4.07 Review and Critical Thinking PDF

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Film class...

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Review Questions 1. What are the advantages of using a traditional film camera? A digital camera? -

A film camera can give a soft and classic feel, it can make films seem “vintage” and can really work towards the aesthetic of the film. A digital camera is very lightweight and portable, so it can be taken anywhere with ease, and it is also able to be watched back immediately so the film can be edited easily.

2. What is a point-of-view (POV) shot, and when is it an appropriate choice of angle in a film? -

POV shot is one that is taken as if it was what a character in the movie would actually be seeing. This shot is especially good for horror movies, because it put the audience right into the movie, so they’re seeing the scary scenes as if they were actually there, it helps them really get into the movie.

3. What is deep focus, and when is it a good choice for a scene? -

A deep focus keeps things sharp and in focus that are both close and far away from the camera. It is very helpful when trying to draw an audience’s view to one specific thing in a scene. For example, when there is something pivotal to the plot in a scene.

4. What is an establishing shot, and when is it an appropriate shot choice in a film? -

An establishing shot is usually the first one of a film. It is used to establish the spatial relation between the key objects and characters in a scene. It should be used in the beginning to give the audience an idea of what is happening in the scene.

5. What is a close-up shot, and when it is an appropriate shot choice in a film? -

A close up shot is exactly what it sounds like, it gets very close to the things it wants to capture. This scene is especially helpful to draw attention to something the audience might normally miss, such as an actor’s expression to something, or a key object that is pivotal to the plot.

Critical Thinking Questions 1. Imagine that you are an independent filmmaker making a feature-length narrative film in the United States, with a variety of both indoor and outdoor scenes, to be released first in select theatres. You do not have large financial resources. Which traditional film camera type would you choose for your project and why? -

I would choose the 16mm camera. My reasoning for this is because it is very inexpensive. It is also easy to carry so it won’t become a chore to carry around outside. I choose this over the super 16, because that camera’s image quality would

not look good on the big screen in a theatre. 2. Imagine that you are a filmmaker with the financial backing of a major film studio. You are making a feature-length documentary about polar bears in northern Alaska. Which types of lenses will you need for filming and why? -I would first use a normal lens, because it has no distortion on the image and gives an accurate view of what I would be seeing. I would also use a telephoto lens in order to get good close ups of what the polar bears are doing. 3. In the previous scenario (filmmaker creating feature-length documentary about polar bears), would you use soft focus at any point? Why or why not and, if so, when? -No, I would not use soft focus because its purpose is to blur the image being recorded. I do not think that using that lens in this type of film would be a good idea because this is a documentary, and I want it to have a clear image so that the audience can see what goes on in Alaska and be able to watch how the polar bears interact. 4. For the polar bear movie, would you ever use close-ups? Why or why not and, if so, when? -

Yes, I would use close ups. I would use them in scenes that I think is really interesting and that people would want to have a closer look at. Such as, polar bears interacting with each other, or eating. I think those things are deserving of having a close up shot to show detail.

5. In your opinion, what makes an establishing shot successful? In which films have you seen an establishing shot used successfully? Unsuccessfully? -

I think it is successful when it helps give the audience an idea of what is going on, it has the main characters in it so we know who they are right away, and it places them in a setting so we know what is going on. For example, in the film Guardians of the Galaxy, they have establishing shots to show that the film is set in space and show just how large it is compared to the characters....