LESSON TWO:  SHOTS AND SCENES

As viewers of films know, films are made up of scenes and scenes are made up of shots.

Complete the following readings from Understanding Movies:

"Photography" pages 10 to 16

"Mise en Scene" pages 40 to 49

"Movement" pages 101 to 114

View the slideshow on shots and angles here.

VIewing Assignment

Viewing different genres of film (e.g. western, drama, comedy, science fiction, war, action/adventure), choose one scene from each type and record the sequence of shots.  After noting down the sequences, comment on any differences you find between the sequence of shots that make up a scene for one film genre compared to another (e.g. the sequence of shots in a scene from an adventure film compared to a romantic comedy).

Science Fiction (clip from The Empire Strikes Back)

The clip is actually comprised of a number of scenes.  The clip takes place during a battle on the planet Hoth, where the Empire has discovered the location of the Rebels (who are hiding from the Empire) and the Rebels are now trying to flee from the planet.  The clip begins with the hero of the story, Luke Skywalker, boarding his snowspeeder, where he will join other Rebels in combat against the invading forces.  Observe the close editing of the combined scenes and how they tell a story.  Note down what the story told in the clip is, what shots and angles are used to tell the story, and record the change in shots and angles over a ny two minute period of the clip. (That is a change from what I originally asked you to do).

Western (clip from The Magnificent Seven)

This film is about a small Mexican village - made up of farmers - hiring a gunman (and his group) to protect their villagers from a local gang and train them to defend themselves.  There will ultimately be seven gunmen in the group, and in this scene viewers are introduced to the fourth gunmen to be recruited by the main hero of the story.  This film is a classic western, and this scene tells an important story that provides viewers with information about the character being introduced.  This clip is shorter, and is one long scene, and so the original instructions remain unchanged for this clip.

Action/Adventure (clip from Mission Impossible 3)

Complete the original assignment for this clip.  The scene itself is self-explanatory (a common trait for this genre of film) and is, of course, part of a larger story.  Observe the cameras shots and angles used, the story that is told, the pacing of the scene, and how the shots are pieced together.

Film Noir (clip from The Good German)

Complete the original assignment for this clip.  This scene comes from a recent film that pays tribute to the Film Noir movies from the middle of the last century - a thriller about crime-solving, often involving detectives and solving a mystery.  Observe the cameras shots and angles used, how the story is told, the pacing of the scene, the use of shadows and black and white, and how the shots are pieced together.

Drama (Good Night and Good Luck)

Complete the original assignment for this clip.  This scene comes from a semi-biographical film about the host of a news show that challenges the wisdom and methods of Joe McCarthy and the witch hunt that he leads against communism in the 1950s (for more background click here).  Observe how careful editing of the different cameras shots and angles creates the hustle and bustle of the television studio, as well as how the story is told and the shots pieced together.

Drama (La Ley de Herodes)

Complete the original assignment for this clip.  This is a Mexican film about a political vacancy that has to be filled, and the senior politician is asking his subordinate to find someone.  This scene is a good example of how a dialogue between two people is filmed.  Take a note of the shots and angles used.  Try to guess what the scene is about for extra fun.

Comedy (Nacho Libre)

Complete the original assignment for this clip.  This scene is siginficant because of the story it tells through the selection and progression of different shots taken from different angles. 

In your log book, add the following terms to your glossary:

ECU – extreme close-up; MCU – medium close-up; CU – close-up; MS – medium shot; WS – wide shot; LS – long shot; ELS – extreme long shot; VG – background; FG – foreground; OTS – over the shoulder; POV –point of view

Practice Assignment

Using a camera, complete a video which demonstrates each of the following shots:

ECU – extreme close-up; MCU – medium close-up; CU – close-up; MS – medium shot; WS – wide shot; LS – long shot; ELS – extreme long shot; VG – background; FG – foreground; OTS – over the shoulder; POV –point of view

When completed, add the terms to your glossary (in your log book).

Take the test on shots and angles when you are ready.

You will be asked to refer back to this lesson to complete the final assignment of this unit. 

Film-Study