Neglected film techniques

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AlexGTV

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I think many films are shot way too pedestrian and could benefit from long forgotten tricks, and why not devise new ones.

Some I would like to see more often compose of:

-The repeated short scene (ala Hong Kong cinema)
-Zoom! (used effectively in Avatar)
-The tilted shot (not how Battlefield Earth overused it however)
-Body attached camera ("God gave me everything I want" by Mick Jagger)
-The Star Wars cut
-Shots bigger than 2&3 seconds (it's about time!)
-Radical photography(Amelie did that great)

Add your own ideas little Spielbergs! 💡
 
Shots of two-three minutes in length before cutting to next shot. Expensive to shoot, but very effective at times to remind the audience of the real time and space taking place in the scene. (Watch Goodfellas where he smashes up the guy with a revolver)

Manipulative editing. Scenes where the editor manipulates our mind into thinking something is going to happen and then something else does (and makes sense still). For example, Silence of the Lambs where Jody Foster arrives at the serial killer's house.

Natural lighting from house lights, like in the Godfather.

Just a few examples. That panning shot in Taxi Driver where the camera sees the taxi, pans in the opposite direction and ends up where the taxi parks was also cool.
 
Zoom? Film school 101 sure hates using that - at least in my [very limited] experience! Zoom is for TV :lol:

I'd like to see more Hitchcockian style shots a'la Psycho, not North by Northwest.
 
Dolly/tracking > zoom anyday. Dolly introduces parallax.

A use of dolly with the zoom going other direction can be very cool though.
 
100% agree Grand Prix.
 
I think they used (virtual?) dolly tracking in Avatar rather than zoom. So yes.
 
Here's one:

- Large chunks of film with no speech.

If you've seen the Steve McQueen movie LeMans then you'll know what I mean. There's large sections of that movie where we just see driving and cars and guess what, it works. We're here to see a movie about guys racing at LeMans and that's what it gives you.

As I was typing that I realised another example, today I was watching Predator. There's a big section of that with no dialogue. It's after the rest of Arnold's team have been killed. It shows Arnold building his make-shift weapons and traps. Then preparing for the fight, the fight itself. Finally Arnold says a few lines as he fights the Predator "Come on kill me, I'm here, kill me I'm here!"

During all of that period, 10minutes, there is no dialogue, obviously there's no-one to talk to. But my point is that if they were making that movie now, they'd ensure that he has someone with him. For instance the captured girl that they have tag along would be with him through this, so that he can explain why he's got to fight it, they'd kiss, it'd be lame dialogue "you stay here and keep hidden . . . I gotta do this, alone".

You know what I mean.

Anyway there's probably better examples.
 
Mic_Col
Here's one:

- Large chunks of film with no speech.

If you've seen the Steve McQueen movie LeMans then you'll know what I mean. There's large sections of that movie where we just see driving and cars and guess what, it works. We're here to see a movie about guys racing at LeMans and that's what it gives you.

As I was typing that I realised another example, today I was watching Predator. There's a big section of that with no dialogue. It's after the rest of Arnold's team have been killed. It shows Arnold building his make-shift weapons and traps. Then preparing for the fight, the fight itself. Finally Arnold says a few lines as he fights the Predator "Come on kill me, I'm here, kill me I'm here!"

During all of that period, 10minutes, there is no dialogue, obviously there's no-one to talk to. But my point is that if they were making that movie now, they'd ensure that he has someone with him. For instance the captured girl that they have tag along would be with him through this, so that he can explain why he's got to fight it, they'd kiss, it'd be lame dialogue "you stay here and keep hidden . . . I gotta do this, alone".

You know what I mean.

Anyway there's probably better examples.
Click to expand...

The opening sequence of "There will be Blood" uses no dialogue also, so not necessarily a neglected film technique, but could be used more often.

Just goes to show that if the cinematographer and director have done their jobs, you can tell a story using just images and no dialogue. Try watching a film with the sound off and you'll see what I mean. Audio is important in film, but images are key.
 
Grand Prix
Just goes to show that if the cinematographer and director have done their jobs, you can tell a story using just images and no dialogue. Try watching a film with the sound off and you'll see what I mean. Audio is important in film, but images are key.
Click to expand...

That's all true, and there's also the element of what an actor can do in his /her performance.

If they can make it work it could be a really great thing. Of course a lot of actors could make a mess of it all. Probably the most likely mistake would be overdoing their emotions and expressions, acting is a weird skill/talent.
 
Silence is under-rated in cinema nowadays.

It's refreshing to find a movie with sections in which there is not only a lack of dialogue, but no cheesy fill-in music to cover up the silence.

A lot of dramatic tension can be built up using silence. It can also be used to express emotions much better than poorly chosen music can. Sometimes silence can be more heartbreaking than yet another gospel chorus in the middle of a funeral.
 
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