Camera Shots/Camera Shots/Camera Angles/Camera Angles/

Camera MovementsCamera Movements

The Building Blocks of Cinema.The Building Blocks of Cinema.

•FrameFrame•ShotShot•SceneScene•SequenceSequence

The ShotThe Shot

• A shot defines a continuous camera take with out A shot defines a continuous camera take with out disruption.disruption.

• May be referred to as a panel in pre-production May be referred to as a panel in pre-production storyboards.storyboards.

• May be referred to as a take, during production.May be referred to as a take, during production.• May be referred to as a clip in post-production, May be referred to as a clip in post-production,

editing.editing.

The SceneThe Scene

• A scene defines the place or setting A scene defines the place or setting where the action is being filmed.where the action is being filmed.

• Each new place (setting) maybe a new Each new place (setting) maybe a new scene. scene.

• Borrowed from theater. Where acts Borrowed from theater. Where acts were broken down with different were broken down with different scenery or settings.scenery or settings.

The SequenceThe Sequence

• A sequence is a series of scenes, or shots A sequence is a series of scenes, or shots that complete a subject or idea. that complete a subject or idea.

• A sequence may occur in a single setting A sequence may occur in a single setting (place), or in several settings (places). (place), or in several settings (places).

• A sequence ends when the subject matter A sequence ends when the subject matter changes.changes.

Camera Shot

Camera ShotCamera Shot

• This refers to the This refers to the size of the subject in the size of the subject in the frameframe. (How much of the person/subject . (How much of the person/subject we will see.)we will see.)

Extreme Long Shot

Extreme Long Shot

The Extreme Long Shot (ELS) is used to portray a vast area from an apparently long distance. An ELS is used to impress the viewer with the immense scope of the setting or scene.Often, the ELS makes it hard for the audience to connect with the characters emotionally.

Long Shot

Long Shot

• The Long Shot (LS) The Long Shot (LS) shows the entire area shows the entire area where the action takes placewhere the action takes place. The whole . The whole subject is in frame. subject is in frame.

Medium Shot

Medium Shot

• The convention of the Medium Shot (MS), is The convention of the Medium Shot (MS), is (when framing a person) approximately (when framing a person) approximately half of half of their body is in shot, (from waist up).their body is in shot, (from waist up). More More subtle performances and detailed actions can subtle performances and detailed actions can be seen. The Medium Shot is a good framing be seen. The Medium Shot is a good framing for for conversation conversation scenes between characters, scenes between characters, especially if hand movements are part of the especially if hand movements are part of the performance.performance.

• Medium two shot (two people)Medium two shot (two people)

Medium Long Shot

• The MLS can The MLS can frame one or frame one or two people two people standing up, standing up, that is, their that is, their entire body.entire body.

Close Up

Close Up

• The Close Up Shot (CU) The Close Up Shot (CU) shows a detail of shows a detail of the overall subject or actionthe overall subject or action (the head or (the head or hands if it is a person). Close ups of hands if it is a person). Close ups of characters are a good way of characters are a good way of engaging engaging the the audience into the audience into the character emotionallycharacter emotionally. . As we get closer to the character, we As we get closer to the character, we begin to begin to lose the backgroundlose the background information, information, therefore emphasizing the subject, rather therefore emphasizing the subject, rather than the background. than the background.

Extreme Close Up

Extreme Close Up

• With the Extreme Close Up (ECU), With the Extreme Close Up (ECU), a small a small detail of the subject is framed, such as a detail of the subject is framed, such as a part of a human face, a hand, or foot.part of a human face, a hand, or foot. This This unnatural closenessunnatural closeness to the subject is good to the subject is good at bringing the viewer into intimate at bringing the viewer into intimate relationship with the subject.relationship with the subject.

• Sometimes called a “tight close up.”Sometimes called a “tight close up.”

Eye Level Shot

Shot at Shot at eye-level, eye-level, the the impression impression is neutral.is neutral.

Cary Grant, Cary Grant, North by NorthwestNorth by Northwest (Hitchcock)(Hitchcock)

Reverse Angle Shot

Usually the Usually the camera looks at the subject,camera looks at the subject, but but occasionally the camera occasionally the camera shows what the subject is shows what the subject is seeingseeing.. (This is also known as a point-of-view (This is also known as a point-of-view shot.)shot.)

Often used when there are two characters. We cut Often used when there are two characters. We cut back and forth between the two characters talking. back and forth between the two characters talking.

Shot/Reverse Shot(Reverse Angle Shot)

Shot Reverse Shot

Camera Movements

Pan

• PAN: To pivot the camera PAN: To pivot the camera horizontally,horizontally, moving the lens to the left (pan left) or to moving the lens to the left (pan left) or to the right (pan right).the right (pan right).

• NOTE: Unlike the trucking shot, the NOTE: Unlike the trucking shot, the camera does camera does notnot move move from its position on from its position on the tripod. the tripod.

Pan

Talent

Pan Left Pan Right

Camera

Tilt

• TILT: To pivot the camera TILT: To pivot the camera verticallyvertically, , moving the lens up and down.moving the lens up and down.

• Camera Camera does does notnot move move from its from its position on the tripod.position on the tripod.

Tilt

TalentCamera

Tilt Down

Tilt Up

Camera

Dolly/Truck

• DOLLY: To move the camera and its dolly DOLLY: To move the camera and its dolly toward the subject (dolly in) or away from the toward the subject (dolly in) or away from the subject (dolly out.)subject (dolly out.)

• TRUCK: To move the camera and its dolly to the TRUCK: To move the camera and its dolly to the left left (truck left) or to the right (truck right).(truck left) or to the right (truck right).

• NOTE: The camera (and its tripod) is being NOTE: The camera (and its tripod) is being moved.moved.

Dolly/Truck

Truck Left Truck Right

Talent

Dolly Out (or Back)

Dolly In

Camera

Camera is Camera is on a “Dolly”on a “Dolly”

Truck/Crane Shot

FROM THE SET OF "AT THE PEAK OF THE HILL"

Basic Camera Angles

High Angle

The The camera is camera is positioned positioned above the above the subject, subject, looking looking down.down.

Makes the Makes the subject subject seem seem smaller. smaller.

Low Angle

The The camera is camera is positioned positioned below the below the subject, subject, looking up.looking up.

Makes the Makes the subject subject seem seem larger. larger.

Subjective camera angleSubjective camera angle

• Involves the audience directly with the Involves the audience directly with the characters in the scene.characters in the scene.

• Players may look directly into the camera.Players may look directly into the camera.

• Camera acts as the players eyes. Camera acts as the players eyes.

Objective camera angleObjective camera angle

• When the audience views what is happening as an When the audience views what is happening as an unseen observer.unseen observer.

• The audience feels as though they are eaves dropping The audience feels as though they are eaves dropping on the characters in the scene.on the characters in the scene.

• Objective camera angles are impersonal.Objective camera angles are impersonal.• The players in a scene are unaware of the camera and The players in a scene are unaware of the camera and

never make eye contact.When filming an objective never make eye contact.When filming an objective camera angle if any person in the scene looks into the camera angle if any person in the scene looks into the camera the shot is ruined and will need a re-take.camera the shot is ruined and will need a re-take.

Assignment

• In the next few slides, name In the next few slides, name the shot, angle, or camera the shot, angle, or camera movement.movement.

Name the Shot

The Golden Compass, New Line Pictures

Medium Long Medium Long ShotShot

Name the Shot

Captain Jack

Close UpClose Up

Name the Shot

Nicole Kidman, The Golden Compass, New Line Pictures

Medium ShotMedium Shot

Name the Shot

Russell Crowe as Maximus, Gladiator

Close UpClose Up

Name the Shot

Johnny Depp, Sleepy Hollow

Long ShotLong Shot

Name the Shot

Troy, Warner Bros. Pictures

Extreme Long ShotExtreme Long Shot

Name the Angle

The Golden Compass

Low Angle Low Angle

Name the Shot

Russell Crowe,

3:10 to Yuma, Focus Pictures

Medium ShotMedium Shot

Camera Movement?

John Ford directing The Searchers

DollyDolly

Name the Angle

Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock

High AngleHigh Angle