camera angles and movements

Camera Angles

Name:

Deadline: Friday 16th SeptemberSent to G Teasdale via email before the

lesson

Challenge

You are to independently research the following camera angles and movements and create a

visual representation, as well as a description of how the technique is used within the film

industry.

Camera Angle: Close UpImage example:

How am I used in a film?Close up shots are used in films in order to focus on an emotion that one particular character may be showing. For example if a character was sad, the close up shot would capture the expression on their face and possibly a tear running down their face. This is much more effective than showing their emotion in a wide shot because the close up focuses the audience to their emotional state alone.

Camera Angle: Establishing ShotImage example:

How am I used in a film?Establishing shots are used to show the audience where the story will be told for the following scenes. For example before showing two actors talking in a room, the camera would have a shot of the building in which the room is located.

Camera Angle: Extreme wide shotImage example:

How am I used in a film?

The reasoning for this shot is to demonstrate a characters surroundings. For example if it is established that a character is in a building, this shot would show what is around the building, such as a forest or a busy city.

Camera Angle: Wide shotImage example:

How am I used in a film?Wide shots are used to show a characters surroundings, whilst their in the shot. This is to show the surrounding they're directly in and usually the character takes up most of the wide shot. For example it may show a character sitting in a chair in the middle of a wide room.

Camera Angle: Mid shotImage example:

How am I used in a film?Mid shots are when a character is placed in the middle of a shot so that they are the main focus in the shot. In a film this would be used to demonstrate a characters action as the main point for the shot, for example a man laughing in the centre of the camera shot.

Camera Angle: Medium close upImage example:


The mid close up is half way between a mid shot and a close up. It is used in film to show the detail in an actors face without the viewer being uncomfortably close to them.

Camera Angle: Extreme close upImage example:


Extreme close up shots are often used to intensify an emotion that a character is already showing, for example if the character was feeling tense, the camera would mainly focus on frown lines.

Camera Angle: CutawayImage example:


Cutaway shots are usually used for suspense or horror, mainly to make the audience feel on edge or afraid to look at the screen. For example a sudden cutaway of a horrific image such as a bloody corpse will create suspense for the audience.

Camera Angle: Two-shotImage example:


Two-shot Camera angles’ main function is to show a conversation between two people. For example the camera would look at a character from the first character’s point of view, and then switch to the second characters point of view looking at the first character.

Camera Angle: Over the shoulderImage example:


Over the shoulder shots similarly are used to show a conversation or conflict between two characters, however as the title suggests the camera shoots over the actors shoulder rather than acting as the characters eyes.

Camera Angle: Point of view (POV)Image example:


This is simply seeing what the character sees in their eyes. This would be used in film to show the audience an event or object the same way the character would so that the audience is in the actors shoes and feels the same emotion.

Camera Movement: TrackingImage example:


Tracking is when the camera follows a subject on set. For example if a character was running through the woods the camera would follow the character whilst running.

Camera Movement: TiltImage example:

How am I used in a film?A tilt or “Dutch” angle is used to create a feeling for the audience. This is usually to imply something has gone wrong or twisted, much like the camera shot itself.

Camera Movement: ZoomImage example:

How am I used in a film?Zoom is used to slowly change how the audience feels towards a character, for example from a distance the characters emotion may not be that clear, but as the camera zooms in closer to the characters face they will be able to tell the emotion they are showing on the surface, such as anger or sadness.

Rules of FramingDetailed explanation

How am I used in a film?Framing is the composition of objects and characters in a shot. This is used to keep the audiences attention on a specific subject as it will stand out compared to the rest of the shot.

The rules of thirdDetailed explanation


The rule of third is described as guidelines to create a correct composition for a shot in a film. The guidelines are that a shot should be divided into 9 separate squares and 3 separate columns, along side these columns should be an object or character that matches the lines or into their intersections, this is naturally more appealing to the human eye. Here is an example as shown below.

The rule of third in film is used to set up the composition and layout of a set’s objects. As well as this, the rule of third’s columns also manipulates stage direction to match the lines of the 9 squared grid or to its intersections.

camera angles and movements

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