A shot is simply a few seconds of uninterrupted film. Long shots can be landscapes at long range or a full body shot of a person. Shots from a long distance can give the scene a dreamy effect or help introduce the story. These filming effects also convey vulnerability, isolation and drama.
Close-up shots, where a full face is shown, can accentuate the dramatic emotions of a character and draw the audience deeper into the scene.
Lighting, or the lack of lighting, in a scene is an important and versatile filming effect. Certain genres, such as film noir or thrillers, use somber scenes that can include rain or darkness to make the movie more dramatic. A set is flooded with shadows to give a scene suspense, perhaps lighting only what the director deems important. Lighting a character or an object from the side or the bottom makes the subject of the scene appear evil or dangerous.
Cuts are the most common type of editing technique used for dramatic effect, and the number of different cuts that exist and the effects they create make them rather complex. Fades, dissolves, flashbacks and wipes are all different types of cuts. A slow fade or dissolve can denote the passage of time and help ground or develop the story. Flashbacks are often used for dramatic effect to help guide the audience through some story exposition. A back and forth cut between two shots, also called a shot-reverse-shot, is used to heighten the tension during dialog or action happening concurrently in separate locations.
There are two types of music in movies and film, diegetic and non-diegetic. Diegetic music is part of the scene and can be heard by the characters. The music or lyrics can be written into the scene for dramatic effect. Non-diegetic music is the type that is intended only for the audience and cannot be heard by the characters in the scene. Minor tones or sad songs often go with somber scenes to enhance the gloomy mood. Ominous music can make a scene from a thriller more compelling and frightening.