This document provides an introduction to cinematography techniques used in film to communicate meaning to audiences. It defines cinematography and discusses how framing shots, camera angles, and camera movements are used to emphasize important elements and influence audience perspective and emotion. Specific techniques described include close-ups, two-shots, point-of-view shots, high and low angles, pans, and various camera angles and movements. Students are assigned tasks to research additional shot types and techniques and provide examples on a film studies blog.

1. AS Film Studies
Unit FM1
Introduction to Micro Features:
Cinematography

2. Lesson Aims
By the end of the lesson you will be able to:
• Understand what cinematography is
• Deconstruct how cinematography is used in
film extract to communicate meaning

3. Definition: Cinematography
• The way in which the camera is used to communicate
meaning
• Composition of visual elements
• Communicates essential information to the audience
• Made up of shots (framing), angles and movements, lighting
can also be included

4. Framing the shot
• The “framing” of a shot simply indicates where the
cinematographer has placed the borders of an image.
• Framing, the overall composition of the shot, is the
placement of people and objects within the border of the
film frame.
• Composition greatly influences the audience’s experience
of a movie and allows the filmmaker to emphasize people
or objects that hold more importance than others.

5. Close Up (CU)

6. Close Up (CU)
• The closer we get to a character,
the more sympathy we are likely to
feel. The longer we are held in
close proximity, the more
sympathy we feel
• The close up can also be used to
evoke fear or evulsion when the
audience is forced to be close
proximity to a characters already
established as a hated antagonist.

7. Extreme Close Up (ECU)

8. Extreme Close Up (ECU)
• An extreme close up
shows us objects and
people differently than
we see them.
• It calls attention to the
subjects, making them
more memorable visually
• If also separates the
scene form other scenes,
underscoring the
importance of the scene
dramatically

9. Two Shot

10. Two Shot
• A two shot is when two
characters are filmed in a
single shot – usually from
the mid-chest up.
• The two shot can show
harmony or disharmony
depending on the scene
• Whenever mother and
daughter are in the same
scene they most often
appear in a balanced two
shot to connote their
symbolic harmony

11. Two Shot
• The use of the
imbalanced two shot
shows the disharmony
between husband and
wife
• Ada looks away and her
husband looks at the
ground, it contrasts with
the harmonious shots of
Ada with her daughter

12. Over the Shoulder Shot

13. Over the Shoulder Shot
• Similar to the two shot,
characters share the
same space. The
difference is that one of
the two characters faces
us, the other doesn’t.
• The physical connection
can be used to convey
information about the
relationship. What is
conveyed is dependent on
staging and the storyline

14. Point of View

15. Point of View
• The POV shot generally
leads sympathy to the
protagonist by allowing
us to see through the
characters eyes
• Conversely, it can instil
fear by forcing the same
intimacy upon us with the
antagonist

16. High Angle

17. High Angle
• High angle shots make the
subject appear small and
vulnerable
• The high angle is used for
an unguarded moment
showing her vulnerability;
the over the shoulder show
her public persona, tough,
shrill and embittered
• What’s interesting is how
much sympathy the first
high angle lends to the
second shot

18. Low Angle

19. Low Angle
• Low angle make subjects
appear larger than life
• It transfers power to the
subject, making it appear to
dominate objects beneath it
• By merely shifting camera
angles, a director can
suggest not only the ups and
downs in a character's
fortune but also the attitude
an audience should adopt
toward any personality or
action in the film.

20. Pan
• A pan occurs when the
camera is seated on a tripod
and pivots to the left or the
right (can be handheld)
• In the process of moving
the camera new
information is revealed

21. Task #1
• Set up a Film Studies blog
• When requested to homework can be posted
here
• The following tasks can be done on the blog
once set up
• Please email your blog addresses to me
• rajib@welling.bexley.sch.uk

22. Task #2
• Find out what the descriptions are for the
following shot types and why they would be
used. Try to find examples of them and
include screen shots
• Medium Shot
• Long Shot
• Extreme long shot/ Establishing Shot
• Medium long shot
• Canted/ Dutch Tilt

23. Task #3
• Find out what the • Tilt up
descriptions are for the • Tilt down
following angles and • Tracking
movements and why
they would be used. Try • Dolly
to find examples of • Crane
them and include • Handheld
screen shots/ video • Aerial/ Birdseye
• Zoom