So far, we have looked at areas of production that are common to both stage and screen. In fi lm, costumes, movement, characters and props are all used in similar ways as on stage. Films also have production teams, who are tasked with similar jobs as in theatre.
Even though there are many similarities between screen production and stage production, the big difference is the camera. Scenes are captured with the use of cameras and the addition of sounds, light and special effects. Cameras can shoot images in a variety of ways, called shots. A few basic examples are:
close-up: the camera is very near to the subject long: the subject seems far away from the camera establishing: the camera takes a wide shot, or moves so that the viewer can get a whole picture of where the scene takes place.
A shot continues until the camera cuts to a different angle or scene. These shots can then be edited and enhanced until the desired effect is achieved.
Discuss
1. Think about something you watched on television or in the cinema recently. Were there any props? What costumes did the actors wear?
2. Can you think of any novels that have been made into plays or screenplays or both? (Think back to some of the extracts in this unit.)
