TGM TECHNIQUE FLASHCARDS
How are the seasons used? – They serve as symbolic elements and reflect the emotional states of
the characters
What does winter represent and how? – Loss, grief, Gong Er. Her duel with Ma San takes place on
snow-covered platform. The frozen landscape emphasises the emotional toll of revenge and
mirrors her inner desolation
What does spring represent and how? – New beginnings, Ip and Gong Er’s relationship. When they
meet for the first time, the rain suggests renewal. Their brief connection is like spring – beautiful
but never fully realised
What does summer represent and how? – Ambition, vitality of youth. Early training sequences and
martial arts schools are shown in warmer tones
What does autumn convey and how? - Reflection, the fading of an era. When Ip reflects on his
past, the autumnal tones suggest the end of an era for the Chinese martial arts
When are pan shots used? – Shows the women with jewels/clothing, Ip and Gong Yutian circling
each other, upwards from Ip’s child hugging him to Ip crying
What is the impact of the pan shots? – Shows how martial arts was for the rich, builds tensions,
evokes sympathy
How are shot-reverse-shots used? – Between Ip and Gong Yutian showing their opposing sides
How are zoom-out shots used? – As all the masters take a photo linking back to the family photo
How is a shaky camera used? – When the bomb goes off mirroring the impact of the bomb and
feels immersive
How are two-shots used? - As Gong Yutian hands Ip the cake showing how Ip has now earned his
respect
When are high angles used? – Gong Yutian talking about a divided country, of Ip having to wear a
suit to fit in in Japan
What is the impact of the high angles? – Shows power over them
When are low angles used? – Ip as Gong Yutian leaves, Ip after he defeats group, Ip talking to Jiang
to see Gong Er
What is the impact of the low angles? – Shows how Ip has the power, shows how powerful his love
for her is
When is a tracking shot used? – Of the city, as Ip Man and Gong Yutian fight
What is the impact of the tracking shots? – Creates an immersive effect, makes it feel chaotic
When are long shots used? – Of Razor and Ip when they part ways, cut from long shot of the
cigarette to extreme close-up of lighting the match
What is the impact of the long shots? – Shows detachment from society/each other, makes it feel
important
How is ‘shutter-speed’ editing used? – Ip in restaurant moves normally but others move fast
feeling atmospheric
When is silence used? – As Gong Yutian gets ready to fight, when we see the teacher be sick after
he is punched
What is the impact of the silence? – Builds atmosphere, intensifies the impact
When is romantic score used? – Violin tune as they take family portrait, violin/flute score during
montage edits of people sat in restaurant before Ip and Razor’s fight
What is the impact of the romantic score? – Represents the love in familial relationships, makes it
feel calming
When is diegetic sound used? – Cheering as Gong Yutian leaves, romantic score interrupted by the
bomb (diegetic)
What is the impact of the diegetic sound? – Feels immersive, shows how war is culprit for the
family being broken
How is a militaristic score used? – As Gong Yutian leaves and Ip is declared Grandmaster
representing shift of power
When are shadows used? – Ip talks about time passing with his face half in shadows vs half in
light, silhouette of the master as he shows Ip his style, a shadow crosses over Ip’s face when he’s
asked if he’s ever been in a fight
What is the impact of the shadows? – Acts a physical representation of what he is saying, feels
atmospheric
How are long shots used in opening scene ? – Of Ip Man standing in centre of a circle of fighters
showing his power
How are low angles used? - Ip Man walking away from the fight and the people on the floor
showing how he won
How are shot-reverse-shots used? – Between Ip Man and man he is fighting showing how they are
on opposing sides
, How are dolly zooms used? – Of the carriage moving towards Ip which feels very chaotic
How are tracking shots used? – Of the punches which enhance the impact
How is positioning used? – Shot of his wife cleaning him from behind bars making it feel like a very
intimate moment
When are pan-shots used? – From shadows of the gate upwards, of people thrown around, zoom-in
of family photo
What is the impact of the pan-shots? – Increases tensions, shows Ip’s strength, feels regal
When are aerial shots used? – Moves down with the fight, Ip Man and the other man circling each
other
What is the impact of the aerial shots? –Camera mirrors their movement and feels disorientating
When are close-up shots used? – Of the rain hitting the floor, Ip in a very tight frame, the rain
dropping off Ip’s hat, the gate shutting, the punches, the man hits the gates, Gong Yutian smiling
as he finds out Ip’s name, domestic activities, when the family portrait shatters from the bomb
What is the impact of the close-up shots? – Builds atmosphere, creates connection between us,
feels intimate
How are intertitles used? – Provides information about the film and make us feel informed
When are cuts used? – Rapid cuts of the fight, cuts of the same thing happening from different
angles
What is the impact of the cuts? – Feels chaotic
How are J-cuts used? – Of the sound of the rain to then seeing the visual which sets the
atmosphere
How is slow motion used? – Edits of the fights which emphasise their movement and the intensity
of the action
How are montage edits used? – Of the attack sequence which builds the atmosphere
How are L-cuts used? – As Ip explains his life with footage of him practising Kung Fu which feels
like a documentary
How are pulses used? – When the man punches towards the camera heightening the intensity
How is a squealing score used? – When someone jumps out the window which reinforces the
intensity of the fight
How is a militaristic score used? – Makes this fight feel very important and significant
How is a romantic score used? – Piano score when Ip talks about his wife representing the change
in tone
How is dialogue used? – Ip Man talks about fighting with a detached tone which contrasts the
chaos of the fight
How is silence used? – When Ip takes his fight stance before they start fighting enhancing the
intensity of the action
When is diegetic sound used? – Loud yell that fades out to a jump cut of Ip talking inside, the rain,
enhanced foley sound of the punches, non-diegetic score cuts out when the man is chucked into
the gate
What is the impact of diegetic sound? – Feels intense, atmospheric, immersive
When is a violin score used? – Dramatic score with intertitles, repeating notes that get louder
during the fight
What is the impact of the violin score? – Feels atmospheric, adds to intensity
How is movement used? – Ip Man barely moves during his fighting compared to the other fighters
reflecting his meticulous style and gracefulness
How are actions used? – His wife lights a candle and washes him which are very domestic
activities representing how she has no role outside his house
When is lighting used? – Dark lighting during fight, silhouettes of the men behind the gate
What is the impact of the lighting? – Creates a sense of chaos and unease, shows separation
When is colouring used? – Ip’s white hat, blue outside contrasts the yellow inside, Gong Yutian
wears purple compared to others in black, Ip’s wife is in pastel colours vs him in dark clothes, his
son is wrapped in red cloth which symbolises wealth/prosperity in Chinese culture, the family’s
new house is devoid of colour
What is the impact of the colouring? – Highlights importance, creates separation, shows Gong
Yutian’s wealth/status as purple connotes wealth, evokes sympathy, shows how they are now
living in poverty
How is weather used? – The gate falling creates a splash covering our view and enhancing the
chaos of the fight
How are seasons used? – Ip Man talks about family life as spring and his wife is wearing flowers on
dress and the scene is shot with warm colours but the cut to the family photo in black and white
represents the shift in tone
How are the seasons used? – They serve as symbolic elements and reflect the emotional states of
the characters
What does winter represent and how? – Loss, grief, Gong Er. Her duel with Ma San takes place on
snow-covered platform. The frozen landscape emphasises the emotional toll of revenge and
mirrors her inner desolation
What does spring represent and how? – New beginnings, Ip and Gong Er’s relationship. When they
meet for the first time, the rain suggests renewal. Their brief connection is like spring – beautiful
but never fully realised
What does summer represent and how? – Ambition, vitality of youth. Early training sequences and
martial arts schools are shown in warmer tones
What does autumn convey and how? - Reflection, the fading of an era. When Ip reflects on his
past, the autumnal tones suggest the end of an era for the Chinese martial arts
When are pan shots used? – Shows the women with jewels/clothing, Ip and Gong Yutian circling
each other, upwards from Ip’s child hugging him to Ip crying
What is the impact of the pan shots? – Shows how martial arts was for the rich, builds tensions,
evokes sympathy
How are shot-reverse-shots used? – Between Ip and Gong Yutian showing their opposing sides
How are zoom-out shots used? – As all the masters take a photo linking back to the family photo
How is a shaky camera used? – When the bomb goes off mirroring the impact of the bomb and
feels immersive
How are two-shots used? - As Gong Yutian hands Ip the cake showing how Ip has now earned his
respect
When are high angles used? – Gong Yutian talking about a divided country, of Ip having to wear a
suit to fit in in Japan
What is the impact of the high angles? – Shows power over them
When are low angles used? – Ip as Gong Yutian leaves, Ip after he defeats group, Ip talking to Jiang
to see Gong Er
What is the impact of the low angles? – Shows how Ip has the power, shows how powerful his love
for her is
When is a tracking shot used? – Of the city, as Ip Man and Gong Yutian fight
What is the impact of the tracking shots? – Creates an immersive effect, makes it feel chaotic
When are long shots used? – Of Razor and Ip when they part ways, cut from long shot of the
cigarette to extreme close-up of lighting the match
What is the impact of the long shots? – Shows detachment from society/each other, makes it feel
important
How is ‘shutter-speed’ editing used? – Ip in restaurant moves normally but others move fast
feeling atmospheric
When is silence used? – As Gong Yutian gets ready to fight, when we see the teacher be sick after
he is punched
What is the impact of the silence? – Builds atmosphere, intensifies the impact
When is romantic score used? – Violin tune as they take family portrait, violin/flute score during
montage edits of people sat in restaurant before Ip and Razor’s fight
What is the impact of the romantic score? – Represents the love in familial relationships, makes it
feel calming
When is diegetic sound used? – Cheering as Gong Yutian leaves, romantic score interrupted by the
bomb (diegetic)
What is the impact of the diegetic sound? – Feels immersive, shows how war is culprit for the
family being broken
How is a militaristic score used? – As Gong Yutian leaves and Ip is declared Grandmaster
representing shift of power
When are shadows used? – Ip talks about time passing with his face half in shadows vs half in
light, silhouette of the master as he shows Ip his style, a shadow crosses over Ip’s face when he’s
asked if he’s ever been in a fight
What is the impact of the shadows? – Acts a physical representation of what he is saying, feels
atmospheric
How are long shots used in opening scene ? – Of Ip Man standing in centre of a circle of fighters
showing his power
How are low angles used? - Ip Man walking away from the fight and the people on the floor
showing how he won
How are shot-reverse-shots used? – Between Ip Man and man he is fighting showing how they are
on opposing sides
, How are dolly zooms used? – Of the carriage moving towards Ip which feels very chaotic
How are tracking shots used? – Of the punches which enhance the impact
How is positioning used? – Shot of his wife cleaning him from behind bars making it feel like a very
intimate moment
When are pan-shots used? – From shadows of the gate upwards, of people thrown around, zoom-in
of family photo
What is the impact of the pan-shots? – Increases tensions, shows Ip’s strength, feels regal
When are aerial shots used? – Moves down with the fight, Ip Man and the other man circling each
other
What is the impact of the aerial shots? –Camera mirrors their movement and feels disorientating
When are close-up shots used? – Of the rain hitting the floor, Ip in a very tight frame, the rain
dropping off Ip’s hat, the gate shutting, the punches, the man hits the gates, Gong Yutian smiling
as he finds out Ip’s name, domestic activities, when the family portrait shatters from the bomb
What is the impact of the close-up shots? – Builds atmosphere, creates connection between us,
feels intimate
How are intertitles used? – Provides information about the film and make us feel informed
When are cuts used? – Rapid cuts of the fight, cuts of the same thing happening from different
angles
What is the impact of the cuts? – Feels chaotic
How are J-cuts used? – Of the sound of the rain to then seeing the visual which sets the
atmosphere
How is slow motion used? – Edits of the fights which emphasise their movement and the intensity
of the action
How are montage edits used? – Of the attack sequence which builds the atmosphere
How are L-cuts used? – As Ip explains his life with footage of him practising Kung Fu which feels
like a documentary
How are pulses used? – When the man punches towards the camera heightening the intensity
How is a squealing score used? – When someone jumps out the window which reinforces the
intensity of the fight
How is a militaristic score used? – Makes this fight feel very important and significant
How is a romantic score used? – Piano score when Ip talks about his wife representing the change
in tone
How is dialogue used? – Ip Man talks about fighting with a detached tone which contrasts the
chaos of the fight
How is silence used? – When Ip takes his fight stance before they start fighting enhancing the
intensity of the action
When is diegetic sound used? – Loud yell that fades out to a jump cut of Ip talking inside, the rain,
enhanced foley sound of the punches, non-diegetic score cuts out when the man is chucked into
the gate
What is the impact of diegetic sound? – Feels intense, atmospheric, immersive
When is a violin score used? – Dramatic score with intertitles, repeating notes that get louder
during the fight
What is the impact of the violin score? – Feels atmospheric, adds to intensity
How is movement used? – Ip Man barely moves during his fighting compared to the other fighters
reflecting his meticulous style and gracefulness
How are actions used? – His wife lights a candle and washes him which are very domestic
activities representing how she has no role outside his house
When is lighting used? – Dark lighting during fight, silhouettes of the men behind the gate
What is the impact of the lighting? – Creates a sense of chaos and unease, shows separation
When is colouring used? – Ip’s white hat, blue outside contrasts the yellow inside, Gong Yutian
wears purple compared to others in black, Ip’s wife is in pastel colours vs him in dark clothes, his
son is wrapped in red cloth which symbolises wealth/prosperity in Chinese culture, the family’s
new house is devoid of colour
What is the impact of the colouring? – Highlights importance, creates separation, shows Gong
Yutian’s wealth/status as purple connotes wealth, evokes sympathy, shows how they are now
living in poverty
How is weather used? – The gate falling creates a splash covering our view and enhancing the
chaos of the fight
How are seasons used? – Ip Man talks about family life as spring and his wife is wearing flowers on
dress and the scene is shot with warm colours but the cut to the family photo in black and white
represents the shift in tone
