Character makeup design
Dramatic elements
Film techniques: Lighting
Movement - drama medium - GCSE drama revision
Props Department: Properties
Scenic Design
The importance of props in the film
VFX Guide: Understanding 4 types of visual effects in film
What is stage combat
Key Aspects of Film Analysis : Dramatic Aspect
Overview
Second module in the Key Aspects of Film Analysis
Expectation
Camera Rolling!
Congratulations students, you are now in the second aspect of film analysis!
For your second module, you will learn and understand the key aspect of film analysis which is the Dramatic Aspect. Lessons and activities will be provided to give you an idea of what dramatic aspects and questions that you should consider in analyzing films. Activities will determine your understanding and learning of the lesson in this module.
Learning Outcome:
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
- Identify the dramatic aspect of the film.
- Learn the importance of analyzing the dramatic aspects of a film.
Pre-Test
Direction: Fill in the blanks. Choose the correct answer on the word bank below.
___________1. It is also called VFX
___________2. The actions of characters in the story express themselves through facial expressions, dialogues, and body movements.
___________3. Also known as the scenic design.
___________4. Essential features of every performance.
___________5. Part of the visual composition of each frame of film.
___________6. It makes actors look beautiful or ragged, younger or older, or like monsters.
___________7. Dramatization of both armed and unarmed fights.
___________8. The path where the light source comes from and where it lands.
___________9. Neutral lighting that diffuces shadows on the face.
___________10. These are objects that add to the look of the setting, with which the actor interacts.
Set Props Acting Light Direction Dramatic Aspect Make-up and Hairdo Visual Effects Costume Stage Combat Stage Design Frontal Lighting |
Dramatic Aspects
Dramatic elements are essential features of every performance. Actors manipulate dramatic elements to shape and enhance meaning. Some of the dramatic elements of a film are the Visualization of action and setting, acting, costumes and props, make-up and hairdo, Lighting, Visual effects, Use of sound effects and music.
VISUALIZATION OF ACTION AND SETTING
Visualization of action and setting of a film includes the movements of the characters, stage combat and the stage design.
- Movements of characters - where the actors move on the stage, what this communicates to the audience, and the effect this has on the drama.
- Stage Combat - dramatization of both armed and unarmed fights for theater or film productions. It gives an impression of violence to the scene without anyone really getting hurt.
- Stage Design - stage design or also known as scenic design is the creation of theatrical, as well as film or television scenery. The people working with the stage design are stage designers, they work with the director and other designers to establish an overall visual concept for the production and design the stage environment.
ACTING
Acting is an action of characetrs in the story where they express themselves through facial expressions, body movements, and speeches or dialogues. Here are some points that can help you with an excellent analysis of the acting performance of the characters in a film.
- Describe the physical characteristics of the actor such as their age, ethnicity, nationality, speaking style, or whatever you can observe on their natural person behind the acting performance that can help you to assess the quality of their performance.
- Define what the actor has done to develop his own physical, facial, vocal, and characteristics for his or her performance.
- Describe the actor's acting style if it os relevant and note the film genre whether it's romantic, tragic, or historical.
- Identify the traits and functions of the characters that the actors portrayed in the film, as well as their relationship with other characters.
- Define the key scene in which the actor plays an important role and tell what idea or feelings is communicated by the scene.
COSTUMES AND PROPS
Costumes are a storytelling tool, communicating subtle details of each character's personality and history quickly and economically to the audience. They help actors leave their own personalities behind and become new and belieavable people on screen. Costumes are part of the visual composition of each frame of film. Just as the elements of a painting work together to create a harmonious image, costumes must work with the lighting and sets.
Costume example from Alice in Wonderland 2010
Props are crucial in the story-telling; they complement and motivate the character, helping the actor feel more "the part", setting the scene, identifying a particular time and place and cultural setting, sometimes even becoming a huge focus of the film.
Types of Props
- Hand props are anything handled or carried by an actor (e.g. staffs, food, weapons, lanterns and candles, canes, parasols, and practically anything else an actor could or might pick up)
- Personal props are props worn and carried by a particular actor and issued to him rather than stored on the prop table.
- Set props include most obviously furniture. These are objects that add to the look of the setting, with which the actor interacts.
- The set dressing consists of similar items, but which the actor doesn't usually handle. Some set dressings are "practicals", props like lamps or chandeliers that perform on stage as they do in real life.
- Trim props are a type of set dressing that hang on the walls, such as pictures, window dressing and curtains, and so on.
- Greens are any plant, live or artificial.
- Mechanical special effects are part of the prop department. That basically means any special effects that is not plugged in to operate. If a pull pin or a string operates a trick, it is a prop, but if an electric solenoid trips, it is under electrics, Mechanical noise makers are props, but taped sound effects are electrics, and so on.
- Atmospherics includes fogs, snow, etc.
MAKE-UP AND HAIRDO
Like costume designers, make-up artists are storytellers. Whether the script requires actors to look beautiful or ragged, younger or older, or like monsters or other fantastic beings, make-up artists and hairstylists help audiences believe that they see on the movie screen is real.
LIGHTING
Lighting in a film refers to the direction, quality, source and/or color of light that was used in these scenes of the film. Light's direction in a film is the path where the light source comes from and where the light lands whether it's on top light or in backlight. Quality of light, on the other hand, refers to the intensity of light (e.g. hard or soft light). Source refers to the role of the lighting in a particular scene in the film, for example, is key light or fill light. Lastly, is the Color of lighting in a film, the color of lights can be light or warm light depending on the mood that has to emphasize in the scene or the story.
TYPES OF LIGHTING
- Frontal Lighting - it is neutral lighting that diffuses shadows on the face. You will find it is mostly used for portraits or the emphasize an object or subject.
- Side Light - It creates a shadow on one half of the subject and sculpts the subject's features. The contrast between light and shadow creates a sense of mystery.
- Backlighting - It creates silhouttes and a glowing effect on the subject. This is used to create a dramatic effect and emphasize the subject in a mysterious way.
- Underlighting - It can either be used as monumental lighting (light up a statue) or distort the subject's feature (ghost stories around the campfire).
- Top lighting - Top lighting tends to glamourize the subject. It places the subject in a divine light. As such, we usually feel awe, and pride in dominance.
VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual effects, also called VFX, enable filmmakers to enhance a story by bringing to life believable characters, worlds, and stunts. FX allows filmmakers to create environments, objects, creatures, and even people that would otherwise be impractical or impossible to film in the context of a live-action shot.
THREE TYPES OF VISUAL EFFECTS
- Computer-generated imagery (CGI) - is the blanket term used to describe digitally-created VFX in film and television. These computer grahics can be 2D or 3D, but CGI is generally referenced when talking about 3D VFX.
- Composting - Also called "chroma-keying", composting is when VFX artists combine visual elements from separate origins to make it appear as though they are in the same place.
- Motion Capture - often shorthanded as "mocap", motion capture is the process of digitally recording an actor's movements, then transferring those movements to a computer-generated 3D model.
USE OF SOUND EFFECTS AND MUSIC
Sound is important because it engages audiences: it helps deliver information, it increases the production value, it evokes emotional responses, it emphasizes what's on the screen and is used to indicate mood. When put to good use, language, sound effects, music, and even silence, can elevate your video dramatically.
Sounds in film can be classified into two categories:
- Diegetic sounds refers to the actual sounds from what is happening in the film.
They include:
- the voices of characters
- sounds made by objects or actions in the story
- music represented as coming from instruments in the story space
- Non-diegetic sounds refer to sounds coming from a source outside the story space.
It includes:
- the narrator's commentary or voice-over
- sound effects added for dramatic effects
- mood music (e.g. film scores and soundtracks)
Generally, here are some questions that will help you in examining or analyzing the dramatic aspects of a film with regards to its elements such as visualization of action and setting, acting, costumes and props, make-up and hairdo, lighting, visual effects, use of sound effects and music.
- Do the actors perform so well that you think the story is real?
- How important are the costumes and make-up to the success of the film?
- Are there any scenes particularly difficult to act in?
- How do the actors use their voice, speech/dialogue, body movement, and face expression to achieve the desired effects?
- Do the actors establish their characters more through speech/dialogue or through body movement and facial expression?
- Is there anything about the acting, set, or costumes that you particularly like or dislike?
- Do you recognize any particular style of the director?
- How does the film compare to other films by the same director or other films of the same genre?
Activity 1
ACTIVITIES AHEAD! Make sure you have studied and understand the dramatic aspect of film and its elements.
Direction: Observe the picture from the behind the scenes video of the film "Heneral Luna" below and answer the following questions.
- Describe the costumes and apperances of the characters in the picture. What do you think is the significance of how they dressed in the movie?
- List the props that you can observe in the picture and define the significance of each prop in the scene.
- What do you think the characters are doing in this scene? why do you think so?
- What do the characters' facial expressions tell you about their personality and the tension of the scene?
Activity 2
Excellent! You are now on your second activity. Now, let us test furthermore your knowledge from our previous lesson.
Direction: Study the pictures below and identify its type of props. Draw the shape that corresponds to your answer.
1. _________________
2. _________________
3. _________________
4. _________________
5. _________________
6. _________________
7. _________________
8. _________________
9. _________________
10. _________________
Activity 3
Direction: Write TRUE if the statement is correct but if FALSE, change the underlined word/s to make the statement correct.
___________1. Acting is when characters express themselves through facial expressions.
___________2. Costumes must work with lights and sets.
___________3. Some set dressings are "particulars".
___________4. Greens include fogs, smoke, and snow effects.
___________5. as costume designers, make-up artists are storytellers too.
___________6. Lighting in a film refers to the direction, quality, source and color of light.
___________7. The meaning of CGI in visual effects is computer-generated imaginary.
___________8. Diegetic sound refers to sounds coming from a source outside the story space.
___________9. Visual effects is also called VFX.
___________10. Examples of Hand Props are candles, canes, and staffs.
Remember
- DRAMATIC ASPECT - these are essential features of every performance where actors manipulate dramatic elements to shape and enhance meaning.
- VISUALIZATION OF ACTION AND SETTING - includes movements of the characters, stage combat, and the stage design. (Movements of characters, stage combat, and the stage design)
- ACTING - is an action of characters in the story where they express themselves through facial expressions, body movements, and speeches or dialogues.
- COSTUMES AND PROPS - costumes are a storytelling tool, communicating subtle details of each character's personality and history quickly and economically to the audience, while props complement and motivate the character. (hand props, personal props, set props, the set dressing, trim props, greens, mechanical special effects, atmospherics)
- MAKE-UP AND HAIRDO - like costume designers, make-up artists are storytellers. Whether the script requires actors to look beautiful or ragged, younger or older, or like monsters.
- LIGHTING - refers to the direction, quality, source, and/or color of light that was used in these scenes of the film. (Frontal lighting, side light, backlighting, underlighting, and top lighting)
Check Your Understanding and Post Test
DIRECTION: Read the statement and choose the correct answer that corresponds to your answer.
1. It must work with the lighting and sets to create a harmonious image.
A. Props B. Costume C. Make-up D. Hairdo
2. Characteristics of lighting refers to the intensity of light.
A. Source B. Color C. Quality D. Direction
3. Often shorthanded as "mocap"
A. Motion Capture B. Composting C. CGI D. VFX
4. It includes the narrator's commentary or voice-over.
A. Non-diegetic B. Diegetic C. Sounds D. Music
5. This helps in increasing the production value and evokes emotional responses.
A. Non-diegetic B. Diegetic C. Sounds D. Music
DIRECTION: Study the words below and identify what dramatic elements it belongs to. Write VSA if it is Visualization of acting and setting, A if it refers to Acting, CP if it is Costumes and Props, MH if it corresponds to Make-up and hairdo, L if it is Lighting, VE if Visual Effects, and USEM if it is Use of Sound Effects and Music.
________ 1. High-necked blouses and sensible skirts
________ 2. Stage Combat
________ 3. Underlighting
________ 4. Frontal Lighting
________ 5. Contour
________ 6. Facial expression
________ 7. VFX
________ 8. Composting
________ 9. Diegetic
________ 10. Soundtracks