ABDS TECHNIQUES FLASHCARDS
What is the effect of the handheld camera? – Creates a documentary-like feel and adds to the
realism
What is the effect of the ambient sound? – Reinforces the naturalistic quality of the film
How were realistic interactions created? – The actors were given the freedom to improvise
How is ABDS self-aware challenged? – Michel directly addresses the camera
What is the impact of the breaking of the fourth wall? – Challenges the audience’s role as
passive viewers
How does the narrative challenge traditional storytelling? – It follows a nonlinear narrative
What shot is used to show the scale of Paris? – Ariel shots
When are aerial shots used? – When Patricia and Michel kiss in champs-élysées scene and
when Patricia is being followed by the policeman
What is the impact of the establishing shot in Marseille? – Creates a sense of familiarity
How is a feeling of immersion created in the opening scene? – POV shots, breaking the fourth
wall, diegetic sound
How is Michel’s character constructed in the first shot? – Close-up of a pin-up girl on a
newspaper
How does Michel break the fourth wall in the opening scene? – He looks directly at the camera
and talks to the audience
When are tracking shots used in the opening scene? – Him running to the car, the car driving
past the camera, his arm to the gun he is holding, when he runs away
What do the tracking shots reflect? – His urgency and panic and the speed he is moving at
What is the impact of the handheld camera in the opening scene? – Mimics documentary
realism
How does Michel’s character appeal to the youth in the opening scene? – He is smoking
What editing techniques are used in the opening scene? – Rapid cuts, jump cuts, elliptical
editing
What is the impact of rapid cuts? – Emphasises the speed he is travelling at
What do the jump cuts reflect? – Michel’s restless nature
What is the impact of the jump cuts? – Creates a sense of disorientation and urgency
How is elliptical editing used in the opening scene? – The scenes transition abruptly, skipping
over unnecessary details
What is the impact of elliptical editing? – Keeps the narrative focused on key moments
What sound techniques are used in the opening scene? – Diegetic sound, silence, improvised
dialogue
What diegetic sound is used in the opening scene? – Singing and car engine noises
What is the impact of diegetic sound? – Maintains an authentic atmosphere
What is the impact of improvised dialogue? – Adds to the naturalistic feel
When is silence used in the opening scene? – Before Michel shoots the policeman
What is the impact of silence? – Heightens the tensions
What camera techniques are used in the Champs-Élysées scene? – Tracking shot, long tacks,
handheld camera
What is the impact of the tracking shots? – We feel immersed in the action, following them as
they walk
What is the impact of the handheld cinematography? – It is shaky and unpolished and
captures the bustling street life of Paris
When are long takes used in the Champs-Élysées scene? – When Patricia is selling newspapers
What is the impact of the long takes? – It enhances the feeling of real-time progression
What is the impact of jump cuts in the Champs-Élysées scene? – They create a fragmented,
unpredictable rhythm
What sound techniques are used in the Champs-Élysées scene? – No non-diegetic sound,
ambient sound, improvised dialogue
When is there a lack of non-diegetic sound? – When Patricia and Michel talk?
What is the impact of the lack of non-diegetic sound? – Keeps our focus on their conversation
What ambient sound is there and what’s the impact? – Street noises and it adds to the realism
What is the impact of improvised dialogue? – Creates an unstructured, lifelike atmosphere
How can we infer that Patricia was happy to see Michel? – She turns around quickly when she
hears his voice
How can we infer that Patricia and Michel have a close relationship? – They walk in very close
proximity to each other
What is the effect of the handheld camera? – Creates a documentary-like feel and adds to the
realism
What is the effect of the ambient sound? – Reinforces the naturalistic quality of the film
How were realistic interactions created? – The actors were given the freedom to improvise
How is ABDS self-aware challenged? – Michel directly addresses the camera
What is the impact of the breaking of the fourth wall? – Challenges the audience’s role as
passive viewers
How does the narrative challenge traditional storytelling? – It follows a nonlinear narrative
What shot is used to show the scale of Paris? – Ariel shots
When are aerial shots used? – When Patricia and Michel kiss in champs-élysées scene and
when Patricia is being followed by the policeman
What is the impact of the establishing shot in Marseille? – Creates a sense of familiarity
How is a feeling of immersion created in the opening scene? – POV shots, breaking the fourth
wall, diegetic sound
How is Michel’s character constructed in the first shot? – Close-up of a pin-up girl on a
newspaper
How does Michel break the fourth wall in the opening scene? – He looks directly at the camera
and talks to the audience
When are tracking shots used in the opening scene? – Him running to the car, the car driving
past the camera, his arm to the gun he is holding, when he runs away
What do the tracking shots reflect? – His urgency and panic and the speed he is moving at
What is the impact of the handheld camera in the opening scene? – Mimics documentary
realism
How does Michel’s character appeal to the youth in the opening scene? – He is smoking
What editing techniques are used in the opening scene? – Rapid cuts, jump cuts, elliptical
editing
What is the impact of rapid cuts? – Emphasises the speed he is travelling at
What do the jump cuts reflect? – Michel’s restless nature
What is the impact of the jump cuts? – Creates a sense of disorientation and urgency
How is elliptical editing used in the opening scene? – The scenes transition abruptly, skipping
over unnecessary details
What is the impact of elliptical editing? – Keeps the narrative focused on key moments
What sound techniques are used in the opening scene? – Diegetic sound, silence, improvised
dialogue
What diegetic sound is used in the opening scene? – Singing and car engine noises
What is the impact of diegetic sound? – Maintains an authentic atmosphere
What is the impact of improvised dialogue? – Adds to the naturalistic feel
When is silence used in the opening scene? – Before Michel shoots the policeman
What is the impact of silence? – Heightens the tensions
What camera techniques are used in the Champs-Élysées scene? – Tracking shot, long tacks,
handheld camera
What is the impact of the tracking shots? – We feel immersed in the action, following them as
they walk
What is the impact of the handheld cinematography? – It is shaky and unpolished and
captures the bustling street life of Paris
When are long takes used in the Champs-Élysées scene? – When Patricia is selling newspapers
What is the impact of the long takes? – It enhances the feeling of real-time progression
What is the impact of jump cuts in the Champs-Élysées scene? – They create a fragmented,
unpredictable rhythm
What sound techniques are used in the Champs-Élysées scene? – No non-diegetic sound,
ambient sound, improvised dialogue
When is there a lack of non-diegetic sound? – When Patricia and Michel talk?
What is the impact of the lack of non-diegetic sound? – Keeps our focus on their conversation
What ambient sound is there and what’s the impact? – Street noises and it adds to the realism
What is the impact of improvised dialogue? – Creates an unstructured, lifelike atmosphere
How can we infer that Patricia was happy to see Michel? – She turns around quickly when she
hears his voice
How can we infer that Patricia and Michel have a close relationship? – They walk in very close
proximity to each other
