High camera angles make characters appear vulnerable while low angles make them seem powerful. Close-ups emphasize emotion and intimacy. Extreme close-ups reveal thoughts and intentions. Medium shots show body language. Over-the-shoulder shots provide point-of-view and establish relationships. Long shots set the scene and build tension. Point-of-view shots make the audience feel like they see through the character's eyes. Hand-held cameras engage the audience. Zooming and panning draw attention while tracking follows movement.

1. Technical: Camera
work/angles/ movement
(TC) Teri-Anne Chambers

2. Camera shots –
High/ low
High camera angles pointing down towards a character is
usually to represent the character in shot as being vulnerable,
scared and to appear weak.
For example with this scene (Matilda) is shown to look
innocent and weak. We wanted to use high camera angles
in our short film looking down at our character who is suffering
with dissociative identity disorder so we could portray them
as weak. High camera angles are also used to create tension
between the characters for example to make one character
appear stronger than the other, this creates sympathy felt by
the audience for the character in shot, for example with
Matilda, we feel sorrow for her because she is shown to
appear small and a sense of fear on her expression, which is
highlighted by the angle.
On the other hand low-angle shots are used represent the
characters in shot as powerful/ dominant, using low angles
can also make the audience feel they are in the weaker
character that may be shown shoes, making an audience
feel intimated of the superior characters glares and dialogue.
For example in this low angle shot from supernatural
we see the two main characters glaring/ confused expression
down at the person. From this angle they are shown to be
superior/ in charge.

3. Close- up
Top: Seven Bottom: The Master (2012)
This close up shows David Mills, from the movie Se7en/
Seven (1995) pointing a gun towards the camera, which is
intended for the antagonist off screen. The close up of the
detectives face is there to emphasise both sadness and
anger, by using a sepia like effect adds to the pressure
between the two characters. The close up with the gun in
shot makes the audience feel like the gun was intended for
them, adding to the suspension/ tension.
The close up allows the audience feel sympathy towards a
character, as we can clearly see the emotion on their face.
The expression on David’s face is upset and dull, this is to
show that he is grieving for the loss of his wife. With the use of
the gun prop in the scene we can also tell he is angry.
Another example of how close- up are shown to be
indicators of emotion is with the shot from ‘The Master’ of
Peggy (Amy Adams). Her face appears to be shocked/
dazed, with the background being slightly blurred allows the
audience feel sympathetic towards this character, she also
shown to be staring straight into the character, making the
audience feel intimidated/ intrigued by her stare, making
the story more interesting and allows the audience to feel
more connected to the story- line.

4. Extreme close up
Extreme close up of Bella’s eyes from (Twilight). Extreme close ups represent
what a person is thinking/motives, they can also add tension and extreme
intimidation to a scene and they can also show a persons emotions, fears
and personality.
For example, in this shot the close up on her eyes causes an intimidation
effect to the scene, due to the use of red contacts and eyebrow positions,
she is shown to be serious and superior.
However, different close ups on different areas of the body can also be to
represent a persons fear, for example with a close up of a persons eyes after
they have been crying can make an audience feel uncomfortable due to
the intimacy of the scene, making them more intrigued into the plot.
The close up of a persons face allows the audience to ‘inspect’ the
characters emotions, which can add to the tension of the scene.

5. Medium shot (mid-shot)
Medium shots are angles that are shot at a
distance which shows the main characters in the
scene. For example these two medium shots from
The Hunger Games and High School Musical, both
shots clearly reveals the body language and
intentions, for examples with The Hunger Games
shot we can see she is aiming her bow and arrow
at something, likely intending to kill or harm it.
Mid shots will often have buildings, characters
and other settings slightly blurred to bring
attention directly to the main character, like with
these two shots parts pf the background is slightly
blurred.

6. Over the shoulder Over the shoulder shots give us the point of view of a character, it is
also an effective way to have the same characters in the same shot
when there is dialogue between them.
Over the shoulder shots are mainly used in conversations and
motivated cuts, which is editing cuts to make different cuts link
together to make them appear they are one long continuous cut.
These shots are also used to indicate how a character may be feeling,
for example with Twilight we are looking over Edwards shoulder,
revealing Bella’s expressions, where she is staring into the other
characters eyes, this suggests a love interests between the characters.
However o.t.s shots can also establish the intensity between the
characters, for example with Mean Girls, we can see by the expression
on the blond characters face she is disagreeing with the other
character, with an over the shoulder shot being used to establish this
mood.

7. Long shot  Long shots are used to draw the audiences attention to both
the character as well as the background, the shots can be
used to create an ominous affect and to build up the
tension in a scene.
 The characters are usually set in the centre, taking up the
majority of the shot, with enough of hr background being
shown to establish their surroundings, for example with the
top shot of Thor surrounding by a vast landscape, from the
full body image it is clear that he is the main character and
from his body language/position is superior than everything
in the background. His expressions and body language
also tell us that he is looking in the distance, possibly
preparing for a fight.
 Another example how long shots requires the audience to
take note of the character as well as the background is
with Pirates Of The Caribbean, Where we see Captain Jack
Sparrow running away from a land tribe, we can see from
his facial expression that this long shot is for comedy
purposes. With the use of Sparrow running, we can see
from the background that he is out numbered, showing
that long shots can also be used to make a character
appear weak, small and afraid.

8. Two - Shot
Two shots usually contains two characters in the
frame, they can be next to each other or one in
the foreground and another in the background.
Two shots are often used to identify the
relationship between the two characters or to add
confusion or pressure to a scene, for example with
this scene of Harry and Hermione from Harry
Potter, we see both characters standing side by
side, identifying they have a close friendship,
looking up to something off- screen/frame, from
their expressions and by their heads looking
directly up, we can tell that they are looking at
something that makes them afraid/worried.

9. Extreme long shot Extreme long shots are often to establish scenes in a
shot, with a panoramic view being filled with stuff
such as landscapes, buildings/towers and war
grounds. Characters can be closer to the camera
such as with this shot from The Lord Of The Rings or
at a large distance from the camera.
For example with The Lord Of The Rings shot, we
can see a large army behind a Ork character, this
establishes the ominous affect of the film. The shot
makes the audience feel worried for the main
characters and also makes them more interested in
the story, as they can tell a battle is about to take
place.
Extreme long shots are usually to give a general
impression, which is why these type of shots are
often only used for the scenery, with little to none
detail being showed. They can be used in an
opening to a film, or to show parts of a journey
being travelled/ explored.

10. Point of view (P.O.V)
 Point of view/subjective camera is a shot that shows what a character is
seeing, which is being represented as the camera being the eyes. It
makes an audience feel as if they are in the characters shoes,
experiencing what the character would be experiencing.

11. Camera Movement

12. Hand-Held
 Hand-held camera/shooting is the free form technique often used in P.O.V
shots. The camera operator usually holds and films the scenes without
the help of a tripod stand. This technique is often used for the P.O.V shot,
which is often used in fighting or exploring scenes, such as looking
through a haunted house, this engages the audience in the film, making
them feel like they are the character.

13. Zooming
 This technique is the changes of the zoom lens, this technique allows you to
zoom into a persons face, or look at the detail of a landscape. Zoom
allows you to look at the detail in which you are filming, such as the
details of a persons facial expressions to show emotions, zooming allows
you to clearly show the audience the characters emotions and bring
tension to a film.

14. Tracking
 This technique allows you to follow a character in the direction you want in
a scene, the camera is mounted on a camera doll, which is a wheeled
platform on rails that can be pushed at a preferred speed to fit the
theme of the scene, for example this could be used in a running scene
( if you did not want to use hand-held and they were running in a
straight or curved line, depending on the dolly track). Tracking allows
you create smooth movement in a scene.

15. Panning
 Panning is the rotation in a horizontal motion of a camera, panning allows
you to smoothly rotate the camera from side to side, up, down and in a
circle, panning can be established with pov shots, such as a head
looking to the side or shaking their heads with the camera acting as the
persons eyes.