How to Read a Movie
Roger Ebert’s How to Read a Movie explores how films communicate meaning through composition, movement, and framing, as well as how viewers can analyze these elements to uncover deeper meaning. In his article, he highlights certain components of film that reveal underlying emotions and guide viewers through a director’s intentions.
He specifically touches on positive and negative tendencies in composition. For example, he notes that characters positioned on the right side of the frame are often seen as more dominant or stronger, while those on the left may appear weaker or more passive. Since Western audiences read from left to right, this creates an intuitive way to interpret images and scenes. This method works well in film because it taps into ingrained visual habits, and filmmakers use composition to subtly guide the audience’s emotions.
However, this approach isn’t universal. Cultural differences and the diversity of film audiences mean that interpretation can vary. Ebert’s left-to-right dominance theory makes the most sense for Western viewers who naturally read in that direction, but it may not apply to those who are accustomed to different reading patterns and don’t subconsciously associate left with weakness and right with strength.
That being said, Ebert’s approach encourages a more critical way of watching movies. Rather than passively consuming a film, his method trains viewers to notice patterns in framing, composition, lighting, and movement, providing a strong foundation for understanding visual storytelling.
One-Point Perspective
Kubrick’s video on One-Point Perspective highlights different films that use this technique and showcases how useful it can be. One-point perspective is a technique in filmmaking where all visual elements converge toward a single vanishing point, creating a sense of depth and symmetry. This technique draws the viewer’s eye directly to the center of the frame, emphasizing balance, focus, and, in movies like The Shining, can create a sense of unease.
By compiling various film scenes that use one-point perspective, the video demonstrates how directors use this method to create striking visuals, dramatic tension, and aesthetic appeal.
Examples of Editing Techniques
D. Hulbert’s video, Examples of Editing Techniques, provides a comprehensive overview of various editing techniques that are particularly useful for beginner editors who are just starting out in video editing. The video covers a wide range of techniques, demonstrating how they can be applied to enhance storytelling, pacing, and visual impact.
Some of the key editing techniques discussed include:
- Jump Cut – A sudden transition between shots that creates a jarring effect, often used to show the passage of time or add energy to a scene.
- Slow Motion / Montage – Slowing down footage to emphasize a moment or creating a sequence of shots that condense time and information.
- Wipe Transition – A transition where one shot is replaced by another through a sliding or pushing motion, commonly seen in classic films and stylized editing.
- Still / Thaw Frame – Holding a frame in place (freeze-frame) and then allowing it to continue, often used to highlight a significant moment.
- Form Cut – A transition where a similar shape or object is matched between two different shots, creating a smooth and visually appealing cut.
- Flash Cuts – Very brief, rapid cuts that can create a sense of urgency or chaos.
- Fast Motion / Time Comparison – Speeding up footage to contrast time differences or show progression quickly.
- Tempo / Rhythm – Adjusting the pacing of edits to match the mood or energy of a scene.
- Freeze Frame – Stopping the motion entirely to focus on a specific moment, often used for dramatic or comedic effect.
These techniques help beginner editors understand how different cuts and transitions impact the flow and emotion of a video.
The Shining – Zooms
Ian Kammer’s video essay, The Shining – Zooms, is a synchronized collage of every zoom shot in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 horror masterpiece, The Shining. The video starts off at a slower pace but gradually accelerates, showcasing all the scenes that utilize zoom.
Kubrick’s use of zoom is one of his most iconic filmmaking techniques, heightening tension, isolating characters, and making scenes feel eerier for the viewer. He employs both zoom-ins, which create a sense of unease and psychological intensity, and zoom-outs, which emphasize powerlessness by making characters appear small within the vast, ominous spaces of the Overlook Hotel.
These zooms are a crucial part of The Shining‘s unsettling atmosphere, contributing to its hypnotic, creeping dread. Ian Kammer’s video serves as a simple yet effective way to highlight Kubrick’s masterful use of this technique.