Do you know what cinematic language is? Thanks to it, we can watch films with the quality that characterizes them today, but as you surely know, it hasn't always been that way. If you want to learn more about the audiovisual field, it is essential that you know more about the previously mentioned language and its origin.
What is cinematic language?
Before we analyze the birth of cinematic language, it is necessary to ensure that you know exactly what it is. As its name suggests, it is the language (type of shots, movements, focuses, etc.) that a director decides to use to convey the plot of their film to the viewers.
The language is composed of several elements (which we'll discuss later), but it is not mandatory for all of them to be used in films. Besides what the directing professional deems appropriate, another factor that influences the elements to be employed is the type of production being filmed.
Why is this language so important in the world of cinema? What is achieved with it? Thanks to it, it is possible to successfully transmit the message that the director has in their head; it also evokes different emotions in the viewers. Anyone wanting to specialize in the audiovisual sector must ensure they understand this topic very well (as we always teach in our basic workshop to our students).
How did cinematic language originate?
One of the most outstanding characteristics of the beginning of cinema is that films were a kind of filmed theater. This means that they were filmed in settings that were mostly interiors. Additionally, the cameras remained static. With this, we want to explain that films initially were seen in a wide shot (just as we see a play), and we could not perceive the reactions of the actors, which often did not allow us to feel emotions.
The cinematic world began to evolve thanks to two filmmakers who are now remembered for their contributions to this sector. The first one we mention is David W. Griffith, who is considered the father of cinema. Two of his productions: “The Birth of a Nation” (The Birth of a Nation) in 1915 and “Intolerance” 1916 greatly contributed to the creation of the language we are focusing on.
This film definitively breaks with the shooting style of films up to that date, as we can see how it alternates shots; we don't always find fixed shots, the camera moves, etc. This is why Griffith changed cinema forever and brought it closer to what we know today; he saw and understood that he could create emotions, convey feelings, change the film's message through the shots. We begin to see details, reactions, and it evokes different sensations in us as viewers when watching the film. Everything was the opposite of before, where it was a fixed and general shot (as we defined in other articles, a play).
In the case of “Intolerance,” its shooting lasted 22 months, portraying hypocrisy in four eras, including Babylon. To recreate the great nation of antiquity, resources that moved beyond static cameras and indoor sets were used; some of these include:
- War chariots.
- More than 60,000 workers and other professionals, including technicians and actors.
- A large structure built of wood designed to simulate the walls of Babylon.
Sergéi Eisenstein
He was the second filmmaker who contributed both to the origin and to the evolution of cinematic language. Sergéi was born in the Soviet Union and focused on using images to cause an intellectual and emotional association in the viewers.
In his productions, he did not employ montages that placed simple shots; he preferred to use two independent pieces and join them. One of his most notable works is “Battleship Potemkin” 1925, and two of its scenes are considered examples of cinematic language today.
The scenes we refer to earlier are: the action on the staircase and the ship mutiny.
Contribution of Griffin and Eisenstein to Cinematic Language
In addition to David and Sergéi, two men (Vsévolod Pudovkin and Lev Kuleshov) contributed to the development of the language that has been so helpful in cinema. In the case of Pudovkin, he is considered a prestigious Soviet filmmaker, and he developed theories that influenced cinematic editing.
Kuleshov began undertaking projects in the world of cinema in 1916, and his knowledge and experiences were very useful. Like Vsévolod Pudovkin, he created experiments in cinematic editing.
The four men mentioned: Griffin, Eisenstein, Pudovkin, and Kuleshov, helped cinematic language reach maturity. By the 1920s, this language had already begun to be used in film and developed into what we know today.
Elements of Film Language
The language is composed of various elements that ensure its function is fulfilled efficiently and generates the desired result. Below we describe each of them:
Space in Cinema
This consists of its own components; the first is framing, which refers to everything, person or object, that appears in the camera and that the viewer sees. On the other hand, the angle is the camera's perspective, which allows the audience to best observe a scene.
Types of Shots in Cinema
Another component of space is the point of view and depth of field, the latter being the space that is focused on. Lastly, we have the shot, i.e., the part of the character that is transmitted on screen. In cinematic language, there are various types of shots, and they are the following:
- Wide shot.
- Full shot.
- Medium shot.
- Close-up.
- American shot.
- Detail shot.
Rhythm in Cinema
It is a type of psychological perception that helps to mark the speed in each scene. Thanks to it, a rhythm (fast or slow) is established for the longer shots of a film.
Sound in Cinema
Undoubtedly, the rhythm and music present in a scene have a significant influence on it, and there are many possibilities when using it. An efficient audiovisual narrative depends on the effects of sound in cinema.
Tone and Color
There is a wide variety of colors that a film's production can use to convey an idea or feeling. In a movie, the goal is to use a color palette that generates a sensation or transports the audience to a historical moment.
Other Elements of Cinematic Language
Other elements that are part of cinematic language and are just as important as those mentioned earlier include:
- Movement.
- Editing.
- Color.
- Lighting.
Film is what we know today thanks to the birth of cinematic language. Because of it, we have the opportunity to immerse ourselves completely in a movie and enjoy it to the fullest. And of course, thanks to these geniuses for giving us this perspective and for having definitively changed the paradigm of cinema.