1) Be able to define mise-en-scene, give the literal translation of this French term, and describe which elements contribute to planning a shot
2) Be able to describe how mise-en-scene is sometimes taken for granted
3) Be able to describe how various components of mise-en-scene contribute to the overall "feel" of a movie
4) Be able to define design how it relates to mise-en-scene
5) Be able to discuss the responsibilities of a production designer; in the classic Hollywood system, what did the executive position of a production designer used to be called?
6) Be able to describe what a production designer is able to organize overall through design
7) Be able to identify the decisions a filmmaker must make about choosing where to shoot a movie
8) Be able to define all of the décor of a set that can be considered part of the properties
9) Be able to define and describe a soundstage
10) Be able to describe the function and expressive impact of lighting in a scene
11) Be able to define chiaroscuro
12) Be able to describe the challenges of creating stylistically distinct and historically accurate costumes, makeup and hairstyle in a scene; what was the trend in hairstyles and costuming during the Hollywood studio years?
13) Be able to define composition
14) Be able to define framing and describe all the elements that must be considered in order to coordinate the overall meaning of a shot or scene
15) Define how point of view relates to framing and what it implies
16) Define kinesis and how it relates to framing
17) Be able to describe the two basic types of movement that we see on screen
18) Define blocking and how it is incorporated in the filming process
Chapter 1:
1) Be able to define cinematography
2) Be able to list/describe the main responsibilities of the director of photography (also known as the cinematographer)
3) Be able to describe the difference between a shot vs. a take vs. a setup
4) Be able to discuss the style differences, the differences in tonality, and the potential uses for black & white vs. color film stock when conveying images, meaning, and depicting "reality" in film
5) Be able to differentiate between hand-painting, tinting, toning, colorization, and Technicolor technology as techniques for incorporating color in film; be able to discuss the advantages/disadvantages of each method
6) Be able to name the color film stock and processing system used today
7) Be able to explain the difference between lighting source and direction and briefly discuss the functions of lighting in a film
8) Be able to list the two main sources of light
9) Be able to list the two most basic types of lighting instruments
10) Be able to list the three directions/positions (known as the three-point system) for lighting subjects in a movie and describe the purpose of this system; be able to identify which of the three lights is the brightest to fall on a subject, and the purpose of backlighting
11) Be able to define focal length and depth of field
12) Be able to define rack focus
13) Be able to define framing; how does it relate to aspect ratio?
14) Be able to define and discuss the differences between and the uses for the long shot, extreme long shot (also known as the establishing shot), medium shot, & close up
15) Be able to define deep space composition and deep-focus cinematography; provide an example of a shot in a film clip we've seen or discussed in class that demonstrates the technique
16) Be able to define deep space composition and its relationship to deep-focus; provide an example from Citizen Kane that demonstrates the technique
17) Be able to define the rule of thirds
18) Be able to identify the differences between an eye-level shot, high-angle shot, low-angle shot, point-of view shot, dutch-angle shot, and aeriel-view shot and what each shot can be used to imply
19) Be able to identify the differences between a pan, tilt, dolly-shot, tracking shot, zoom, and a crane shot
20) Be able to describe the difference between the effects of a handheld camera shot vs. a steadicam shot
21) Be able to identify how many seconds is the average length of a shot today
22) Be able to discuss the differences between a long take vs. a short take and what a long take can achieve, that a short take cannot; be familiar with the length that an average long take runs
23) Be able to define special effects (SPFX or FX) and what their ultimate purpose is in cinematography; what were the three methods by which special effects were created prior to the 1960's and computer generated imagery
24) Be able to define computer generated imagery (CGI) and some of the methods used today
Chapter 2:
1) Be able to discuss Stephen Spielberg's perspective of how advancements in sound technology have changed and affected filmmaking since the 1970s; discuss how sound was approached in filmmaking prior to the 1970's
2) Be able to define sound, its function (i.e. physical and psychological), and properties (type, source, and coverage) in film
3) Be familiar with the types of sounds that are recorded during filming (i.e. dialogue, which are known as production sounds) and which types are mixed in post-production (known as postproduction sounds)
4) Be able to list the four basic assumptions of good sound design and describe how the effective use of movie sound helps viewers form expectations
5) Be able to discuss the co-expressibility image and sound in movies
6) Be familiar with the responsibilities of a sound editor for a movie
7) Be able to list the four phases of sound production in order
8) Be able to identify the ideal result of sound mixing and what it achieves
9) Be able to identify the primary function of dialogue in filming/telling a story
10) Be able to define fidelity
11) Be able to understand the differences between diegetic and nondiegetic sound in movies and give examples
12) Be able to describe the difference between dialogue and narration
13) Be able to list the four general categories of film sound
14) Be able to describe the differences between the following environmental sounds: ambient sound, sound effects, and Foley sounds
15) Be able to define and give examples of Foley sounds
16) Be able to describe the function of music vs. silence in film
17) Be able to define and understand the differences between a sound montage vs. a sound bridge