Here are the most important genres of film:
Movie Genres Explained — Types of Films & the Art of Subverting Film Genres
- Action
- Horror / Terror
- War film
- Science Fiction
- Western
- Adventure
- Comedy
- Music videos / Musical
- Drama
- Crime
- Interview
- Imagefilm
- Documentary
- etc.
Film terms in English and German / translated English to German:
By CASE Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio > case.edu
Requirements: Camera or Smartphone, Stativ, Gimbal (for Smartpone), Microphone, Film-editing-Software – my three favorites: Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Premiere Rush (on the go for your Smartphone) and DaVinci Resolve.
Famous quote: “Those who don’t know their goal, should not be surprised, to arrive somewhere else.”
- Definition of my goal
- Writing my script, Storyboards and shooting plan or schedule
- Definition of the locations
We are beginning with an Exposé (thoughts) for our project:
- Why am I making this video / film?
- What is the TOPIC and what are my goals?
- What kind of a connection do I have?
- For whom is my film targeted?
- How much does the viewer already know?
- Where are my locations?
- Do I need shooting permits?
- Do I need actors / protagonists for my film?
- What kind of clothes, make-up and props do I need?
- What kind of actions are needed to tell my story?
- Which shot sizes should I use?
- With which scene will I start my film?
- Withs which scene will I end my film?
- Estimating the technical efforts and costs
- Planing of the budget
- TIP: Edit videos for social media down to roughly 60 seconds.
After that, we’ll examine the Treatment of a film: Describe your story in 10 to 40 pages or a detailed script for a documentary. If time and budget allows a production company will create a Storyboard and / or a shooting board.

The preparation of the film: Visual Storytelling
Villeneuve & Deakins on Visual Storytelling using Lighting, Composition, and Framing:
The six most important camera angles:
- OVERHEAD SHOT: filming straight down to a scene or a product.
- AERIAL SHOT: to establish environments, cities and landscapes.
- HIGH ANGLE SHOT: the protagonist feels vulnerable and powerless.
- EYE LEVEL SHOT: the most common angle to film, on the same hight as the characters eyes.
- SHOULDER LEVEL: slightly lower level than an Eye Level Shot. Often used during conversations.
- DUTCH ANGLE SHOT: skews or tilts the horizontal axis, to create uneasy feeling.
- HIP LEVEL SHOT: often used in Western, close up showing the gun.
Similar to the COWBOY SHOT, showing the person. - KNEE LEVEL SHOT: shows the scene or person on the knee height.
- LOW ANGLE: the opponent appears dominant and powerful, filming for the ground looking up.
- GROUND LEVEL: the camera is placed on the ground but has no upward tilt.

Special camera angles:
- Over The Shoulder, or OTS Shot: View over the should of the protagonists
- Point Of View / POV Shot: further examples…
Shot-Sizes:
The shot size (in Switzerland often called Cadrage) is very essential in film making.
Should I film horizontal or vertical? By StudioBinder: Aspect Ratios in Film

Shot sizes explained:
There are THREE MAIN Shot sizes: WIDE, MEDIUM and CLOSE:
- The Extreme Wide Shot Panorama or Establishing Shot is wide enough to establish the location.
- A Wide Shot or Master Shot introduces the main scene and establishes the scene.
- A Full Shot (FS) shows the entire body of a person. Leave a bit space on top and the bottom.
- The Medium Wide Shot cuts off the feet.
- The Cowboy Shot or Medium Full Shot shows the person just below the waist.
- The Medium Shot (MS) goes from above the waist to the head and is used very often.
- A Medium Close-up Shot goes right from the chest to above the head.
- The Close-Up Shot (CU) shows the face of the protagonists and shows their expressions.
- and the Extreme Close-Up Shot is often used to show details such as eyes or isolate an area.
Camera-Movements:
A film maker who understands the language of camera movement, will create dynamic work.
There is a difference between an observing or an active camera.
The observing camera has no dynamic on its own, the camera is locked on a fixed position or follows the movement of a person, animal or object.
This movement is called a passive pan. For example: a train is driving by and a camera follows the train.
The active camera plays an active roll.
By Traveling (Dolly), Crane and Track moves the camera actively.
By Zoom, Tilt (up and down) and PAN stays the camera on the same position.
By Dolly, Crane and Track the camera MOVES.
By Zoom, Tilt, and Pan the camera remains in the same position.
- A STATIC Shot has no camera movement, the camera is locked on a fixed position.
- The PAN rotates the camera horizontally, left or right while remaining fixed in place.
- A SLOW PAN builds anticipation, while a RAPID Pan heightens the energy of the shot.
- A WHIP PAN: Whipping back and forth creates a relationship between the characters.
- The TILT directs the camera vertically upward or downward.
- The Push in shot moves the camera towards a subject. It emphasizes the object.
- The Pull out moves the camera away from the subject. It deemphasizes the object.
- The ZOOM is using the camera lens to get closer to the subject. (Zoom in / Zoom out)
The Pull in / out are more natural for us, since our eyes can’t zoom!
The Crash Zoom is very fast and will wake up the audience, while a Slow Zoom can make you feel uneasy. Slow Zooms are often used in Horror movies. - The combination of a Dolly movement and a Zoom is called Dolly Zoom or ZOLLY. (Vertigo effect)
- Camera ROLL: a roll turns a camera on its long axis while the direction of the lens stays in position.
- A TRACKING Shot physically moves the camera through the scene and follows behind the subject.
- A TRUCKING Shot moves the camera with the subject sideways through the scene. The camera follows the action of the subject like a story book.
- The ARC Shot is a camera movement that turns around the standing subject.
- A BOOM Shot moves a camera vertically UP or DOWN. With a CRANE, jib camera or a pedestal.
- The Random Movement is typically followed by random camera shakes or incidental zooms.
Tips while filming:
- The smaller the camera, the fewer pans.
- Pan shots from a tripod if possible, with a shoulder camera or by using a Gimbal.
- Choose camera locations carefully. (Filtering out street noise is difficult)
- If the camera follows the protagonist, this creates closeness.
- If the camera is already in the room, this emphasizes distance.
- Don’t film everything at eye level.
- TIP: Always film situations from different perspectives.
- Consider the size of the camera-person in relation to the person being filmed.
- Check lighting conditions.
- Make sure that the light source is behind the camera-person.
- Pay attention to any shadows.
- Camera movements should be dramaturgically justified, do not pan around wildly.
- When moving the camera, always hold it steady at the beginning and at the end.
- Don’t rush pans !
- Zoom in rather than Zoom out.
- IMPORTANT: Film enough footage. 1 minute of film = 5 minutes of raw footage.
- Turn off mobile phones.
- If there is outside noise in the film, explain verbally in the film why.
- Filming indoors: Close windows.
- Turn off humming appliances such as refrigerators, televisions, radios, etc.
- Tip from Hollywood: What is Mise en Scene, how famous movie directors work
- Tips how to shoot videos with your Smart phone by Content Creator: Master Mobile Filmmaking
Tips for film editing:
- With good editing we can rhythmise the story and thus optimize the tension.
- The cut shortens the plot.
- The viewer does not have to see the plot from A to Z to understand the logic.
- The parallel cut: While the hotel manager welcomes the guests, the chef commands his staff.
- A hard cut in between shows the contrast between the holiday guests and the hectic kitchen.
- The flashback: here the jump back in time logic is deliberately edited this way.
Tips on cutting rhythm:
- Films that consist only of long shots and medium shots quickly become boring.
- Alternating between closeness and distance creates tension.
- Getting to know the 180 degree rule. The 180 Degree Rule in detail explained by StudioBinder
- The hard cut is the most common type of cut.
- With the soft cut, the transition is barely noticeable.
- The white fade in / out is often used in interviews
- Never cut camera pans directly into a zoom shot, unless you want the hectic pace.
- Tip: Cut in one motion only if it results in a match cut. Otherwise, better to avoid it.
“A cut is good when the viewer doesn’t notice the cut!”
Let’s have a closer look at the following cutting techniques:
- Cutting on Action
- Cut Away
- Cross Cut
- Jump Cut (and when to use it!)
- Match Cut is a transition that uses elements from the previous scene
- Fade in / Fade out (from black to image and vice versa)
- Dissolve (crossfades, ideal for time jumps, otherwise avoid)
- Smash Cut (Abrupt transitions)
- Iris fade
- Wipe (as often used in PowerPoint)
- Invisible Cut (invisible or hidden cut)
- L-Cut (the audio part overlaps from the first cut into the second cut)
- J-Cut (when the audio part of the upcoming cut is already audible)
Let’s have a closer look at the L- und J-Cut:

How to film an Interview:
- What kind of interview do you want to film?
- Controversial interview (e.g. politician)
- Compassionate interview (e.g. victim of an accident)
- Explanatory interview (e.g. with an expert)
- Interview with a personality (can also be an unknown person, but the person is the focus)
- What is the goal and story of the interview?
- Collect and research information about the person and the topic.
- Compile a list of questions.
- Agree on a timeframe and date.
- TIP: In 10 minutes of conversation you can ask about 4 questions.
- Find a familiar place so the interviewee feels comfortable.
- Check camera and microphone before the interview, keep battery in mind.
- Bring enough storage space.
- When interviewing behind the camera, use headphones if possible.
- IMPORTANT: Tell your interviewee to wear neutral, solid-colored clothing. Small patterns can cause a moiré effect (flickering).
Types of questions in an interview:
- Open questions about facts: Who? What? Where? How? When?
- Open questions about opinions: Why? What for? Where from? Where to? What?
- Don’t ask closed questions, where the interview partner can only answer with yes or no.
- Leave enough time after answering a question. Often, there’s more to come.
- Leading questions: e.g. do you like the beautiful gold better than the dirty gray?
- Use the Journalistic Six – Who What When Where Why and How?
- When discussing factual topics, try to create a personal connection.
- If only about 4 questions are possible in a 10-minute interview, only ask questions that are really relevant.
- Don’t forget the common thread and keep your eye on the goal.
- Determine the entry and exit points of the interview.
- Using a list of questions in an interview just as a cheat sheet or reading it out seems unnatural.
- TIP: A familiar opening question is important to make the interviewee feel comfortable.
- IMPORTANT: the question should be recorded together with the answer.
- Never hand the microphone to your interview partner (nervous hand noises).
Shot sizes – “Cadrage” choices while filing an Interview:
- Film at eye level.
- Choose American, close-up and wide shot.
- Make sure the light source is behind the camera.
- Don’t give too much headspace, i.e., don’t leave too much space at the top of the head from the edge of the frame. The air space at the top of the head doesn’t look attractive and makes you feel like the person is falling out of the frame.
- Make sure that the person is not placed exactly in the center of the picture.
- How to set up two cameras by using the 180 degree rule: Video Interviews
Frame rates: Ultimate Guide to Frames Per Second Explained
- Standard resolution, SD, Height 576 Pixel.
At an aspect ratio of 16:9 we have: 1024 x 576 Pixel. - High Definition, HD, has a height of 720 Pixel.
At an aspect ratio of 16:9 we have: 1024 x 720 Pixel. - Full High Definition: Full HD, has a hight of 1080 Pixel.
At an aspect ratio of 16:9 we have: 1920 x 1080 Pixel. My recommendation! - 2K (2K = 2 Kilo). 2K is at an aspect ratio of 16:9: 2048 x 1080 Pixel.
- 4K has 3840 Pixel width, almost 4000 Pixel. Therefore always ask if 4K or True 4K is needed.
- 4K (True 4K) is double of 2K: 2 x 2048 width = 4096 Pixel image width.
If you are filing at 25 images per second, the amount of data is already gigantic after minutes. - Renting cameras, tripods or microphones etc: kulturbuero.ch/zh/mieten
Available for students in every big city in Switzerland.
fps=frames per second:
- 25 fps PAL = Europe
- 30 fps NTSC = USA and Internet (Standard setting Smart Phone)
With filmicpro.com – MoviePro or Blackmagicdesign you can alter and adjust these settings. - 24 fps = Movies
How to record Audio and Sound for Film:
Audio:
- Audio = 48 kHz is industry standard but 44.1 kHz are still used.
Microphones:
- Dynamic microphones
- Condenser microphones
- Lavalier mic (Clip-on): How To Use A Lavalier Mic | How-To Guide
- Lavalier mic for beginners: Content creators tip!
- Cardioid mic
- Super cardioid mic
- Hyper cardioid mic
- Bidirectional mic
- Shotgun pattern mic
- On camera shotgun mic
- Advanced shotgun/boom mic
- Podcast mic
- Content creators tip on Mic For Your Smartphone!
Headphones:
Choosing the right headphones is essential to create professional videos and movies.
There are two basic types of headphones: OPEN or CLOSED.
If the headphones are Closed, it will eliminate background noise. Which is good if you are in a noisy environment or recording. However, it will not give you accurate EQ or sound.
So Open Back Headphones are ideal for mixing and mastering music, after the recording process.
I use JABRA headphones for online seminars. Here is professional advice by Audio University:
Open-Back vs Closed-Back Headphones for Music Producers, Audiophiles, & Engineers
Codecs: (Export, Premiere Pro / DaVinci Resolve)
- H264 or H265 (PC and Mac) – Check it out: H264 vs H265 for YouTube
- MOV Quicktime (only Mac)
- Often used on social media: MPEG
Contracts:
Before filming (if possible), sign a copyright and usage rights agreement. Templates for this can be found online and adjusted as needed: www.suissimage.ch/download-mustervertraege
Enjoy creating movies and contents!
Miriam S. Reed
P.S. Below you’ll find links to video, music, and sound downloads.
Please read the licensing terms very carefully; since I assume no liability:
HOERSPIELBOX: hoerspielbox.de
FREE MUSIC for Youtube Content: YOUTUBE Free Music Library
CREATIVE COMMONS SOUNDS: FREESOUND.org
FREEPLAY MUSIC: freeplaymusic.com
FREE SOUND EFFECTS: soundjay.com
GEMAFREIE MUSIK: gemafreie-welten.de
SOUNDTAXI: soundtaxi.com
PROUDMUSICLIBRARY: proudmusiclibrary.com
FOOTAGE: motionarray.com
ELEMENTS ENVATO: elements.envato.com
