Lesson 1Editing and rhythm: continuity editing, montage, cross-cutting, jump cuts, tempo and pacingThis section examines editing as the organisation of time and space, covering continuity editing, montage, cross-cutting, jump cuts, and how tempo, pacing, and shot duration shape narrative clarity, tension, and viewer engagement.
Continuity editing and invisible styleMontage theory and associative editingCross-cutting, parallel action, suspenseJump cuts, ellipsis, and temporal gapsPacing, shot length, and viewer attentionLesson 2Narrative structure and temporality: linear vs non-linear, flashbacks, ellipses, story vs plotThis section explores narrative structure and film temporality, distinguishing story and plot, linear and nonlinear forms, and devices such as flashbacks, ellipses, and voiceover that reorder time and shape audience knowledge.
Story vs plot and narrative discourseClassical three-act and alternative formsNonlinear narration and flashbacksEllipses, gaps, and viewer inferenceVoiceover, focalization, and reliabilityLesson 3Music and scoring: leitmotif, diegetic music, emotional cueing, spottingThis section explores film music and scoring, including leitmotifs, diegetic and nondiegetic music, spotting strategies, and how harmony, rhythm, and instrumentation cue emotion, structure scenes, and guide audience interpretation.
Leitmotif and thematic developmentDiegetic, nondiegetic, and source scoringSpotting sessions and cue placementMusical style, genre, and audience expectationLesson 4Mise-en-scène elements: set design, costume, props, performance blockingThis section examines mise-en-scène as everything placed in front of the camera, including sets, costume, props, and blocking. It explores how these elements construct world, character, theme, and tone across genres and periods.
Set design, architecture, and worldbuildingCostume, makeup, and character codingProps, symbols, and narrative motifsBlocking, proximity, and power dynamicsLesson 5Camera movement and lenses: dolly, tracking, handheld, POV, focal length effects on meaningThis section analyses camera movement and lenses, including dolly, tracking, handheld, and POV shots, as well as focal length and depth of field, to show how they shape perspective, scale, and emotional identification.
Dolly, tracking, and Steadicam movementHandheld style, instability, and realismPOV shots and subjective alignmentFocal length, distortion, and scaleDepth of field and selective focus cuesLesson 6Sound design basics: diegetic vs nondiegetic, room tone, ambient soundThis section explains basic sound design concepts, distinguishing diegetic and nondiegetic sound, clarifying room tone and ambience, and examining how sound perspective, fidelity, and silence shape mood, realism, and narrative emphasis.
Diegetic vs nondiegetic sound functionsRoom tone, ambience, and continuitySound perspective and spatial realismSilence, minimalism, and negative spaceLesson 7Performance analysis: acting styles, star persona, casting choices and subtextThis section focuses on performance analysis, considering acting styles, star persona, casting choices, and subtext. It explores gesture, voice, blocking, and how performance interacts with framing, editing, and genre conventions.
Classical, method, and stylized actingGesture, facial expression, and micro-behaviorStar persona, typecasting, and imageCasting, chemistry, and narrative stakesLesson 8Lighting and color theory in film: high/low key, color palettes, symbolism, practicalsThis section investigates lighting and colour in film, covering high-key and low-key setups, motivated and practical sources, colour palettes, and symbolic uses of hue, saturation, and contrast to shape mood, depth, and theme.
Three-point lighting and key stylesHigh-key, low-key, and contrast ratiosMotivated light, practicals, and realismColor palettes, harmony, and dissonanceColor symbolism, genre, and character arcsLesson 9Shot composition and framing: rule of thirds, aspect ratios, deep focus, staging in depthThis section analyses shot composition and framing, including rule of thirds, aspect ratios, deep focus, and staging in depth. It shows how visual balance, scale, and perspective guide attention and construct character relations.
Rule of thirds and visual balanceAspect ratios and field of viewDeep focus, shallow focus, and meaningStaging in depth and blocking layersFraming, offscreen space, and point of view
