Lauren Rule- Film Techniques (Outside Reading #2)

I found this article detailing the film techniques of a camera.  It's obvious that the camera is essential for conveying emotions or setting the scene.  The position of the camera determines what exactly will be in the shot.  The 'extreme long shot' has more focus on the landscape or architecture.  Characters are usually tiny in this shot to keep the focus on the background or scenery.  It is good for some action shots.  The pan of the landscape in Northfork appeared to be an extreme long shot.  It showed the mountains and the abandoned town.  The 'long shot' will show large details on architecture, but it will also show people (closer than the extreme long shot and usually their full bodies).  This view can still show action, but will also display groups of people and architecture.  I feel like long shots are often used.  Ed Bloom and the giant leaving town in Big Fish is an example of it.  The 'medium shot' emphasizes the people.  It will show small groups (2-3 people) usually from the waist up.  During Groundhog Day when the producer, cameraman, and host are waiting for the groundhog to come out the camera probably used a medium shot.  A 'close-up' focuses on the facial expressions of the characters.  The head and neck of the character(s) will normally take up the entire frame.  A scene focused on the conversation would use this.  In Blade Runner, when the blade runner and the robot girl are having an intimate conversation the close-up shot was probably used.  The final view is 'extreme close-up'.  This is used to create more focus on one facial feature of the character.  The perfect example for this would be in The Jacket when Jack confronts Dr. Becker in the future.  The camera frames Jack's mouth and Dr. Beck's eyes.  The shot alternated between the two.  Next the article talks about transitions.  The abrupt transition from one scene to the next is the most common form.  Another type is called 'wipe' where the frames wipes across the replacing the previous scene.  One of my favorite techniques is what the article refers to as 'depth of field effects'.  The object which requires the attention of the viewer is put in focus while the other objects are out of focus.  I like this effect because normally the important objects are in frontal view with the other objects blurry in the background.  Sometimes, however, the important object is in the background and the front objects are blurry, I find that to be very cool.        

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