AC A4 Film Explore and Expand

• CKV
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4

FILM

FILM explore

Film is a series of still images that quickly light up one after the other – creating the illusion of moving images. The desire to tell a story with moving images is one of all times. More than 30.000 years ago, people were already trying to transfer the movement of running horses to a rock wall. In the 18th century, projection was invented: the technique of projecting images onto a screen with light. Partly because of the invention of photography, it became possible for the first time to create movement from multiple images in 1895. 

Because the equipment was heavy, the first films only lasted a few seconds. 

Since the 1920s, images and sound can be played synchronously. Digital films are made since the 1990s.

                                          LEERDOELEN

1. You know the film movements and characteristics.
2. You know the difference between analog and digital editing.
3. You can apply the characteristics in the in-depth assignment of your choice.

Assignment 1

Create your own flipbook (film machine) in 7 minutes. You will receive a strong paper from the teacher with 10 numbered rectangles of the same size. 

For example, you can roll a ball: draw a ball in the first rectangle in the bottom right corner. Then draw the same ball in each rectangle, but always a little further to the left, until, in the 10th rectangle, it reaches the lower left corner. 

Cut out all rectangles and put your book together with a staple on the side. You can also make sparklers twinkle by drawing the sparks somewhere else in each rectangle. Or you can allow flowers to grow by drawing a bigger flower in each rectangle. 

GENRES IN FILM

Read the genres below and answer the question on the next slide

Docudrama

A documentary is non-fiction: a situation from reality is visualized with the aim of informing the viewer. For example, a subject in history, a political issue, a social problem or a life story such as a biopic. When it is made into a feature film, you call this a docudrama.

Drama

Drama is primarily about emotional themes and problems between people. The filmmaker does his/her best to make the viewer empathize with certain characters. Typical drama movies are war stories, costume dramas, detectives and biographies. Genres are often mixed or combined.

Comedy

In this genre the emphasis is on humour, peoples’ characteristics are often exagerated to entertain the audience. Humour is universal and easy to communicate, even without sound. Some of the first silent films are comedies, in which characters stumble over their own shoelaces or run into a door. 

Horror/Thriller

Thrillers give viewers feelings of fear, tension and surprise. Suspense is important: what the viewer already suspects is inevitable and happens slowly. The story works towards a climax and is full of plot twists and distractions. Horror movies are even more focused on fear and horror. 

Arthouse

Arthouse or movie-house films primarily have an artistic goal. The storyline is experimental and often difficult to follow. These films are less commercial: they do not have to reach a large audience. 

1. Watch the three clips from famous/well-known films from film history. Write down to which genre the film belongs. (in order)

Assignment 2
a. What kind of genre do you like to watch?
b. What is your favourite series on Netflix?
c. If you had to recommend a series or a movie to your friends, which one would it be?

FILM CHARACTERISTICS

Read the texts below

Camera/framing

The camera presents a story with the help of framing and camera positions. The framing is an image excerpt: the part that you see as on the screen.

Montage

Scenes are rarely recorded in the definitive order. Loosely shot scenes only become meaningful when they are pasted together during the editing process after filming. The post-recording phase is called post-production. 

Design/Styling

What is portrayed in a movie is called design or styling. The design of a movie scene is similar to the theatre: it requires set design, costumes, lighting and actors. Everything that takes place within the camera frame is called mise-en-scene. 

Narative

Usually there is a storyline in a movie. A comprehensive story in which characters are in a certain situation and have special experiences and conflicts.  

Special effects

In the past, special effects were added during the recording of the movie. Nowadays, this happens thanks to computer techniques during the montage.

Sounds design

Filmmakers try to make the sounds as realistic as possible. They often mimic sounds. This is what we call sound design. 

EXPAND FILM

Let's take a closer look at the characteristics of film and look at the effect of some characteristics. We will also look from the Digital and Analogue dimension. Digital is basically anything that is done by means of computer technology. Film cameras are also digital these days. Everything used to be analog, nothing was edited or added with the computer. Film was then still recorded on a film roll (negative) and it was edited by simply cutting (with scissors) and pasting (with glue). Do you know what the first fully digital (computer animated) movie was?

Yes indeed. Toy Story is the first fully computer animated movie.

1. Camera angles determine the viewpoint or perspective. You look through the
eyes of the character (subjective) or you look from a neutral position (objective).
You can get closer or further away by zooming in and out. Terms include:
close-up, distant shot and total shot. Watch the Once upon a time in de West
opening sequens.This opening sequence lasts endlessly without a word being
spoken. Serge Leone tells the story through the camera.
a. What camera angle is his favourit? b. What story is told through the camera?

2. In post-production montage, the director determines the sequence or
timeline of the film. Chronological, flash-back and flash-forward are terms
that apply here. The film “Memento” plays with time in a special way.
The main character in this film has short term memory loss and takes a lot
of notes and photo’s to help him remembering things.
Watch the opening scene.
a. Explain how time is handled here. b. What is the effect on the viewer.

3. Nowadays special effects are usually added during the editing phase
with the help of computer techniques. Terms that are associated with
special effects include: green screen, CGI (computer-generated imagery)
and bullet-time-effect.
“The Matrix” was the first film where the ‘the bullet-time-effect’ was used.
Watch this film. Have you ever seen this effect in another film?

4. You will see a fragment from the movie“King Kong”,
where you will see the analogue version from 1933 next
to the digital version from 2005.
a. Note down three differences when you pay attention to
the technical editing.