Learning task 3: Filming techniques and storyboarding
Film techniques and terms
Hand out a list of
filming_terms (RTF 11KB)
the students should know.
Look at how the setting is conveyed. View the 'introduction to Shawshank' scene. How is the prison made to appear large, imposing and bleak? Look particularly at the low angles, shots, panning, colour, music.
Setting:
Crane shot shows us the prison from a birds eye view, sweeping views establish and emphasise the prison's size.
The music is slow, played by stings and has a deep drawn out bass which adds to the feeling that this is a place of sadness.
The colours are bleak. Prisoner's uniforms are grey (as is the sky) and the lighting is dull.
We see the prison through Andy's eyes as he enters. Moves from a low angle of the entrance to an undershot which gives the impression that he is entering a place of misery and will not emerge for a long time. Again the sheer size of the place is shown in an imposing way.
Inside the prison it is dark, lit only by natural light from the windows. This creates long shadows which give an eerie, cold feeling and we get the suspicion that all is not as it should be, shadows hide secrets.
Close viewing
View the following scenes again and pause to answer and discuss the related questions:
What shot is used when Andy is given his sentence by the judge? Explain the intended effect.
A point of view shot is used when we view a scene through a character's eyes. Identify and explain at least 2 point of view shots used during the prisoners' arrival scene.
What angle is used when Andy is about to be pushed over the edge of the building? Explain the intended effect.
Explain how light has been used effectively in Brooks's leaving scene.
Write a short paragraph about the scene when Andy crawls out of the drain pipe to freedom. Look at music, sfx, shots, angles, lighting etc. Think about how these things contribute to the atmosphere of the extract.
Storyboarding
- Explain the fact that a is basically a film on paper. It is used to see how the film will look before it is shot.
- As a class view Brooks's suicide scene and create a storyboard of no more than 8 frames.
- Now view another scene and get the students to extend it with a storyboard of an alternative ending. The students should use shots, angles, lighting, music, etc. to fit the atmosphere that they are trying to create. They must also write a short explanation of the effect they were trying to achieve, whether they believe they were successful, and if not what they would do differently next time to achieve the required effect.
- Complete a
scene_analysis (RTF 19KB)
.
