The document discusses various camera shots and movements that directors use to convey information, set the scene, and influence audience perspective including establishing shots, wide shots, crane shots, aerial views, close-ups, point-of-view shots, two shots, shot-reverse-shot, pans, tilts, high and low angles, dolly shots, handheld shots, and zooms. These shots and movements allow directors to portray scale, draw attention to details, show character emotions and conflicts, and give the audience different visual perspectives within a scene. Mastering these techniques gives directors greater creative control over how the audience experiences and interprets what they see on screen.
1. Camera Shots and Movements
Firstshot shouldmainlybe the establishingshot,thisshotallowsthe directortopportrayto the
audience where theyare andwhattheyare observingitshowsthe audience the exteriorof ascene
and givesthemthe vital informationtheyneed
The Wide shot: The wide shotisusedto conveythe scale of a scene,the architecture of an
environment,andalso howa certaincharacter isperforming
Crane shots:This isveryuseful inthe filmindustryasit allows the directorto give aerial viewsof a
certainscene andfrom differentcontrastingangles.
Aerial shot/birdseyeview:Thisshotisa dynamicshotthat allowsthe directortoemphasise the
feelingsandpredicamentof the situationacharacter iscurrentlyin.
Close up:The close up shotmagnifiesacertainobjectandallowsthe directortoa=draw attentionto
a certainobjector character and reveal the importance of this.Itcan alsoadd to scenesby
highlightingcharactersemotions.
Extreme Close up:Thisgoesfurtherthanthe usual close upby illustratingelementsif ascene that
wouldn’tof beenpreviouslynoticeable e.g.a beadof sweatrollingdownsomeone’scheek.
Pointof view:The audience isgiventhe perspective of the characterinorderfor themto understand
the feelingsandemotionsof acertaincharacter. Thisgivesthe audience the chance tobecome the
character and experience theirperspective throughthe actor’seyes.
Overthe shouldershot:Thishsoptdoesn’tive usthe exactview of the characterbut insteaddraws
us in and enablesto effectively becomepartof the scene.Thisgivesthe audience the chance to
interpretthe scene froma neutral stance that can be comparedto eavesdropping.
Two Shot:Thistypicallyisusedtoshow2 people talkingandhavingaconversationansditcan also
be uysedto showconflictbetweentwocentral characters.
Shot/Reverseshot:Thisiswhere one characterisshownto be lookingataanothercharacter and
thenthe othercharacter is shownlookingbackatthat character. Since the charactersare shownto
be lookingIn opposite directionsthe viewerunconsciouslyassumesthattheyare bothtalkingto
each other
Pans:This isa movementthatscansthe scene horizontallyformlefttoright,the camera manmoves
the camera froma stationarypositionfromlefttoright usinghisbodyas make do tri-pod.Thisis
oftenusedtofollowa movingobjectthatisin the middle of the frame.
Tilt:A movementwiththe camerathatscans the scene verticallywhichisotherwise similartothe
pan.
Highangle:Thisshot isusedto filmascene or character form above whichidentifiesthe character
as beingweakandsmall.
2. Low angle:Thishighlightsthe charactersperspective showingtheyare intimidated,weakandafraid.
Dollyshot/Tracking:The cameraisallowedtomove eitheronadollyan objedctwithweel oran
actual track that allowsthe camerato follow the characterwithinthe scene movingalongwiththe
action.
Hand heldshot:The hand heldcameracan give a jerky,onedge effecttothe scene,thistype of shot
totallycontraststhe smoothnessandflow of the scene.Itisfavouredbyfilmmakerswhowantto
add tensiontothe scene andwant to create a grittyrealism.
Zoom/reverse zoom:Thisiswhenthe cameragetsclosertooor movesawayfromthe scene quickly
and effectively.The zoomlensmeansthatthe cameraneeds notbe physicallymoved likeatracking
shot/ dollyshot.