CTVA 300 LANGUAGE OF FILM | STUDY GUIDE
surface divisions - Answers - dividing the surface of the frame, must divide ENTIRE
frame
aspect ratio - Answers - - a picture's shape, usually a rectangle
the ratio of the frame's horizontal to vertical dimension
matte - Answers - used in photography and special effects filmmaking to combine two or
more image elements into a single, final image
anamorphic lens - Answers - specialty tools which affect how images get projected onto
the camera sensor. They were primarily created so that a wider range of aspect ratios
could fit within a standard film frame
frame within a frame - Answers - when the photographer uses something within the
scene in front of them to frame the main subject
3 Functions of Visual Design - Answers - unifies a film's look
helps structure a film
gives a film its energy or dynamism
functions of surface dividersn Or a frame within a frame? - Answers - can isolate or
otherwise draw attention to their subjects.
can momentarily provide some variation of the images' aspect ratio.
can ask us to compare areas in the frame.
Can indicate different time periods
Dynamism - Answers - the thing that makes the image feel alive
composition - Answers - the arrangement of objects, shapes, people, whatever in the
frame.
geometric center - Answers - our feeling that we want to see an image put in the center
of the frame
centered composition - Answers - focus of the shot is centered
decentered composition - Answers - focus of the shot is decentered
reframing - Answers - moving the camera along with the subject. The sometimes
unnoticeable shifting of the frame's boundaries
, difference in dynamism between a centered and a decentered image? - Answers -
Centered images make us feel comfortable, less dynamic
Decentering can cause strong visual tension, more dynamic
What difference would there be between a scene in which a character moved
significantly in front of a static camera versus that same movement shot with a
reframing camera? - Answers - Less focus on the subject, causes nervousness when a
character moves away from our point of focus
balanced composition - Answers - when two subjects work to balance each other out
around the center
No subject in the center of the frame
unbalanced composition - Answers - unbalanced with respect to the center
No weight across the center
implied balance - Answers - when there's nothing that physically balances the frame,
but we are given the impression that there is a presence doing so
Affinity - Answers - Sameness, less visual intensity
Contrast - Answers - Difference, more visual intensity
What, according to the unit, is a movie? - Answers - Movies are MADE. And HOW
they're made
What does Bresson's Au hazard Balthazar suggest about the role of acting in an
audience's engagement with a film? - Answers - , the donkey Balthazar, is obviously not
"acting
YET, it is entirely possible for us to sympathize with Balthazar.
Describe Lev Kuleshov's editing experiments. What do they suggest about the nature of
filmmaking? - Answers - suggested that even the plot, the action, of movies was in large
part "created" by the audience.
images in a movie can be unified by any number of visual elements, what are some? -
Answers - space, tone, color, image size, etc
Diagonal orientation of line - Answers - Most dynamic
Horizontal orientation of line - Answers - Least dynamic
default orientation of line in The Outsiders? - Answers - Mild diagonals
Vertical lines in Outsiders? - Answers - Represent stability and strength
surface divisions - Answers - dividing the surface of the frame, must divide ENTIRE
frame
aspect ratio - Answers - - a picture's shape, usually a rectangle
the ratio of the frame's horizontal to vertical dimension
matte - Answers - used in photography and special effects filmmaking to combine two or
more image elements into a single, final image
anamorphic lens - Answers - specialty tools which affect how images get projected onto
the camera sensor. They were primarily created so that a wider range of aspect ratios
could fit within a standard film frame
frame within a frame - Answers - when the photographer uses something within the
scene in front of them to frame the main subject
3 Functions of Visual Design - Answers - unifies a film's look
helps structure a film
gives a film its energy or dynamism
functions of surface dividersn Or a frame within a frame? - Answers - can isolate or
otherwise draw attention to their subjects.
can momentarily provide some variation of the images' aspect ratio.
can ask us to compare areas in the frame.
Can indicate different time periods
Dynamism - Answers - the thing that makes the image feel alive
composition - Answers - the arrangement of objects, shapes, people, whatever in the
frame.
geometric center - Answers - our feeling that we want to see an image put in the center
of the frame
centered composition - Answers - focus of the shot is centered
decentered composition - Answers - focus of the shot is decentered
reframing - Answers - moving the camera along with the subject. The sometimes
unnoticeable shifting of the frame's boundaries
, difference in dynamism between a centered and a decentered image? - Answers -
Centered images make us feel comfortable, less dynamic
Decentering can cause strong visual tension, more dynamic
What difference would there be between a scene in which a character moved
significantly in front of a static camera versus that same movement shot with a
reframing camera? - Answers - Less focus on the subject, causes nervousness when a
character moves away from our point of focus
balanced composition - Answers - when two subjects work to balance each other out
around the center
No subject in the center of the frame
unbalanced composition - Answers - unbalanced with respect to the center
No weight across the center
implied balance - Answers - when there's nothing that physically balances the frame,
but we are given the impression that there is a presence doing so
Affinity - Answers - Sameness, less visual intensity
Contrast - Answers - Difference, more visual intensity
What, according to the unit, is a movie? - Answers - Movies are MADE. And HOW
they're made
What does Bresson's Au hazard Balthazar suggest about the role of acting in an
audience's engagement with a film? - Answers - , the donkey Balthazar, is obviously not
"acting
YET, it is entirely possible for us to sympathize with Balthazar.
Describe Lev Kuleshov's editing experiments. What do they suggest about the nature of
filmmaking? - Answers - suggested that even the plot, the action, of movies was in large
part "created" by the audience.
images in a movie can be unified by any number of visual elements, what are some? -
Answers - space, tone, color, image size, etc
Diagonal orientation of line - Answers - Most dynamic
Horizontal orientation of line - Answers - Least dynamic
default orientation of line in The Outsiders? - Answers - Mild diagonals
Vertical lines in Outsiders? - Answers - Represent stability and strength
