Media AS notes

1. Ben Anderson MediaCoursework
Camera shots & Movements
Shots
Firstshot isthe Establishingshot of where youare and whatsurroundsyou.Thisshowsthe audience
whatis happeningandwhere the filmisfirstlocated.
Nextisthe Wide shot whichgivesyouloadsof informationespeciallythe scale of how big/small
perhapspartsof setor externals.The scale,dramaticorepic.
Crane shots basicallydolly-shots-in-the-air.A crane isa useful wayof movingacamera- it movesup,
down,left,right,swoopinginonactionor movingdiagonallyinfrontof it.
Aerial shot/Birds eye view-Anexcitingvariationof acrane shot,usuallytakenfroma helicopter.This
isoftenusedat the beginningof afilm,inorderto establishsetting andmovement.A flexibleshot.
Close Up-Thisshowsverylittlebackground,andconcentratesoneitheraface,or a detail or a mise
enscence.Thisshotmagnifiesthe objectandshowsthe importance of things,be itwordswrittenon
paper,or the expressionsonpeople’sfaces.Thiscanalsoshow emotion.
Extreme Close Up-Asitnamessuggests,anextreme versionof the close up,generallymagnifying
beyondwhatthe humaneye wouldexperience in reality.An extreme close-upof aface,for instance
onlymouthface.
Point ofview-Thisisa shotwere we see whatthe actor seesthroughtheirowneyes-
identification/sympathywiththe viewerora sense of discomfort/tensionif the pointof view is
hostile.
Subjective pointof viewor Over the shoulderShot-Thisisa shotwere we see whatthe actors sees
but notthrough theirowneyes-thisputsthe viewerinthe scene butanaccomplice toit.
Two Shot-Thisshowsa conversation/linkora reactionbetweencharactersor
hero/villain/antagonist/protagonist-aconnection,relationshipor conflict
Shot/Reverse shot- Is where one characteris shownlooking(oftenoff-screen) atanothercharacter,
and then the othercharacter isshownlooking“back”at the othercharacter.Since the characters
are shownfacinginopposite directions,the viewerunconsciouslyassumesthattheyare lookingat
each other(180 degree rule).
Angles/Movements
Pans/tripod-physicallymovingthe camerawhichscansthe horizonof the scene.The camerais place
on a tripod,whichoperatesasa stationaryaxispointasthe camera is turned,oftentofollow a
movingobjectwhichiskeptinthe middle of the frame.
Tilts-A movementwhichscansascene vertically,otherwisesimilartoa pan.
High Angle-Informationaboutthe characterasit looksdownonthe character froma superior
position.The observerseespower,higherstatus,dominate.

2. Ben Anderson MediaCoursework
Low Angle- Thishot looksupat the actionfrombelow,aninferiorposition-theobserveris
vulnerable,weak
Dolly Shots-Sometimescalledatrackingshotthe camera isplacedon a movingvehicle andmoves
alongside withthe actiongenerallyfollowinganobjectora character.Complicated shotswill
involve atrack beinglaidonsetforthe camera,hence the name.
Hand heldshots-The handheldcameracan givesa jerky,raggedeffect, totallyatoddswiththe
organisedsmoothnessof adollyshot,andis favouredbyfilmmakerslookingforagrittyrealismwith
involvesthe viewerverycloselywithascene.
Zoom/Reverse Zoom-Thisiswhenthe cameragetscloserto othermovesawayfrom the actionina
veryquickmotion.The zoomlensmeansthatthe camera needsnotto be movedlike withatracking
or dollyshot.Thissuggestssurveillance,voyeurismandintenseobservation.