Cinematic tool tips
November 5, 2005 5:16 PM
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Help me improve my film-watching skills...
I know a bit about films, but would like to have a more nuanced knowledge of how filmmakers communicate situations/ideas. An example could be: when something blocks the screen from the main action (a tree branch, passerby, etc.), it's a tool meant to convey a voyeuristic feel, and thereby creates tension. Can you think of others?
posted by hellbient to media & arts (38 comments total)
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Another example: Shot of a foot stepping on a twig. Shot of a deer looking up. Viewer understands "danger" or "alertness".
The alternative to this kind of filmmaking is to show everything with the shot. It's a more a hackneyed approach and that of the rookie, imo. For instance, suppose you wanted to convey that a child had been hit by a car. The rookie has a shot of the car running over the child. The pro has a shot of the child on his bike, a shot of a driver's foot slamming on a break, a shot of the bike lying twisted in the gutter.
Is this the kind of thing you're looking for or am I misunderstanding the question?
posted by Manhasset at 5:28 PM on November 5, 2005