What do you learn in film school?
We discuss what do you learn in film school.
- How a film studio is set up.
- Film making rules.
- The importance of continuity and camera techniques.
- How movies have evolved.
- Viewing the world through the lens of film.
- An underdog story from high school.
Film Studio
- The in school film studio at the University of Regina has three curtain colors: black, tan, and green. This variety of colors allows for varying backgrounds and setting.
Film Making Rules
180-degree rule
- Keep the camera on the same side of the actors. Imagine a line between two actors, the camera can’t cross that line. You can move anywhere else in the 180-degree semi-circle.
30-degree rule
- When you cut to the same actor or object the camera has to be moved at least 30 degrees, otherwise the cut is jarring and is similar to a jump cut, which is a mistake in film making.
Continuity
- Actors, set pieces, and lighting have to be consistent between takes.
- Actors need to deliver lines, and keep gestures and body language consistent throughout takes. This makes for easier editing.
Camera Techniques
Swish Pan
- A quick horizontal pan of the camera, which causes a blurring effect, can be used to disorient or to hide a film cut.
Follow Shot
- Gets you in the action and establishes what the character is going through.
- You can hide edits with a person or object crossing the cameras path to cause a momentary black screen.
- This helps with long duration follows, so you don’t have to restart at the beginning on subsequent takes.