Moving Images, Understanding Media

12 Moving Images: Making Movies, Understanding Media

Figure 1-18 In this storyboard showing an

example of a sequence in A Bug’s Life, the fi rst

shot shows Flik picking his mode of transport, the

second shot shows his point of view while fl ying,

and the third shot shows the moment when he hits

the rock and the “camera” continues to move.

CAMERA CONTINUE

CAMERA

SPLAT

Sometimes, when we think about “communication,” we only think of

words. However, as you can see from these examples, there are many ways

in which we exchange information, ideas, and messages.

The Viewer’s Perspective

In the decades aft er the invention of cinema, fi lmmakers developed techniques

for using multiple shots in sequences. As they did this, they discovered that

when putting one shot next to another, the viewer interprets them in relation

to each other. It is only natural that we refer to our own perspective when

we do this.

Imagine a Civil War battle scene. In the fi rst shot, you see soldiers

wearing Union blue moving across the frame from left to right. Th ere is a

cut to another shot: What will you see in this shot? You probably anticipate

seeing the opposing army: What do you expect to see? If

you see Confederate soldiers in gray moving across the

screen from right to left , what do you conclude? What do

you infer if you see them running from left to right?

If you see the opposing army in gray advancing from

right to left , you expect that they are moving towards their

enemies in blue, and that in an upcoming shot they will

be fi ghting. If, however, you see them running from left

to right, then you expect that they are retreating from the

other army. Or, perhaps, they are chasing the other army.

You are not sure yet. If one of the two groups looked behind

themselves as they were running, you would expect that

this group was fl eeing.

Figure 1-19 Battlefi eld scene from Glory,

directed by Edward Zwick and starring

Denzel Washington. (Courtesy TriStar Pictures /

Photofest).

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