Camera use ideas

1. Ideas for use of Camera
During the making of our media products, collectively we have viewed a range of horror film
trailers in order to determine the camera angles and shots used for each scene. For example
there are often extreme close ups used to emphasise the victim’s emotions and to portray
how terrified they are. Extreme close ups of the villain are generally used for the purpose of
jump scares, often the villain will be wearing a mask or something to cover their identity,
this connotes a sense of fear within the audience and by quickly cutting the scene to horrific
imagery the audience will be frightened. Wide angled establishing shots are used in order to
set the equilibrium, this enables the audience to see what the setting of the town etc was
like before the horror began.
The height of the camera can change the audience’s perception of different characters; for
example, high and low angle shots are used to create power or vulnerability among the
characters. Usually the victim will be shot from above, creating the feel of weakness and
authority over the victim from the antagonist. Camera movements can also make the scene
appear scary, quick and sudden movements can be jumpy and frighten the audience,
whereas slow camera movements are used for building suspense or equilibrium shots. Some
examples of commonly used camera shots include pan, tilt, tacking shots, handheld zoom
and point of view shots; each of these are effective in their own way.
Our own trailer will include close up shots of the victims faces, while they are being
tortured, about to be murdered, this depicts an understanding of the emotions the
character is going through which will be extreme fear. A close up of the villain (the butcher)
for one of the jump scares is a conventional use of the camera. Another conventional shot
will be of the victim from a high angle, this will display the dominance that the villain has
over her and signifies one of many murders. A shot of the teenagers from a car window will
suggest that they are always being watched and stalked like prey. This will be done with a
handheld shot accompanied by heavy breathing to indicate a point of view shot through the
butcher’s eyes. Similarly to the previous shot, a low angle from the bushes or from behind
trees will be used in order to reflect the fact that the teenagers are being followed without
knowing it.