Short Answer Questions

Question

1. The authors of The Film Experience describe one aspect of the power of images as the image as presentation. What do they mean by this phrase?
The term image as presentation reflects the idea that even fictional films can offer us authentic views of realities or perspectives. This is achieved by presenting viewers with either subjective images (for instance, recreating an actual event as seen from a fictional character’s point of view) or objective images (for instance, creating a setting that transports us vividly and translates to us the true essence of that place or event).

Question

2. Handheld cinematography is often used in fiction filmmaking to achieve what kind of effects?
Handheld cinematography is often employed in fiction filmmaking to emulate the unsteady frame and individual point of view achieved by the same technique in news journalism and documentary filmmaking. This creates a documentary “realism” aesthetic, which connects the audience more immediately and concretely to an action or scene.

Question

3. Explain the difference between deep focus and shallow focus. How might these different strategies shape our understanding of the image?
In deep focus all planes of the image—foreground, middle ground, and background—remain in focus, allowing multiple planes of action to be clearly visible and granting the audience a more general perspective of the scene at hand. A shallow focus presents a narrow range of vision, with the background typically remaining out of focus. This helps direct the audience’s attention to what is most important in the image – usually the central characters.

Question

4. What are close-up shots and how do they typically function in a film?
Close-ups zoom in to show details of characters or objects, such as a person’s face or a figurine displayed on a mantel. These shots draw the audience’s attention to nuances of a character’s feelings or thoughts or the particular significance of an object.

Question

5. What are some of the advantages that new digital cinematography has over traditional film cinematography?
Digital cinematography does not require film stock and laboratory processing. Digital technology provides the convenience and economic advantage of lightweight and mobile cameras, and the sharpness of the digital image suggests a kind of immediacy that distinguishes it from traditional celluloid images. Digital cameras also allow for extended takes without the need for an edit.