Editing

Editing controls Text Progression;

 -Picture Relationships
 -Space Relationships
 -Time Relationships
 -Rhythmic Relationships

Editing Styles

-Straight Cut- A very basic cut, in which a shot ends to be immediately replaced with another.

-Fade Out- The shot either gradually changes into a colour or image.

-Dissolve- When a shot changes into another shot gradually.

-Wipe- A shot shown on screen is pushed away by a new shot, which usually comes in from the right.   It pushes the previous scene away, and takes its place.

-Jump Cut- Two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions which vary just slightly.


~JB

Semiotics

Semiotics- The study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation.

Meanings change over time, and symbols might mean something to a group of people, and something completely different for another. For example, The swastika means to some death and destruction as a result of the Nazis who used the symbol, but originally, it was a Hindu symbol for Peace. 


~JB

Shot types

Camera Angles

-Birds Eye View- Shows a scene from directly above. Often used to make the subject seem insignificant, perhaps ant-like.

-High Angles- Elevated above the action using a crane. Makes the subjects appear smaller and insignificant.
-Eye Level- A reasonably neutral shot, as if the scene is being observed by a human.
-Low angles- Makes a subject appear higher, and can be used to give the viewer a sense of confusion, powerlessness in the scene.

Camera Distance

-Extreme Long shot- A scene setting, establishing shot which shows the landscape the scene is set in, or the outside of the building. Gives a general Impression of the setting, often with little detail.

-Long shot- Usually shows the whole subject, from head to toe, and background detail.

-Medium shot- Shows perhaps about 1/2 the subject, i.e. from the knee's/ waist up. Usually used for dialogue scenes or to show detail in the action taking place. This shot can include up to three characters. (then it tends to become a long shot)

-Close up- Shows little detail of the background, and usually shows the face of a character, or shows an object in more detail. This magnifies the subject and shows it is of importance, or the emotions on a characters face.

-Extreme Close up- Would perhaps show only one detail of the subject, such as the eyes or mouth of a character, with absolutely no background detail. Used for dramatic effect.

Camera Movement

-Pans- Scans a scene horizontally. The camera is placed on a tripod, which is used as an axis point which the camera is turned on. This may be used to follow a moving object.

-Tilt- Scans the scene vertically.

-Tracking Shot- The camera is placed on a moving vehicle, which goes along with the action.

-Zoom in/Out- The camera zooms in or out.

-Aerial Shot- Usually taken from a helicopter, it can show a scene from high above. It's very flexible, allowing movement to where ever, and is exciting. 

Rules of Three

The rule of three is quite effective in shots. The red dots show effective places to place objects in a shot, as these places are where the eye is usually drawn to. If a close up of a characters face is being shown, it'd be best to try and make it so the eyes fit snugly where the red dots are shown.

~JB

Narrative structure- Applying to a film of my choice....

I've decided to apply Propp's theory and apply it to the film/book "Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy"
Below, I've noted down what I believe plays which roles, and why.

Narrative Structure

Propp

After studying many stories, Vladimir Propp concluded that characters in a story could fit into eight character types;

-The Hero (protagonist)- The character who seeks something on a quest, such as to resolve a matter or to receive an object.

-The villain (Antagonist)- Opposes the hero, and struggles against them.

-Princess- The Hero's reward, the object of the villains plots.

-Princess's Farther- Rewards the Hero.

-Dispatcher- Sends the Hero on his quest.

-Helper- Helps the hero, and aids him on his quest- A sidekick. 

-False hero- Not actually the hero, and can disrupt the hero's success from time to time, though he's not necessarily bad.

-Donor- Gives information or an object to help the Hero.

Strauss

Claude Levi-Strauss's theory was about 'Binary oppositions', sets of opposite values which reveal the structure of media texts, such as Good ad Evil, Male and Female, etc, these being opposite from each other.

Todorov

Tzvetan Todorov suggested that to begin with, two potential opposing forces are in balance, and that stories begin with an Equilibrium. An event disrupts this, causing other events. In the end of the story, the problems are resolved and balance is restored.


~JB