board of Canada;
5.35
Courtesy Ernie Gehr;
5.192
–
5.194
Courtesy Michael Snow;
6.36
–
6.37
Courtesy of Bruce Conner;
10.53
–
10.54
Courtesy J. J. Murphy;
10.72
The Museum of Modern Art Film Stills Archive;
10.76
–
10.89
Courtesy Bruce Conner;
10.93
Courtesy Norman McLaren with permission of the National Film Board of Canada;
11.43
–
11.61
Tokyo Story
directed by Yasujiro Ozu, 1953 © 1953 Shochiku, Co., Ltd.;
12.1
George Eastman House;
12.35
The Museum of Modern Art Film Stills Archive;
12.36
–
12.37
Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research.
Alien
(20th Century Fox Home Entertainment), “Collector’s Edition,” 2 discs
Amadeus: Director’s Cut
(Warner Bros.), “Two-Disc Special Edition”
American Graffiti
(Universal), “Collector’s Edition,” 1 disc
Armageddon
(The Criterion Collection), 2 discs
Bambi
(Disney), “Platinum Edition,” 2 discs
Black Narcissus
(The Criterion Collection), 1 disc
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
(20th Century Fox), “Special Edition,” 1 disc
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
(Warner Bros.), “Two-Disc Deluxe Edition”
Chicken Run
(Dreamworks Home Entertainment), “Special Edition,” 1 disc
Contempt
(The Criterion Collection), 2 discs
Dancer in the Dark
(New Line Home Video), 1 disc
Darby O’Gill and the Little People
(Disney)
The Da Vinci Code
(Sony) (supplements appear on all editions)
The Dark Knight
(Warner Home Video), “Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy”
Far from Heaven
(Universal)
The Frighteners
(Universal), “Peter Jackson’s Director’s Cut,” 1 disc
The Godfather
(Paramount), “The Godfather DVD Collection,” 5 discs
The Golden Compass
(New Line Home Entertainment), “New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series”
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
(MGM), “Special Edition,” 2 discs
A Hard Day’s Night
(Miramax), 2 discs
Hellboy
(Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment), “Two-Disc Special Edition”
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
(Universal Studios Home Entertainment), “Three-Disc Special Edition”
The Incredibles
(Disney), “Two-Disc Collector’s Edition”
Iron Man
(Paramount) “Two-Disc Special Collectors’ Edition”
Jaws
(Universal), “Anniversary Collector’s Edition,” 1 disc
Jurassic Park
(Universal), “Collector’s Edition,” 1 disc
King Kong
(Warner Bros.), “Two-Disc Special Edition”
King Kong: Peter Jackson’s Production Diaries
(Universal), 2 discs
The Lord of the Rings
3 volumes (New Line Home Entertainment), “Special Extended DVD Edition,” 4 discs each
The Magnificent Seven
(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), “Collector’s Edition,” 2 discs
Magnolia
(New Line Home Video), 2 discs
Master and Commander
(20th Century Fox Home Entertainment), “Collector’s Edition,” 2 discs
Moulin Rouge!
(20th Century Fox Home Entertainment), 2 discs
My Fair Lady
(Warner Bros.), “Two-Disc Special Edition”
My Own Private Idaho
(The Criterion Collection), 2 discs
Norman McLaren: The Collector’s Edition
(Milestone), 2 discs
North by Northwest
(Warner Bros.), 1 disc
Oklahoma!
(20th Century Fox Home Entertainment), “50th Anniversary Edition,” 2 discs
Once upon a Time in the West
(Paramount), “Special Collector’s Edition,” 2 discs
Pickpocket
(The Criterion Collection), 1 disc
Pinocchio
(Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment), Platinum Edition
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
(Disney), “Two-disc Special Edition”
Pulp Fiction
(Miramax Home Entertainment), “Collector’s Edition,” 2 discs
Rosemary’s Baby
(Paramount), 1 disc
Russian Ark
(Wellspring), 1 disc
Saturday Night Fever
(Paramount), “25th Anniversary DVD Edition,” 1 disc
Scream
(Dimension Home Video), “The Ultimate Scream Collection,” 4 discs
The Searchers
(Warner Home Video), “Ultimate Collector’s Edition,” 2 discs
Seven Men from Now
(Paramount), “Special Collector’s Edition,” 1 disc
The Silence of the Lambs
(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), “Special Edition,” 1 disc
Silverado
(Sony Pictures Home Entertainment), 2 discs
Sin City
(Dimension), 2 discs
Singin’ in the Rain
(Warner Bros.), “Two-Disc Special Edition”
Speed
(20th Century Fox Home Entertainment), “Five Star Collection,” 2 discs
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
(Artisan), “Extreme DVD,” 2 discs
3:10 to Yuma
(Lionsgate), 1 disc
Titus
(20th Century Fox Home Entertinment), 2 discs
Toy Story/Toy Story 2
(Disney/Pixar), “Collector’s Edition: The Ultimate Toy Box,” 3 discs
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
(Disney), “Special Edition,” 2 discs
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
(DreamWorks), 1 disc
War of the Worlds
(2005) (DreamWorks Home Entertainment), “Two-Disc Limited Edition”
The Wizard of Oz
(Warner Home Video), “Two-Disc Special Edition”
Zodiac
(Paramount), “Two-Disc Special Collector’s Edition” (Director’s Cut)
above-the-line costs,
17
abstract form film,
368
.
see
experimental films
critics of,
369
experimental films as,
368
–374
themes in,
368
–369
The Abyss,
385
Academy ratio,
187
ACE (American Cinema Editors),
24
Ace Ventura, Pet Detective,
334
Achbar, Mark,
32
acting
camera technique and,
144
–146
facial expression and,
141
–143
lighting adjustments for,
136
mise-en-scene and,
139
–146
in
Our Hospitality,
161