Film language is a form of expression that tries to combine various elements such as visual, auditory and narrative to tell stories of different themes through film. The translation of scripts in this sense plays a fundamental role, since it has to manage to transmit the message and the intention in the most effective way possible to the different languages into which it is transcribed.
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What is film language?
Film language is the set of techniques and elements used in the creation and narration of films . In other words, it is the medium through which filmmakers convey ideas, emotions and messages to the public.
This term was not coined at a specific date, but rather evolved over time alongside the industry itself. As cinema became more widely recognized, various methods emerged that explored its visual and narrative elements.
What are the elements of cinematic language?
Through these components, works are created that manage to reach the emotional imagination of the public . Each message that the director wants to convey is translated, for example, into a camera movement or a sound that is slightly louder than the previous one. These elements are aspects that, a priori , might seem insignificant, but which contain a great deal of thought behind them.
Below we explain some of the most important components.
Script and narrative
The script is one of the most important elements in the language of cinema, as it has very specific rules for writing it. Writing is thinking in images, in a script and in dialogues. However, a good scriptwriter is able to express without dialogues, using only the actions of his characters or descriptions of the images.
The script is a key piece in any cinematographic work, so its translation is key to trying to preserve and correctly transmit the message.
A screenwriter's translator not only has to produce a grammatically correct translation of the language, but also needs to adapt the script taking into account the culture and the subject being dealt with in each text.
Framing and composition
Framing consists of framing , through the camera, a part of reality . That is, what we see on screen during a movie. On the other hand, composition refers to how the elements are organized within said frame. These are distributed in one way or another to communicate different messages or emotions, or to create an attractive image.
Camera angle
It refers to the angle (or plane) from which the image is taken . There may be shots from above (zenithal shot), from below (high angle shot) or other more conventional shots (frontal shot, medium shot, etc.). This choice can influence the perception that the viewer experiences.
Camera movement
Camera movement can add dynamics and fluidity to a scene . Some of the most common movements are tracking, panning, dolly and crane shots. This is a great way to direct the viewer's attention and create different narrative effects.
Sound and lighting
Sound ranges from dialogue to music and audio effects. It is used to reinforce feelings evoked by the scene, emphasize actions, or provide additional information about the story .
Lighting , on the other hand, offers a huge amount of expressive variations. It is essential for creating atmospheres, setting the tone of the scene and highlighting certain visual elements . In addition to the type of light or the source, different techniques, such as hard or soft light, can be used to create specific effects.
Mounting
Editing focuses on the post-production part of an audiovisual creation. It is about the way in which the different shots are organized and edited to create a coherent and narrative sequence . Rhythm, shot length and transitions are the most prominent elements of editing.
As you can imagine, there are multiple creative decisions to be made in order to create the desired narrative. To do so in a reasoned manner, it is ideal to rely on related studies.
What to study to dedicate yourself to film language?
Opting for specialized training is a great idea if you want to learn in an organized way the basics of the world of cinema and develop the knowledge and skills that will allow you to enhance your creative expression later on . There are several options:
Film Studies . This will allow you to gain a solid foundation in film theory, film history and film analysis.
Film Production – It will give you practical knowledge about film making.
Audiovisual communication programs . They will offer you a broader perspective on the production and consumption of all audiovisual content.
Visual arts or graphic design . You will be able to acquire knowledge about visual composition, color, lighting and other artistic techniques that are very useful for understanding the aesthetic aspects of cinematographic language.
Screenwriting . If you are interested in the narrative part, you will learn to structure and develop stories in an organized and professional manner.
As you can see, the world of cinema is a complex field with its own language and rules . Therefore, it is advisable to complement your studies with the viewing and analysis of films or the reading of articles of interest, such as the one we have presented to you today. If you want to continue learning about this and other topics related to the film industry, do not hesitate to take a look at other entries in our blog.
