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Film Theory Basics
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Non-Diegetic Sound
Sound in a film that does not originate from the world of the film, such as mood music or narrator's commentary, and is not heard by the film's characters.
Cinematography
The art and technology of motion-picture photography, which includes the composition of the shot, lighting, camera movement, and choice of lenses.
Soviet Montage
A type of film theory and practice that emphasizes the editing of disparate shots to create new meanings that would not exist in either shot alone.
Auteur Theory
A theory of filmmaking in which the director is viewed as the major creative force in a motion picture.
Continuity Editing
A system of cutting used in films to maintain continuous and clear narrative action by matching temporal and spatial relations from shot to shot.
Diegesis
Refers to the narrative world of a film; all the events, characters, objects, and settings within this world, whether or not they are directly shown or mentioned in the film.
Film Noir
A style or genre of film characterized by cynicism, fatalism, and moral ambiguity, often utilizing low-key lighting and complex plots.
Depth of Field
The distance between the nearest and the furthest objects that give an image judged to be in focus in a camera.
Queer Theory
An approach in film theory that examines the representation of queer identities and relationships, challenging the norms depicted in mainstream cinema regarding gender and sexuality.
Jump Cut
An abrupt transition from one scene to another which can disorient the viewer but is used deliberately to create a startling effect or show the passage of time.
Neo-Realism
A film movement originating in Italy around World War II, characterized by stories set amongst the poor and working class, filmed on location and using non-professional actors.
German Expressionism
A film style that emerged in the 1920s in Germany, characterized by stark lighting and angles that are used to express mood and themes symbolically.
Mise-en-scène
The arrangement of everything that appears in the framing – actors, lighting, décor, props, costume – and is considered a key component for visual storytelling in film.
Montage
A film editing technique that involves combining separate pieces of film to form a continuous sequence, often used to suggest the passage of time or to create symbolic meaning.
MacGuffin
An object, event, or character in a film that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance.
The Kuleshov Effect
A film editing effect demonstrating the power of montage, where viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation.
Chiaroscuro
A term borrowed from visual arts referring to the strong contrasts between light and dark, a technique that gives a sense of volume and depth to an image.
Dutch Angle
A camera shot in which the camera is tilted to one side, creating a sense of disorientation and unease — often used to portend unease or disorientation.
Foley Art
The process of creating post-production sound effects which are added to film, video, and other media in post-production to enhance audio quality.
French New Wave
A film movement of the late 1950s and 1960s in France, characterized by its radical departure from classical cinematic form, use of portable equipment, and a more personal approach to filmmaking.
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