CLIT1001
ASSIGNMENT - SHOT LIST
Compose a shot-by-shot breakdown of the scene in Citizen Kane when Susan makes her debut at the opera. Your breakdown will consist of
1) a listing of shots, with brief notations about the visual and sonic components of each shot, and
2) a brief analysis of 1-2 paragraphs that describes how these elements work together: what they communicate about the story, the characters, and their relationship; the overall effects and impressions that they create for the viewer
The shot list should cover:
Cinematography
- camera distance (shot size): extreme long shot, long shot, medium shot, closeup, etc.; these can be abbreviated ELS, LS, MS, CU
- camera angle: high, low, eye-level; can abbreviate as HA, LA, EYE
- camera movement (tracking, pan, tilt, etc.) and direction of movement (right, left, up)
Mise-en-scène
- scenery, actors, other visual objects, and how they are positioned
- lighting
Editing
- transition from one shot to the next: dissolve, fade in, cut (match on action, eye-line match)
- length of shot
- patterns like shot — reverse shot, eyeline matches, etc.
Sound
- types of sound present (speech, music, effects), which of these dominate, when they fade