sound micro elements

sound has power to create different moods to create a character and can signal events that are about to happen. 

the power of music can manipulate audiences emotions has always been acknowledged on television and film. The entire soundtrack is compromised of 3 main elements: 
- the human voice 
-sound effects 
-Music 
this creates a balance between the realism world of drama and creates tension using sound in the real world and dialogue is less polished. 
Two main types of sound: 
diegetic sound natural sound anything that happens inside the world of the story 
Non diegetic sound: off screen sound takes place outside the story e.g. voice over 
Verisimilitude: realism 
Foley: person that makes sound 
Modes of address: generally a narrative 
terminology 
diegetic sound and non diegetic sound 

sound

Glossary Of Sound Terms For Tv Drama from raybloggs

editing and cutting

Cutting

Editing terminology

Editing has a number of key terms which an editor should be extremely well educated on. These terms could be known to mean transitions or simply the continuity.

The following list shows the terms used in editing and also what is meant by these terms.

Cutting

Cutting is when one shot suddenly changes to another shot. Cuts are made very regularly; for example, television shows consist of cuts which occur approximately every seven to eight seconds. Cuts aren’t always left as a sudden change from one shot to another, sometimes these cuts are transitioned as a fade, wipe or a dissolve.

• 
  
  There is always a reason for cutting a shot, this could include


• 
  
  To change the scene and setting


• 
  
  To compress the time


• 
  
  To vary the point of view


• 
  
  To build or create and image or an idea

Shot/Reverse shot

A shot and reverse shot is where several shots are edited together and alternate characters. This is very typically used in a conversation situation.

Eye line Match

An eye line match consists of two shots. The first shows the character look off in one direction. The following shot shows what the character is looking at.

Graphic Match

A good example of this would be a washing machine spinning around and dissolving into a car wheel. Or even in Hitchcock’s “Psycho”, in the famous shower scene, when the camera focuses on the water spiralling down the plug hole and the shot dissolves into the ladies eye.

Action Match

An action match is when two different views are shot of the same action, and are edited together so that the action appears to continue uninterrupted.

Jump Cut

A jump cut is when a single shot has an interruption. The interruption is either the background changes instantly while the figure in the shot remains the same, or that the figure changes instantly while the background remains the same.

Parallel Editing

This is an editing technique where two or more shots, set in different places, alternate, these are usually simultaneous, and the actions are linked in some way.

Dissolve

Dissolving is a transition used in between two shots so that the shots don’t suddenly change. Dissolve is the transition in which one shot fades out while another shot fades in, meaning at one moment in this transition the shots are blended together.

Fade in/Fade out

• 
  
  Fading into a shot is when the screen appears just a blank, black screen to begin with, and then the shot begins to fade in. This usually occurs at the beginning of a scene to indicate a softer, quieter introduction.


• 
  
  Fading out of a shot is when the shot is shown on the screen and then slowly fades out into a blank, black screen.

Superimposition

This is where two shots are blended into one, and unlike dissolve, this is not a transition between two different shots.

Long Take

A shot that takes an unusually long length of time before cutting to the next scene.

Short Take

A shot that is a very quick shot that takes a very short length of time before cutting to the next scene.

Slow Motion

When the action on the screen has been edited to move at a slower rate than the original action did. This can be used to do the following

• 
  
  Make a faster action more visible to the audience


• 
  
  To emphasize a moment or a reaction


• 
  
  To create an unusual and strange feeling about a familiar, ordinary action


• 
  
  To emphasize violence

Lighting

High key lighting- a lighting with bright even illumination and minimal shadows often used in musicals and comedies.

Low key light- uses only one key light which creates drama and a sense of alienation

Ambient Lighting- Also known as background lighting to create an overall atmosphere

natural lighting- Provided by 'outdoor' lighting either light or dark

artificial lighting- A powerful tool in creating a strong atmosphere think sci-fi

Backlighting- light that originates from behind figures in a scene. This type of lighting creates silhouettes

Three point lighting- a system of lighting that uses light from 3 sources, bright, one behind and one fill

Fill light- Part of the 3 point system this lower powered light helps to erase or soften shadows created by light

The Effect- Why is the light being used?

camera movement

Tracking shot- To follow the narrative on the screen, back or forwards usually using a dolly- tracking in and out moving onto the next piece of action. 

crab shot- follow movement of the character/object to keep pace with action 

Tilt shot- up or down on a axis upwards is used to create height and power 

zoom- alternative to tracking 

Arc shot- full or semi circle round character/object increasing the intensity of the narrative.

Crane shot - attaching a camera to a crane and following in a vertical direction

Panning shot - mounted on a tripod left to right movements or vice versa following the camera in the frame.

180 degree rule

basic camera angles

-Over the shoulder shot- this is done during a conversation 
-High angle - to show a characters vulnerability often used in confrontation 
-Low angle- Characters power making the audience feel vulnerable to on screen character 

Depth of field 
- a frames depth of field refers to the focal length 
-deep focus- where the frame shows everything sharp and in focus 
-pull or 'rack focus'- when the focal point changes with the frame.

Movement 
-pan 
-tracking
-tilt 
-crab 
-crane 
-handheld 
-Zoom lens  

position 
- the camera is the viewers eyes in a scene 
-so the camera position also dictates the viewers relationship with the action or characters in the scene 

Camera Work

Shot types 

- extreme long shot 

-long shot

-medium long shot

-medium shot 

-medium close up

-close up

-big close up

-extreme close up 

textual analysis

walking dead: screen shot analysis 
Genre: Fantasy drama I know this because zombies are in the picture which are not real implying it has been made up purely for entertainment. 
the facial expressions on the woman show anger and that she is ready to kill this is also highlighted by the weapon (prop) in her hand. She is dragging the weapon backwards to show she is going to take action. This image is most likely a moving shot, this is shown by her hair which seems to be moving as if she is using a lot of power. Their is blood on her hands which suggests she has been violent before. This implies her character is a strong and powerful female however as a result of this she has lost all femininity and innocence. Her clothing is dark and boyish which isn't very flattering to her body. This again shows her as losing her womanly side due to violence. Furthermore the clothing she is wearing is also very dark colours which could connate a dark and violent personality. The positioning of the man shows us he is not alive as this is a typical zombie stance. we can see others in the background dressed in blue which separate the zombies from the humans. The zombies seem to be on one side, whereas the humans seem to be on the opposite side this could emphasise the conflict between them and show warfare. The setting is outside of a prison which shows evil and cruelty. In this image there are many weapons such as a gun, a knife and archery. These all imply death and murder. finally we can see she is the only woman in this picture which suggest men are mainly involved in warfare and evil and woman are typically innocent and pure however this woman seems to be doing a lot of the fighting showing a powerful side to women. 

Words I know and things i need to know

 



                                                                                                              things im not sure on :

                                                                                                              -overall representation

key words i know:
-lighting and colour
-costume
-genres
-positions
-mise-en-scene
-settings and props
-personality and character traits
-accent and narrative

mr selfridge season 1 episode 1

-period drama
-light scene could represent a new start and bright things to come
-formal costumes could imply a higher class
-main character is central throughout and walks ahead of the others this suggests a higher authority also he is very demanding with the other characters to asert that he is in charge
-facial expressions of the workers look very enthusiastic but also worried as they are frantically removing items from boxes
-the scene takes part in a high class department store
-early 20th century =1909
-minimuim makeup and clothes to cover up suggests the time period
- top hat and fancy clothing suggests wealth
-umbrella over his head very important person
-lighting is dimmer
-scouting out the competition
-weather is raining =pathetic fallacy
-american accent

How are women represented in Mr. selfridge?
 In Mr. selfridge I can tell that women are belittled quite a lot and are seen as inferior to men. this is shown as the women have less important jobs and are sort of segregated away from the men.

 

Women are also judged a lot on their class. Upper class women wouldnt have jobs during this time period but the more working class would have to earn a living. The clothing and makeup give a lot away about the ladies in this time. The working class poorer women wore dark dresses with minimum makeup whereas the higher class women wear brighter clothing with extragagant hats and more makeup. This indicates their wealth.

Mise-en-scene

literally means 'what is put into the scene or frame'

there are 5 elements
-setting/props= the location indicating genre
-costume, hair and makeup= indicator of the characters status, personality, career. It could also indicate the year. for example spiderman and his costume signifys him as an individual
-facial expressions and body language= how the character is feeling or reletionships with others
-lighting and colour = reflect the mood for the audience and the characters. colours connate
-positioning of characters/objects within the frame= signifigance

Welcome!

Exam information

Exam G322 key concepts in media

section A- textual anaylsis= 50 marks
section B- Institution and audiences= 50 marks
the exam is 2 hours 30 mintues long and the clip I will see will be unseen
there will be 30 minutes viewing time
the clip will be around 4 minutes long watched x4

Section A i will need to know:
- camera angles
-shot type
-Movement
-Composition
-Mise-en-scene
-Editing
-Sound

Section B I will need to know:
- 1 complusory question based on a case study of a specific media industry
-production
-distribution
-marketing
-exchange
-exhibition at a local/international level
-british audiences
-reception
-consumption
-empahsis on your own experiences of being an audience member