Look at the following images and describe:

-The shot type: This is an over the shoulder, close-up kind of shot.

-The angle of the shot: Low angle.

-The intention of the shoot? To create a sense of fear and isolation.

-Describe in detail the visual clues or conventions used to convey meaning.

It's as if we are looking 'up' at the Queen as she has power. She appears to be looking down on the frog servant, and also us, in the audience. When someone looks 'down' on you it means they are disappointed and feel they have full control, as the Queen does in this shot. Her facial expression and extravagant make up also helps the Queen to have this sense of control and domination. Her crown is smaller than her head, suggesting their is a visual metaphor that she a 'big head' in the sense that she loves herself and that the power she has, has ultimately gone to her head. The shot plays on the idea of good vs. evil, where the Queen is evil and the frog is good.

-The shot type: Long-wide shot.

-The angle of the shot: Low angle.

-The intention of the shoot? To emphasise the height of the cabinet. Suspenseful feeling.

-Describe in detail the visual clues or conventions used to convey meaning.

The window at the top, suggests he is going to try and escape. He could possibly be a professor, a scientist, or a mental patient - because of the white cape/coat he is wearing. His body language also shows the audience that he might be trying to open the drawer at the top of the cabinet. His balance is unsteady and the darkness of the room gives an uneasy feeling, of what is happening in the intense scene.

-The shot type: Close-up.
-The angle of the shot: Low angle.
-The intention of the shoot? To show us the Mad Hatter's face, and his expression, in detail.

-The shot type: Over the shoulder. Wide shot/Long shot.

-The angle of the shot: High angle.

-The intention of the shoot? To show the conversation between the Cheshire Cat and Alice. To show us the expression of Alice and how she is reacting to running into the Cheshire Cat in the forest.

Why learn how to read Film?

Emotional experience, for entertainment, to learn the story (historical events), to visually connect with character/s, perspective - human connection & condition.

Story, characters, setting, sound, image.

Is cinema a film or text? Does it tell a story? How?

Cinema is a visual art form. Cinema is not literature. A film is not a novel (however it can be taken from a novel...)

-However, a film is a text, just as a play, poem or novel is a text.

-Although the storyline is essential, when reading a film you must be able to examine interpret and analyse the visual elements and style.

Elements of film:

(all the things that need to be considered when creating a film).

Shot type (angle), props (items of interaction), setting, color scheme, lighting, dialogue, sound.

Using metaphors in film:

Movies themselves are metaphors for how humans experience life on a deeper, and more dramatic, level. Symbolic images help us to understand things that can't always be translated into words, for instance, abstract concepts. I'm very interested in incorporating some metaphors into my short film.

Descriptions:

Shot: A shot is a continuous piece of filming without any interruption from the time the camera is turned on and starts filming until it is turned off.

-In general most shots last for no more than about ten seconds.

-The camera or subjects may move during the shot, however the filming remains uninterrupted.

Edit: An edit is a break in the film where one shot ends and the next shot begins.

-The four continuous types of shots are: cuts, dissolves, fades & (occasionally) wipes.