Understanding the basics of film theory will help you when it comes to understanding the filmmaking process, but will also allow you to critique films in a constructive way.

Film theory is a great conversation starter, lots of people have reasons why their favourite movies are great and why they feel others are not. To really dig deep and understand the meaning of film, film theory is in the forefront of all discussions.

If you want to work as a filmmaker one of the most important aspects to understand is film theory. Understanding film theory and digging deep into the roots of a film will not only help you in your career in film but will also help you develop better, well-rounded films.

In this article, we are going to look into what film theory is, what film history is and the different types of film you may come across.

Let’s delve into it!

What is film history?

Film history is the journey of film from its initial inception to the present day. You’ll look at the ways film has changed over the decades, how it’s developed, and the different types of filmmaking that have been created over the years.

What is film theory?

Film theory is a scholarly approach to film in which it tries to understand and explain what the film is about. It provides a reflection of where the film has come from and an in-depth review of some of the core topics. In basic terms, film theory aims to breakdownA detailed analysis of the script, identifying all the elements needed for production, such as locations, props, and costumes. and analyse each film.

Overall it’s a great way to break down the way a film has been written, produced, and edited. The main elements film theorists use to analyze film is:

Angles
Lighting
Type of film
Types of shot
Sound
Colour
EditingThe process of selecting, arranging, and assembling the visual and audio components of a film to tell a coherent and compelling story.

What are the different types of film?

There are many different types of films, and over the years the way we consume these have changed, but what actually are the different types of films, and how do film theorists break these down?

Classical

Classical film is between the two elements of realism and formalism (scroll below for more in-depth breakdown) and empathises interactions between people. Examples are The Godfather and Spotlight. Most dramas are classed as classical and you’ll notice a few of these characteristics:

Minimal special effectsVisual or audio effects used to create illusions or enhance scenes, including practical effects and computer-generated imagery (CGI).
Filmed on location or in a studio
Lighting and sound used to create the mood of the film
The films use professional actors

Formalism

Formalism is where the directorThe person responsible for overseeing the artistic and dramatic aspects of a film, guiding the cast and crew to realize their vision. is tasked with bringing the audience watching into an alternative, warped universe. Special effects are used heavily in these films to alter reality for the audience. A couple of examples of formalism films are Star Wars, Star Trek, and Batman.

The key characteristics of formalism films are:

It gives a warped sense of reality.
Lighting is exaggerated to give it an extra-dimensional feel.
Lots of special effects
Uses professional actors

Realism

Realism is a type of film that focuses on real life. These films show a raw outlook on the real world that has no special effects and uses a lot of natural lighting. Examples of Realism films are Shifty, Harsh Times, Schindler’s List, and Trainspotting.

The key characteristics to look out for in Realism films are:

No special effects
Natural lighting
Filmed in a documentary style
Little editing to the colour and saturation of the film

What is analysed in film theory?

There are a few factors that are analysed when it comes to film theory, here are a few factors that are considered by film theorists:

Angles
Lighting
Types of shot
Sound
Colour
Editing

Let’s have a look a little closer.

Angles

There are a few angles you need to consider when storyboarding your story out for your next film, these are high angle, low angle, eye level and oblique angle. These are used to help you manipulate the viewers emotions and set the tone of that scene.

Lighting

The lighting helps you to set the tone in the scene and is great to project a mood or a feeling and can add to the feel of the scene. Lighting used correctly can be the definitive factor of bringing your film from average to great, it really does have such an effect.

The main types of lighting you’ll come into contact with are High Key LightingA lighting style that minimizes shadows and produces a bright, even illumination, often used in comedies and upbeat scenes. and Low Key LightingA lighting style that uses minimal fill light, creating strong shadows and high contrast, often used in film noir and horror genres..

Types of shot

There are a few types of shots used in movies, and these are the shots film theorists take into consideration when analysing films. These are:

Full ShotA type of shot that shows the subject from head to toe, filling the frame, providing context and body language. (FS)
Long ShotA shot that captures the subject from a distance, often showing the entire body and some of the surrounding environment.
Extreme Close-UpA very tight shot that focuses on a small detail, such as an eye or a hand, emphasizing its importance or emotion. (ECUA very tight shot that focuses on a small detail, such as an eye or a hand, emphasizing its importance or emotion.)
Close-UpA shot that tightly frames a subject's face or a detailed object, emphasizing emotions or details. (CU)
Medium ShotA shot that typically frames the subject from the waist up, balancing detail and context. (MS)
Extreme Long Shot (ELS)
Over The Shoulder (OTS)
POV Shot

Sound

There are two main types of sound these are diegetic and non-diegetic. Diegetic soundSound that originates from within the film's world, such as dialogue, footsteps, or ambient noise that characters can hear. is the sound that is visible on screen or the sound that’s implied on screen. Examples of this are noise made from props, or the dialogue coming from the characters.

Non-diegetic soundSound that does not originate from the film's world and is not heard by the characters, such as background music or a narrator's commentary. is sound that is not visible onscreen and is not implied by any action onscreen, it’s any sound that’s comes outside of the stories place. Examples of this are narrationA commentary delivered by a narrator who provides context, background information, or additional insight into the story. or mood music.

Colouring

The two types of colour film theorists focus on are saturated and de-saturated colours. Saturated colour is great for romantic films, amazing scenery and generally for a happier scene.

Whereas desaturated colour is perfect for those dark, depressing scenes – it brings back the idea of struggle and tough times.

Editing

Editing in film is an integral piece of the filmmaking puzzle. An editor’s job is to make the film flow well and guide the audience along with the storyline. You need the editing to be smooth to capture the audience’s imagination and allow the story to flow to its full potential.

Here are few editing guides to help you study/improve your editing skills:

Who uses Film Theory?

There are a few types of people who use film theory in their everyday life, these are professors, creatives, and critics.

Critics

Critics use film theory to dissect each film and critically review every aspect of the film – film critics usually give an in depth reasoning to why they think that of a movie and back it up with facts around the set up of the film (lighting, dialogueThe spoken lines between characters in a film, driving the narrative and revealing character traits., story and so forth).

If you’re looking to become a film critic try setting up a blog reviewing film and use some of the above concepts to really nail down your review technique.

Creators

If you’re looking to become a filmmaker, you really need to know your stuff – so film theory is a big deal! Make sure you understand the history, the technique and the way a film is developed throughout the individual stages. It will make you a much better filmmaker and give you a good standing when trying to break Hollywood.

Professors

Professors use film theory to teach their film courses. They need to provide an in-depth review and an unbiased opinion to educate and nurture their students.

Understanding multiple aspects of film theory bodes well as it allows them to discuss and give a three-dimensional view of the film. This allows the students to form their own opinion by using classic film theorists techniques.

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Jay Neill

Jay Neill is the founder, owner, and managing editor of iFILMthings and believes everyone should have access to the film resources they need to plan their filmmaking project, which is why he’s dedicated iFILMthings to helping all filmmakers.

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Beginners Guide to Understanding Film Theory

What is film history?

What is film theory?