Selecting: What information do I really need to use?
The point of learning about film techniques is to be able to identify them so that you can explain their use in films. Accordingly, the information you really need to use in studying film is (A) the definitions of film techniques, and (B) pictures and scenes from films providing examples of the film techniques. As you no doubt know you can locate films that you can borrow and watch at a video store or library. You can also find video clips and photos in several places, including youtube and IMDB (Internet Movie Database). Some good films and pictures for you to practice on are:
Holes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDxkt2jJuZ8
This is the first ten minutes of the film of the novel Holes by Louis Sachar. You will most likely have or will be watching this film this year. Notice, for example, the close-up of Barf-bag's foot in connection with the snake (foot + snake = snakebite). Also, notice the use of the bird's eye angle to show all the holes that have been dug. When I look at this shot I tend to think of a bomb range. It looks like a lot of bombs have hit the desert.
SteamBoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t-3XyruKvU
In this clip, which goes for about ten minutes, notice the dark lighting. Even though this scene comes at the beginning of the film and you do not know what is going to happen later and how the film will end, it is already suggesting a particular way of feeling about the central concepts of steam and science. It is also suggesting how the film will end.
The Lion King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHJlMDoOjaQ
This is the opening scene from the Lion King. How does the opening music make you feel? Is it diagetic or non-diagetic? Does it matter? What colours are used in this opening scene? How do they make you feel - warm or cold? Notice how some shots are combined to create a more complex meaning. For example, a close up of Simba in the context of a long shot showing all of the animals assembled to see Simba.
Avatar - the game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PNfQD7cU98
This is a clip from the Avatar video game. It goes for about ten minutes and forty seconds. Notice that a lot of the lighting in this video is harsh and artificial. What does this lighting tell you about the setting? Also, notice that there are a lot of long-shots and low angle shots that are used to show how big the equipment and flying craft are and how small the people are. What does this suggest about the human settlement?
For a Few Dollars More
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059578/
IMDB is a very good source to bookmark on your computer. To find the pictures that you need to analyse go down to the pictures under the button "watchlist" and click on the link "58 photos". Note, for instance, how the long shots (from toe to head) allow you to see the character in context (harsh and lonely places), how the character is dressed (very practical clothing often not bought but simply found lying around on some road and almost never taken off), what the character carries (a pistol and/or a shot-gun and/or a cigar), and how the character looks (very harsh, dirty [bathing was something they almost never did] lonely and hard-wearing).
Holes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDxkt2jJuZ8
This is the first ten minutes of the film of the novel Holes by Louis Sachar. You will most likely have or will be watching this film this year. Notice, for example, the close-up of Barf-bag's foot in connection with the snake (foot + snake = snakebite). Also, notice the use of the bird's eye angle to show all the holes that have been dug. When I look at this shot I tend to think of a bomb range. It looks like a lot of bombs have hit the desert.
SteamBoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t-3XyruKvU
In this clip, which goes for about ten minutes, notice the dark lighting. Even though this scene comes at the beginning of the film and you do not know what is going to happen later and how the film will end, it is already suggesting a particular way of feeling about the central concepts of steam and science. It is also suggesting how the film will end.
The Lion King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHJlMDoOjaQ
This is the opening scene from the Lion King. How does the opening music make you feel? Is it diagetic or non-diagetic? Does it matter? What colours are used in this opening scene? How do they make you feel - warm or cold? Notice how some shots are combined to create a more complex meaning. For example, a close up of Simba in the context of a long shot showing all of the animals assembled to see Simba.
Avatar - the game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PNfQD7cU98
This is a clip from the Avatar video game. It goes for about ten minutes and forty seconds. Notice that a lot of the lighting in this video is harsh and artificial. What does this lighting tell you about the setting? Also, notice that there are a lot of long-shots and low angle shots that are used to show how big the equipment and flying craft are and how small the people are. What does this suggest about the human settlement?
For a Few Dollars More
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059578/
IMDB is a very good source to bookmark on your computer. To find the pictures that you need to analyse go down to the pictures under the button "watchlist" and click on the link "58 photos". Note, for instance, how the long shots (from toe to head) allow you to see the character in context (harsh and lonely places), how the character is dressed (very practical clothing often not bought but simply found lying around on some road and almost never taken off), what the character carries (a pistol and/or a shot-gun and/or a cigar), and how the character looks (very harsh, dirty [bathing was something they almost never did] lonely and hard-wearing).