Film Theory Is An Important Element of Filmmaking

Film is defined by Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Tenth Addition as a form of artistic, dramatic, or playful visual medium used for exhibiting motion pictures or other visual representations. In other words, film is “the art of seeing.” In its brief history, motion pictures has often experienced changes which appeared very basic, like those caused by the invention of sound. It still exists today in varying forms as varied as the traditional film made by one individual with a hand held camera and the massive multimillion dollar epic involving hundreds of extras.

From early on in the history of cinema, motion picture equipment was composed of a small number of essential elements. The term “films” was used in association with the term “motor” and a device known as a silent projector, which was used by filmmakers to show moving images without the accompaniment of spoken words. Early cameras only had black and white plates and no internal electrical facilities so that the images seen on them had to be extracted by hand from a lens through the use of a projecting plate. Viewers first saw films through glass plates found in the public theaters, before which the term “films” was replaced by “televisions” in the late eighteenth century.

Over the course of time, advancements in film production as well as the medium itself took motion picture technology to a new level. First, movies were shown on wide screen formats which were later followed by projection technology that let audiences see motion pictures projected on a theater screen, usually behind a theater door. Film stock also vastly improved with the development of tinted and washed out glass known as “Dystopian” films. A notable early example of tinted film stock was The Jazz Singer (1908), which won eight Academy Awards and was one of the few films to earn Oscars in more than one category.

After viewing The Jazz Singer you may be curious about how movies are made and if there is a certain type of film making that is “more film-making than real life.” Well, like any other occupation, film makers have their own method of working called the “film method,” which involves a set number of shots in which each represents a specific part of the film. When these shots are created, an operator inserts them in the film and then combines them using a process known as ” Steady Shot.” Steady shots are those where the operator takes a photo while the camera stays still. A photographer who wishes to create a “moving picture” would need to master this process.

One other element of film theory that is important to film makers is lighting. In fact, it is lighting that is responsible for the perception of depth or distance. The term for this is “lighting design.” It is important to understand this theory because it will play a vital role in determining how a filmmaker creates his films. You can find film theory websites online that will explain all of the elements of film theory and what they mean to the different types of filmmakers.

Overall, film theory is important for movie makers because it is what allows them to tell a story using images. The key factor in successful films is the ability to tell a good story through images without using words. For more information on film studies and citation needed for being a filmmaker, check out the website below.