MOTION

PICTURES
LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
• Understand what a motion picture is

• Understand the elements and principles of film making

• Apply the basics on how to create a movie

MOTION PICTURES
 MOTION PICTURES
- also called films or movies, are a series of images projected from a
film, shown in rapid succession from a projector to a screen. It is an
optical device that uses the optical phenomenon called “Persistence
of Vision” wherein our eyes leave traces or a shadow of the last
image we’ve seen. It allows the perception of rapid succession of
images and gives an illusion of continuous and smooth movement.
 MOTION PICTURES
Born from various technologies available from the 19th century, it
continued to develop until the 1920s. It also became one of the most
influential communication mediums until today.
 FILM
– is characterized by the use and sense of movement, sense of time
and reality, and using and presenting sound. Movies are an effective
medium of conveying biographical events, although its authenticity
can be questioned. It is also used to entertain, to inform, and to
educate.
 TYPES OF FILM
REALISM
- is a movie that depicts moments of real life in real-time. It
doesn’t matter what genre it is (e.g. action, thriller, comedy,
romance), as long as the elements are current and in real-time.
Realism is a movie that shows real life without special effects or
technical manipulation and enhancements.
 TYPES OF FILM
FORMALISM
- is more artistic. It contains elements that enhance the movie
experience, such as the use of professional actors,
sophisticated lighting and special effects, and extensive use of
editing. Formalism breaks the reality element of the film (e.g.
science fiction movies, some feature-length movies).
 TYPES OF FILM
CLASSICISM
- is a balance of realism and formalism. They depict reality but
with the use of professional actors and minimal technical
requirements, such as lighting, special effects, and sound
enhancements (e.g. some feature-length movies).
 FORM OF FILM
NARRATIVE MOVIES
- are movies that tell a story. It has plot and character
development, progressed chronologically throughout the film,
and is shown in the protagonist’s point of view (POV).
 FORM OF FILM
DOCUMENTARY MOVIES
- show reality. They don’t show the truth all the time, but can
give evidence of the truth using event footage, interviews, and
eyewitness records. The protagonist is usually the narrator of a
documentary film.
 FORM OF FILM
EXPERIMENTAL or AVANT-GARDE
- are films that the directors make, even if they don’t follow
conventional storytelling rules. They are usually independent
films. They are rare in a sense that they are usually shown in
small art movie gatherings and showings. These movies can be
therapeutic to directors themselves.
 FORM OF FILM
ANIMATIONS
- are drawn, computer-rendered, or placed (stop-motion)
images that are combined to make an illusion of movement.
These movies usually target younger audiences, although there
are animated films that show serious themes and target older
audiences.
 ELEMENTS OF FILM
TIME
Temporal: This is the use of time within the story. It can be in
the form of flashbacks, fast-forward, or the use of multiple
timelines within a movie story. Flashbacks are past events
interjected between scenes in the story’s chronology, while fast-
forward is the opposite of this and shows future events.
 ELEMENTS OF FILM
TIME
Duration: The time era and length of time within the story. For
example, a movie based on World War II could cover the lives
of characters from World War II until the present time.
 ELEMENTS OF FILM
TIME
Movie length: Most movies are feature-length movies that run
40 to 80 minutes, sometimes even longer. A short film is
anything that is less than 40 minutes, including the opening
and ending credits.
 ELEMENTS OF FILM
TIME
Movie length: An epic movie shows the journey of a
protagonist, often over a long period of time, and its stories can
be based on classical literature figures, such as Iliad and Lord
of the Rings.
 ELEMENTS OF FILM
MISE-EN-SCENE
(pronounced meez-on-sen) is a French term that means
“placed on stage”. These are all the elements seen through a
camera frame, such as actors, background (background,
middle ground, and foreground), props, lighting, costume, and
makeup.
 ELEMENTS OF FILM
MISE-EN-SCENE
• SETTING (LOCATION)
• LIGHTING
• COSTUME and MAKE-UP
• ACTORS
 ELEMENTS OF FILM
SOUND
- is any auditory element found in film. It can be in the form of
speech, music, noise, or sound effects. Sound only came later
in film development in the 1920s.
 ELEMENTS OF FILM
SOUND
- The problem was synchronizing it with the film, which they
solved by using an actual orchestra or accompaniment while
the movie plays, or by playing a separate audio recording
simultaneously with the visual. Background music helps set the
mood of the film or scene, or enhance the character.
 ELEMENTS OF FILM
SOUND
Two kinds of film sound:
Diegetic - sound where the source can be seen in the frame,
like dialogues (speech from the character), noise from a car
found in the scene, etc.
 ELEMENTS OF FILM
SOUND
Two kinds of film sound:
Non-diegetic - sound where the source can’t be seen in the
frame, like background music or noise coming from somewhere
that is not included in the frame.
 CINEMATOGRAPHY
- is the art of making a movie, specifically how the film is shot,
treated, and processed. In short, it is the art of filming and
shooting a movie. The cinematographer works closely with the
director. The director gives the visual image of the shot, and the
cinematographer translates it. The cinematographer uses
his/her technical expertise to achieve that visual image.
 EDITING
- cutting, or montage, is the rearranging of shots taken and
assembled to become coherent according to the story. The
shooting process is not done according to the timeline of the
story.
 EDITING
- An editor’s job is to sift through the shots taken during the
shoot, then link them together to form a movie. The editing
stage also incorporates sound requirements, such as
background music and sound effects, and sometimes recorded
speech.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
DEVELOPMENT
The important product from this stage is the script. A script or
screenplay is a document that lists down dialogues, scene
requirements, camera shots and angles, special effects, as well
as props needed in each scene. It is actually one of the first
things to do before going through the shooting stage.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
DEVELOPMENT
Some films have scripts that are not fully finished, mostly
dialogue parts, and are filled in during the shooting process in
the form of ad libs (dialogue that is not prepared for; often
done spontaneously).
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
PRE-PRODUCTION
The pre-production stage highlights various steps within the
process:
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
PRE-PRODUCTION
FINANCING - This can be done in the development or pre-
production stage. It is acquiring financial backers to produce a film.
Usually, they are big movie production companies, but there are
also independent investors (indie movies) that can provide financial
support during the movie production and pre-production.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
PRE-PRODUCTION
CASTING - The casting director usually sends callouts to
actors who can fulfill the role according to the director’s
character specifications. They oversee auditions and select
the top actors to fulfill a role, but the director gets the final
say.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
PRE-PRODUCTION
LOCATION - Locations are scouted and visited for an
ocular inspection and setting up appropriate shots,
including camera placement when production starts.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
PRE-PRODUCTION
SCRIPT BREAKDOWN - The script is broken down to
needed camera shots, props, locations, costumes, etc.
Usually, storyboards are produced here.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
PRE-PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION DESIGN - The production designer
oversees the physical element of each shot, such as
costumes, props, prosthetics, etc. Set and costume
designers start making appropriate products here.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
PRE-PRODUCTION
SCHEDULE - Schedule for the whole process is
finalized, including deadlines, editing timeline, location
shoot schedules, actors’ schedules, etc.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
PRODUCTION
This is the bread and butter of the film. All principal photography
(raw shots) are taken in location, without the special effects.
Blocking or rehearsing actions of actors through a shot before the
camera roll is done during the shoot. The cinematographer also
checks the lighting and camera equipment needed for each shot.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
PRODUCTION
Each shot, once taken, is up for review within the same day. So, if it
needs a retake, it will be easier to do another shot. You can’t do this
in post-production during editing, when you realize you missed or
took a wrong shot, so double-checking the shots is really important
at this stage.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
PRODUCTION
The people who are involved during production are:
Director - oversees all aspects during the production stage.
Assistant Director - moves the production along, as well as works
with actors. There can be two assistant directors separating these
two tasks.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS

PRODUCTION
The people who are involved during
production are:
Cinematographer - oversees camera
operation and lighting design.
Camera Operator - operates the
cameras.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS

PRODUCTION
The people who are involved during
production are:
Clapper - holds up the clap slate which
indicates the scene number just before a
shot is taken.
Grips - controls the special lighting rigs.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS

PRODUCTION
The people who are involved during
production are:
Production Assistant - does various tasks
needed during the production stage.
Talent - actors who portray characters in
front of the camera.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
POST-PRODUCTION
Editing and sound development are the two main aspects of post-
production. Shots taken during principal photography are
transferred from film to digital format to prepare for editing.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
POST-PRODUCTION
Editing - video is cut, trimmed, and joined together with other shots
to form a movie. This is where the music, special effects, and
dialogue are put in.
Sound - is made, foley or composition, then submitted for editing to
put into the movie.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
POST-PRODUCTION
Another aspect of post-production is test screenings. Before finally
distributing to the public, the first cut of the movie is shown to a
small audience to see if the movie needs adjustments. More often
than not, there are adjustments, and the movie goes back to the
editing room. When the movie is done, it is then set for distribution.
 MOVIE MAKING PROCESS
DISTRIBUTION
Movies can be distributed and sold to theaters, and the theaters
profit from the showings. The movie can also be distributed by big
film companies, which then use various marketing strategies (movie
posters, trailers, etc.) The movie is considered to have made money
if the earnings are more than the cost rendered during production.