In filmmaking, internal rhythm is created by whatever appears or occurs within the shot of a

moving picture A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

. It can change within a

scene (film) A scene is a dramatic part of a story, at a specific time and place, between specific characters. The term is used in both filmmaking and theatre, with some distinctions between the two. Theatre In drama, a scene is a unit of action, often a s ...

and from scene to scene. For example, in ''

Citizen Kane ''Citizen Kane'' is a 1941 American drama film produced by, directed by, and starring Orson Welles. He also co-wrote the screenplay with Herman J. Mankiewicz. The picture was Welles' first feature film. ''Citizen Kane'' is frequently cited ...

'' the internal rhythm of the scene in which Kane, Leland, Bernstein, and the movers take over the offices of the Inquirer differs from the rhythm of the scene in which Kane demolishes Susan's bedroom or from the scene in which Kane and Susan spend an evening at home at Xanadu.Beaver: Dictionary of Film Terms: The Aesthetic Companion to Film Art, 2006 The scene in the newspaper office starts out slowly and quietly, but the pace is increased until the rhythm of the action is frantic. The demolition of Susan's bedroom begins slowly, becomes hysterical, but slows again when Charles comes across Susan's snow-scene paper-weight. The rhythm of the scene between Kane and Susan at home is heavy and static, yet tense. It is a duration where in the dance is occurring.

Elements used to establish internal rhythm

; Movement of objects and people: a) the tempo of the movement, b) the direction of the movement on the screen, c) the pattern of the movement (balanced, staggered, flowing, chaotic, syncopated, etc.) ; Lenses: the effect of a

telephoto lens A telephoto lens, in photography and cinematography, is a specific type of a long-focus lens in which the physical length of the lens is shorter than the focal length. This is achieved by incorporating a special lens group known as a ''telephoto ...

on movement is different from that of a

wide-angle lens In photography and cinematography, a wide-angle lens refers to a lens whose focal length is substantially smaller than the focal length of a normal lens for a given film plane. This type of lens allows more of the scene to be included in the ...

. ; Lighting ; Camera movement: the rhythm and pattern of a camera's movement is, of course, influential. The movement can be slow, jerky, fast, restless, static, prowling, etc. ; Camera distances: aloof, distant positioning can minimize the effect of movement or create a point of view from which we can appreciate movement or patterns of movement. Close-ups tend to heighten the impact of movement. ; The solidity, shape, texture, and color: fire, smoke, massive arches, masses of people, mountains, deserts, stark red or quiet green objects create different effects. Composition, of course, is vitally important: solid, triangular patterns create a stability that an airy pattern of leaves does not. ; Sound: it is debatable whether sound is internal or

external rhythm In filmmaking, external rhythm, also called cutting rhythm, is established by the duration of the shots that make up a scene. Lengthening or shortening the duration of the shots establishes a rhythmic pattern that can complement or contrast with ...

Elements used to establish internal rhythm

References

See also