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In this first session we also want to lay down some of the fundamentals of filmmaking. So this week we explore: shots and shot sizes.

What is a shot? A shot is a continuous camera angle filmed without interruption. How we call a particular shot size depends on how a character or object is framed. Here's a brief explanation:

The WIDE SHOT (WS)
The Wide Shot shows the location. It tells you who is in the scene, where and what time of day it takes place.

The FULL SHOT (FS)
The Full Shot frames the character from head to toe in the frame. It focuses on the subject's body language and costume.

The MEDIUM SHOT (MS)
The Medium Shot portrays characters similarly to how we interact with people every day. It is ideal for dialogue scenes.

The MEDIUM CLOSE-UP (MCU)
The Medium Close-Up is an intimate portrait of a character. It focuses on facial expressions.

The CLOSE-UP (CU)
The Close-Up is a tight frame of a face or object. Close-ups are used to show emotions and important moments of your stories.

The EXTREME CLOSE-UP (ECU)
The Extreme Close-Up focuses closely on a detail. It is a very dramatic image on screen and gives the detail a lot of importance.

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In three shots tell something about yourself.

Include a wide, medium and close-up shot.

KEEP YOUR PHONE HORIZONTAL. No vertical filmmaking please.

Think of something quite simple like playing an instrument , playing football, reading a book, your favourite food, something that defines you.

You can work with a partner to help you film it.

You can't use dialogue.

Upload your clip onto Vimeo.

Duration: 15 seconds.

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Watch in-depth explanation about shot sizes

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Watch in-depth explanation about shot sizes

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about the use of shot sizes. It explains why filmmakers choose to use certain shots to help tell their story. Press the expand button to watch this on YouTube.

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In today's class you will learn about a filmmaking technique called 'Point Of View'.

A POV shot shows what a character is looking at.

Why do you think a filmmaker uses this technique and what is the effect on the audience?

(Hint: this technique is often used in scary movies to create the sense of being watched.)

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Welcome to the filmmaking club. For the next three days, you will learn about filmmaking, create your own filmed exercises and discuss your work with your friends.

You can use this Padlet to share, view and comment on each other's films.

Feel free to comment on the films and clips already posted here. These are resources to help you learn from other filmmakers and be inspired by their techniques. You can watch these at any time between sessions.

The column below has useful tips on how to film on your phone, edit footage and upload onto Padlet.

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Examples of POV and Extreme Close-Up (ECU) in a clip from 'Toy Story 2': Woody being cleaned.

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Toy Story 2 (1999)  -  Fixing Woody Scene

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Watch this: shoot in landscape with your phone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2picMQC-9E

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What does interpretation mean?

An interpretation is how you explain the meaning of something.

We all experience the world through our eyes and ears. Some images and sounds are open to interpretation based on our perception. How we interpret them is what makes us unique.

As we've watched each other's work, it is interesting to see how differently you have all interpreted the films.

Now let's try and interpret another person's work using images, sound and music.

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In a film, Sound is everything that can be heard in a scene: dialogue (people talking), music and special effects.

Foley
Foley is a unique sound effect technique that involves creating and "performing" everyday sounds for movies.

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THE SECRET WORLD OF FOLEY - FISHERMAN'S CABIN

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In particular watch from 1.09 mins in and 1.50 mins onwards for good examples.

Whose POV are we following?

Write your answers in the comments.

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E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (6/10) Movie CLIP - Halloween (1982) HD

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In this session you will learn about the early days of cinema. You will also film your own clip inspired by the work of the earliest filmmakers.

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Keep your device horizontal.

Hold it steady and place it in a fixed position if possible.

Open the Camera App.

Select Video.

Press on the image that you want to focus on until you see a yellow box that says AE/AF LOCK. This will stabilise your image and stop it from constantly trying to autofocus.

If you want to change the brightness of the image, keep your finger on the screen and swipe up or down to adjust

Don't use the zoom function as it will reduce the quality of your image. Just move closer to the subject if you need to.

Once you're finished, save the clip on your camera roll by using the upload button (square with arrow pointing up) and select 'Add to Album'.

Create a 'New Album' where you can save all your clips that you make during this course. Make sure to label them correctly.

Experiment with the settings before you start filming.

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Example of how a poem about day and night might be interpreted

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Pick a small section from a piece of prose. This can be a song lyric, poem or even a sentence from a book you're reading.

Interpret it using up to 7 shots, using a different variety of shot sizes: Wide Shot, Medium Shot, Medium Close-Up, Extreme Close-Up.

Sound and music is allowed but must be recorded in the camera.

Shoot in landscape (horizontally).

Acting is allowed but there can be NO dialogue.

Be inspired by the exercises we've done already: Lumiere Minute, Point of View and Frame within a Frame.

Create a shot list to plan your film.

You may include a final slide to reveal your inspiration for the piece.

The final piece must be around 30 seconds.

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Watch this: 'The 400 Blows' by Francois Truffaut (1959)

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Watch this: 'The 400 Blows' by Francois Truffaut (1959)

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Watch this clip and think about:

What technique is used for the scene?

Where is the camera placed?

How does it make you feel?

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Today we are looking at a special way to frame a shot called 'Frame within a Frame'. This technique is used to draw a viewer's attention towards a person or an action.

Please prepare by watching the clips below (scroll down this column).

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Watch this: first film made by female filmmaker

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Watch this: first film made by female filmmaker

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The Cabbage-Patch Fairy (1900) by Alice Guy

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Free editing app VN has great functionality, is easy to use and doesn't leave a watermark.

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VN Editing Tutorial (2021 Update) Android and iPhone

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Interpretation example: 'Out of this Life' poem

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Interpretation example: 'Out of this Life' poem

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Inspiration for interpreting a piece of prose.

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Most Foley sounds are easy to recreate and try at home. For this class exercise we would like you to experiment with items that you have available to you today and record them on the recording app on your phone or tablet. Upload them onto Padlet with your name and mention the sound that you tried to create.

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Guy Uses Household Objects To Create Movie Sound Effects

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Watch this: fun examples of 'Frame within a Frame' technique.

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Watch this: fun examples of 'Frame within a Frame' technique.

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The Grand Budapest Hotel: The Frames Within the Frame

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Watch this: 1-minute film of Japanese dancers

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Watch this: 1-minute film of Japanese dancers

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Lumière: Acteurs japonais - Exercice de la perruque (1897)

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Watch this to get an idea of the different jobs or roles on a film set or TV production.

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Explore behind the scenes of a film set with First day: on set (360 video)

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Interpretation example: 'From Afar' video poem

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Interpretation example: 'From Afar' video poem

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This is how a filmmaker interpreted a poem called From Afar.

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Tell a story using just SOUND with the sound recording app on your phone or tablet.

Pick a subject from your daily life like 'getting up in the morning', 'going to the shops', 'making breakfast', 'walking to school' or some other everyday activity.

You can record sounds like a ticking clock or an alarm buzzing, brushing your teeth, footsteps, doors opening and closing, keys jangling, toast popping out of a toaster, kettle boiling, the bus to school etc.

If you want to record an imaginary story, you can also create the sounds using Foley, like the sound of fire using crisp bags, or horse hooves using coconuts. Feel free to experiment.

You must hold each recording for at least 7 seconds.

Try to record 5 different sounds.

The final piece must add up to a story of about 35 seconds (more or less).

Don't include any music or dialogue.

No images.

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Make a film in FIVE SHOTS through the eyes of a character

Use POV shots

Duration: 30 seconds

You can move the camera. Think about why, and the effect it has

Your shots can be filmed handheld but must be horizontal

You can use sound but no dialogue

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Film a single shot of a 'Frame within a Frame'. Duration: 30 secs approx.

Keep the camera still (don't move) and put it where you have the best view of the 'Frame within a Frame'.

Have your actor/actress interact with your second frame.

Film a few shots and choose the one you think is the most interesting.

Film HORIZONTALLY. The camera must remain STILL.

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Choose a place, a subject, a moment and film it for one minute 'Lumiere brothers' style.

The camera must be from a fixed position.

Film for 60 seconds only. Keep a watch in hand, then stop the shot as if the reel had finished, just like a Lumiere operator. This way each shot is a result of both choice - and luck.

Take a couple of separate minutes without influencing anything in the shot and choose the best.

Give your minute a title.

The idea is to capture a moment in time. Films should reflect reality and not be acted.

Make sure to keep the camera HORIZONTAL (landscape).

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I'm an award-winning filmmaker based in Luton who has had work shown at festivals like Cannes International Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival.

Also, I am Founder and Director of Moving Image Luton, which was selected as a Creative Pioneer by Culture Trust Luton because of our idea of creating a filmmaking hub in Luton. So it's really great to be collaborating with Revoluton Arts to deliver a film course in Luton!

I became a filmmaker because I love stories, which is really what films are: stories told using images and sound.