AS Film Studies Micro Elements of Film

The micro features of film

Mise-en-scène includes setting, props, staging, costume and makeup, figure expression and movement and off-screen space.

Performance includes physical expression, vocal delivery and interaction between performers (with reference to issues of staging/choreography where relevant).

Cinematography includes photographic elements (e.g. camera position, colour, lens, depth of focus), lighting, framing and composition and special effects.

Editing includes the organisation of time, both within a sequence and across sections of the narrative and the organisation of space, especially in creating coherence for the spectator. The principal conventions of continuity editing, such as shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule, will be studied. The uses of montage editing will also be considered.

Sound includes diegetic sound, non-diegetic sound and the variety of ways in which aural elements (e.g. speech, music and noise) are used in relation to visuals. It is recognised that it is often difficult to separate micro and macro features of film, although macro features – narrative and genre – will be the basis for FM2.