Cinematic

Storytelling

THE 100 MOST POWERFUL FILM CONVENTIONS EVERY FILMMAKER MUST KNOW

By: Jennifer Van Sijll

Guided Notes Packet

Table of Contents

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6

Section 7

Section 8

Section 9

Section 10

Section 11

Section 12

Section 13

Section 14

Section 15

Section 16

Section 17

Section 1: SPACE

2D & 3D screen direction is a powerful story element in which the person or object moves within a still framing composition.

​

X- Horizontal

Y- Vertical

XY- Diagonals

Z- Foreground to background

1. X-Axis (Horizontal)

The eye moves comfortably from left to right as this mimics reading. Right to left causes uneasiness. This is a subconscious process.

​

Left-to-Right: Characters who enter from camera left are generally perceived as the “good guy.”

​

Right-to-Left: The antagonist usually enters from the right.

2. Y-Axis (Vertical)

Moving a person/object down the screen appears easy as it is aided by gravity.

​

Moving a person/object up the screen will appear difficult because it is assumed it will be resisted by gravity.

3. XY- Axis (Diagonals)

Descending Diagonals: Move down along a diagonal seems easier, and once the motion starts, it may even feel hard to stop.

​

Ascending Diagonals: The right-to-left ascent is the most difficult of all screen directions: It goes against the reading eye and works against gravity as well. It will feel like a tough journey.

4. Z-Axis (Depth of Field)

Objects closer to the lens appear bigger than similar objects that are farther away from the lens.

​

Emotionally driven decision!

5. Z-Axis (Planes of Action)

- Enables the illusion of depth.

- Emotionally driven decision.

- Multiple action sequences.

6. Z-Axis (Rack Focus)

- Requires Shallow DOF

- Selective focal plane

- Redirects audience’s attention

Open Response #1

• Summarize Section 1.

Prompt: Choose one of the elements in the section to develop your Point-of-View:

• Define the filming convention?
• Why is this important knowledge to know?
• Why/how you would use that film convention in your projects?

Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Open Response Grading Rubric

Standards

2.B.01 Explain concepts fundamental to cinema/video design and composition.

2.B.01.01 Identify the elements of design (i.e., line, texture, color, scale, movement).

2.B.01.02 Identify basic camera shots (i.e., establishing, wide, medium, close-up, two-shot, three-shot, knee, bust, cross, over-the-shoulder).

2.B.01.03 Identify rules of camera movement (i.e., nose room, head room, lead room, overscan areas, safe areas, tilt, track, truck, zoom, arc, cant, tongue, dolly).

2.B.01.04 Identify elements of composition (i.e., rule of thirds, built in frame, strong diagonal, leading lines, symmetrical balance, asymmetrical balance, contrast, simplicity).

​

Section 2: Framing

(Set Composition)

Important elements: Brightness, color, shape, motion, speed, and direction. Purposely guide the audience’s attention and emotional response.

Direction the Eye

Imbalance

Balance

Orientation

Size

7. Directing the Eye

Lighting: Objects that are brightly lit tend to attract our attention, even if they are background elements. So make sure important characters are well-lit. What’s unimportant can be left in darkness to minimize distractions.

8. Imbalance

Asymmetry

and contrast

attracts attention.

​

9. Balance

- - - Symmetry - - -

10. Orientation

When broken:

- the shot draws attention to themselves.

- needs to mean something.

- should intentionally disorient.

- can externalize a character’s inner world.

11. Size

A character’s relative strength and weakness can be established by the use of size.

Key term: Contrast

Open Response #2

• Summarize Section 2.

Prompt: Choose one of the elements in the section to develop your Point-of-View:

• Define the filming convention?
• Why is this important knowledge to know?
• Why/how you would use that film convention in your projects?

Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Open Response Grading Rubric

Standards

2.B.01 Explain concepts fundamental to cinema/video design and composition.

2.B.01.01 Identify the elements of design (i.e., line, texture, color, scale, movement).

2.B.01.02 Identify basic camera shots (i.e., establishing, wide, medium, close-up, two-shot, three-shot, knee, bust, cross, over-the-shoulder).

2.B.01.03 Identify rules of camera movement (i.e., nose room, head room, lead room, overscan areas, safe areas, tilt, track, truck, zoom, arc, cant, tongue, dolly).

2.B.01.04 Identify elements of composition (i.e., rule of thirds, built in frame, strong diagonal, leading lines, symmetrical balance, asymmetrical balance, contrast, simplicity).

Section 3: Shape within

the Frame

Create a shape with objects or screen positioning of the characters.

​

Circle Square Triangle

​

​

​

No further reading required in section 3

Section 4: Editing

The construction of scenes through the assembly of shots.

*Most cuts don’t need transition; effective edits “cut on action” and lead with audio prior to the cut (J-cut).

​

V. Pudovkin’s Five Editing Principles (Pub.1926)

Contrast: Opposites placed in sequence or together.

Parallelism: Two events unfold with independent outcomes.

Symbolism: Something that represent deeper meaning.

Simultaneity: Two events unfold, depend outcomes.

Leit-motif: Reiteration of theme

17. & 18. Montage

An assembly of quick cuts, perhaps disconnected in time or place, that combine to form a larger idea.

A montage is frequently used to convey passage of time, coming of age, or emotional transition.

19. Assembly

Term used by Hitchcock to describe the creative construction of a scene through the assembly of separate pieces of film; A mosaic of shots to produce a larger idea.

20. Mise-en-Scéne

“Putting in the Scene” - One Take/No edits

- The action plays out in front of a continually running camera. New compositions are created through blocking, lens zooms, and camera movement instead of cutting.

21. Intercutting (cross-cutting)

-Two scenes are presented in sequence by cutting back and forth between them.

-This creates a sense of two actions occurring simultaneously in two different locations.

22. Split Screen

Two shots side-by-side within a single frame. Creates idea of simultaneous action.

23. & 24. Dissolves

-Softens a cut.

​

-Often used to show passage of time.

​

-Links two ideas together by blending one image into another.

25. Smash Cut

Jar the audience with:

- A sudden and unexpected change in image or sound.

- Wide shot to close-up.

-Fast moving shot to static shot.

Open Response #4

• Summarize Section 4.

Prompt: Choose one of the elements to develop your Point-of-View from Section 4:

• Define the filming convention?
• Why is this important knowledge to know?
• Why/how you would use that film convention in your projects?

​

Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Open Response Grading Rubric

Standards

2.I.05 Demonstrate various methods of refining an edited sequence/timeline.

2.I.05.01 Move audio/video clips within a sequence/timeline.

2.I.05.02 Trim audio/video clips within a sequence/timeline.

2.I.05.03 Use L-cut edits to enhance a video.

2.I.05.04 Alternate between camera shots within a sequence/timeline manually or by using a multi-cam tool.

2.I.05.05 Use various transitions to enhance a video (i.e., dissolve, fade, wipe).

​

​

Section 5: TIME

A film is a dramatic representation of life. The scenes are ordered to represent the passage of “film time” through the assembly of the edited shots.

Film time is rarely paced as we would experience. Alter time to create a dramatic story. Only moments that contribute to its advancement are included, all else is left out.

26. Expanding Time (pacing)

-Extending the scene through overlapping action or delayed action.

-Time is “slowed down” to externalize character’s emotion.

-Adds suspense without dialog, leaving the audience to fear what might lie ahead.

29. Slow-Motion

Technical- Record at a higher frame rate (120fps) otherwise when the footage is processed, the slowed footage will be jagged.

Purpose: present a heightened dramatic idea

30. Fast-Motion (Time compression)

-When used, will break the veneer of reality.

-Used to highlight a moment. -Used in comedy but can be effective in drama.

31. Flashback

- Fill the audience in on important backstory.

- The key to whether a flashback works is whether the flashback moves the plot forward.

- If it puts the film artificially on hold or is aesthetically hackneyed, the audience will reject it.

32. Flashforward

- A cut to the future.

- Typically used with a slow dissolve to prepare the audience for a time change.

33. Freeze-Frame

By freezing the moment like a photograph, the image takes on an iconic air and the audience is cued to take special notice of the content.

34. Visual Foreshadowing

A visual symbol seen early, suggests an action that will take place later in the film.

​

Open Response

• Summarize Section 5.

Choose one of the elements to develop your Point-of-View from Section 5:

• Define the filming convention?
• Why is this important knowledge to know?
• Why/how you would use that film convention in your projects?

​

Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Open Response Grading Rubric

Standards

2.E.05.08 Explain the characteristics and purpose of varying frame rates when

shooting a cinema or video production (i.e., time-lapse, slow motion, speed ramping, time-slice/bullet time).

Section 6: Sound Effects

- Add layers of meaning to a film that are hard to achieve in other ways.

- Can intentionally draw attention to themselves, or be manipulated with stealth.

- Expose, disguise, suggest, establish, or reveal.

35. & 36 Realistic Sound (Diegetic)

Diegetic - sounds that logically exists on screen.

- Reveals a detail about a character.

- Elicit an emotional response from the audience.

37. Expressive Diegetic

(Outer world)

- An organic sound added to the scene but has been altered in some way.

​

Example: Pitch shift

38. Surreal (Meta-Diegetic)

Sounds that represent a character's inner world.

​

​

Open Response

• Summarize Section 6.

Choose one of the elements to develop your Point-of-View from Section 6:

• Define the filming convention?
• Why is this important knowledge to know?
• Why/how you would use that film convention in your projects?

​

Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Open Response Grading Rubric

Standards

2.I.06.03 Apply filters and effects to audio/video within a sequence/timeline.

​

2.I.07.07 Export video for additional editing and refining within outside software applications (i.e., visual effects generation, graphics animation, sound editing and enhancement).

​

6.A.04.05 Demonstrate how the use of various techniques and effects (e.g., editing, music, color, rhetorical devices) can be used to convey meaning in media.

​

Section 7: Music

Music can drive the narrative of a film, with lyrics or influence the tempo and mood.

39. Lyrics as Narrator

- Can act as inner thoughts of character. Can establish theme, conflict, and mood.

- Audience expects lyrics to be significant. Especially when they are placed at beginning of the film, “the most expensive real-estate” in a movie.

40. Symbolic Usage

- The idea of the music itself.

What does the music represent?

- The music is representing an idea, a belief, or deeper meaning of an event.

41. Music as a Prop.

- The music is used as a story element.

- The music moves the story forward.

- Can tell you what is to come.

Open Response

• Summarize Section 7.

Choose one of the elements to develop your Point-of-View from Section 7:

• Define the filming convention?
• Why is this important knowledge to know?
• Why/how you would use that film convention in your projects?

​

Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Open Response Grading Rubric

Standards

2.I.04.06 Edit a project for specific objectives (i.e., match-on-action, 180° Rule line, continuity, mood, pacing for speech, music).

​

6.A.04.05 Demonstrate how the use of various techniques and effects (e.g., editing, music, color, rhetorical devices) can be used to convey meaning in media.

​

Section 8: Scene Transitions

- Movement between the end of one scene and the beginning of another is a Transition.

​

Key Terms

1. Matching Audio Segue

2. Audio Bridge - outgoing sound from one scene continues over a new shot; used to connect the two scenes aurally.

3. Visual Match-Cut - Two images match based on similarities.

​

42. Matching Audio Segue

An audio dissolve, sometimes used to mask an important event.

43. & 44. Audio Bridge

Dialog - Two scenes are connected with spoken word.

​

Sound Effects - A particular sound is selected to preview what we are about to see or what is being internalized by a character.

46.Visual Match Cut

(Pattern & Color)

Cut of color settings.

Can link content or story.

47. Visual Match Cut

(Action)

Similar object/character movement moves

​

https://vimeo.com/61537722

49. Visual Match Cut

(Idea)

​

Visually show the answer to a question instead of the character derived response.

​

50. Extended Match Dissolve

(Time Transition)

- Smooth, soft transition.

- Audience understands dramatic time shift in character.

Open Response

• Summarize Section 8.

Choose one of the elements to develop your Point-of-View from Section 8:

• Define the filming convention?
• Why is this important knowledge to know?
• Why/how you would use that film convention in your projects?

​

Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Open Response Grading Rubric

Standards

2.I.05 Demonstrate various methods of refining an edited sequence/timeline.

2.I.05.01 Move audio/video clips within a sequence/timeline.

2.I.05.02 Trim audio/video clips within a sequence/timeline.

2.I.05.03 Use L-cut edits to enhance a video.

2.I.05.04 Alternate between camera shots within a sequence/timeline manually or by using a multi-cam tool.

2.I.05.05 Use various transitions to enhance a video (i.e., dissolve, fade, wipe).

Section 14: Props

Open Response

Prompt: Choose one of the elements to develop your Point-of-View from Section 14:

​

• Summarize Section 14.
• Define the filming convention?
• Why is this important knowledge to know?
• Why/how you would use that film convention in your projects?

​

Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Open Response Grading Rubric

Standards

2.G.02.09 Design and execute sets/props for a production.

2.G.03.05 Position sets/props for a studio or remote production.

Section 15: Wardrobe

Open Response

Prompt: Choose one of the elements to develop your Point-of-View:

• Define the filming convention?
• Why is this important knowledge to know?
• Why/how you would use that film convention in your projects?

Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Open Response Grading Rubric

Standards

2.G.02.09 Design and execute sets/props for a production.

2.G.03.05 Position sets/props for a studio or remote production.

Section 16: Locations

Open Response

Prompt: Choose one of the elements to develop your Point-of-View:

• Define the filming convention?
• Why is this important knowledge to know?
• Why/how you would use that film convention in your projects?

Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Open Response Grading Rubric

Standards

2.G.02.06 Scout locations for productions.

Section 17: Natural Environment

Open Response

Prompt: Choose one of the elements to develop your Point-of-View:

• Define the filming convention?
• Why is this important knowledge to know?
• Why/how you would use that film convention in your projects?

Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Open Response Grading Rubric

Standards

2.G.03.07 Identify and apply advanced cinematography techniques to compensate for

changing conditions when shooting on-location (i.e., available light, weather, scenery, natural elements).