Becoming aware of specific camera functions and scene lighting makes me a more efficient viewer. Before i learned these terms i didn't notice certain techniques that help elaborate and foreshadow the storyline. For example, Orson Wells uses low key lighting to keep the reporters anonymous and show that they are inimportant and that the viewer should pay more attention to Kane instead of the reporters. Wells also uses low key lighting to show evil and high key lighting to show good. Orson Wells also used low and high angles to show the difference in power between characters having a conversation. For example, when Kane and Susan are talking a high angle is used to show that Kane is very powerful and a low angle is used on Susan to show that she is weaker than Kane. High angles, in Citizen Kane, are also used to show greatness or even wealth, for example Xanadu is always viewed in a high camera angle. Orson Wells used many different camera angles and lighting to help distinguish good vs. evil, strong vs. weak and important vs. unimportant, by being aware of these techniques the viewer can have a better understanding of the film as a whole.
