Camera Angles and Shots

Camera Angles and Shots

• 1.
  Shot: The distance betweenthe camera and the subject. Angle: The level at which the camera is held relative to the subject. Movement: Whether the camera is static or in motion during a shot.
• 2.
  Gives an overviewof the scene and allows the audience to see where things are occurring. Often used at the start of a scene to ‘establish’ where characters are in relation to each other, setting and props. Difficult to show details.
• 3.
  Usually shows the upper-halfof a person’s body. Good for conversations. It allows you to fit one or two people into the shot. Can still see the setting of the scene in the background.
• 4.
  Focusses on aspecific thing, such as an actor’s face or an object. It is very good for drawing the audience’s attention to important things.
• 5.
  Focusses in alot of detail on a specific detail of a person or object, such as a person’s eye or a word written on a piece of paper. Provides even greater emphasis.
• 6.
  The camera isat the eye-level of the actor, or is aimed straight at the object. This is a standard shot. Most of your shots will be this.
• 7.
  The camera isabove the eye-level of the actor, or looks down at the object. This can make the person etc. seem smaller, weaker, less intimidating, scared, sadder or less threatening.
• 8.
  The camera isbelow the eye-level of the actor, or looks up at the object. This can make the person etc. seem bigger, more powerful, confident, threatening or overwhelming.
• 9.
  The camera isheld at an obviously slanted angle. Conveys uncertainty, chaos or madness.
• 10.
  The shot istaken as if it is from the point of view of a specific character (i.e. as if we are looking through their eyes). Need to establish whose perspective you are looking from, usually through a proceeding close-up shot.
• 11.
  One actor’s faceis shown, while the back of the other actor’s head is visible in the foreground in frame. Often used for dialogue scenes.
• 12.
  The camera isin a fixed position and does not move. Usually the camera will be attached to a tripod in order to keep it steady. This is a standard shot.
• 13.
  Smooth camera movements. Panning iswhere you turn the camera horizontally. Tilting is where you turn the camera vertically. Both can be used to shift focus, bring new things into a scene or to reveal information.
• 14.
  A smooth shotwhere the camera moves as steadily as possible. Slows down pacing, allows for movement and shifting the audience’s focus.
• 15.
  The camera moves, usuallyin order to follow a character, with small shuddering movements. Often used for point- of-view movement shots as it helps to put the audience in the position of a character.