Introduction of Camera Movement in Film Preliminary Exercise

 What is camera movement?

A camera technique describing how the camera is moved and angled for a scene.

How is camera movement useful in film?

Camera movement is used to change the audience's perspective and can have different effects of a scene stretching from changing the mood, giving hints or ideas, or changing how we view a character. It is useful because it gives the director and cinematographers the ability to change the mood of a certain scene and or give cues or more information about the story and its characters and even setting.

Who is responsible for camera movement?

The person responsible for camera movement is the cinematographer and it is up to the director to choose how what type of camera movement is required to be filmed.

           Martin Scorsese                                                      George Lucas

• Wolf of wall street                                                                 All Star Wars movies
• The Departed                                                      Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull
• Casino                                                                                   The land before time

2 camera movement techniques I knew.

Before this lesson I had already known about the camera movements Kown as Tilt and Tracking. After this lesson I learned more about how these two camera movement techniques are used and how they are useful such as tracking that can give the audience more information about the outside setting and can reveal more information while also making the audience question where a character is going and why.

My Camera Work: Camera Composition

 

Camera Composition

Leading Lines Shot

What is the Leading Lines Shot?

The leading lines shot is a shot were leading lines such as hallways, side walks, or doors lead or direct the character and or the story into another room or area of the setting and can often be used to create suspense, horror and is frequently used in scary movies. (ex: The shining, The Conjuring and The Nun.

Deep Focus Shot

What is the Deep Focus Shot?

The deep focus shot is a shot were the character is in focus while the background is blurred this gives a feeling of intenseness and adds the more feeling and distress to the film this shot can also be combined with a close up shot to create moment where the character comes to a realization of something.

What did I learn?

I learned how to use the deep focus shot and directing lines shot amongst many other camera compositions, I have also learned how to recognize these camera compositions to better help me analyze the film I am watching.

My Camera Work: Camera Framing

Camera Framing

 Over the shoulder shot

What is the Over The Shoulder Shot?

The over the shoulder shot is similar to the (POV) shot were it shows the what a character is looking at however it takes place behind the shoulder and is often used to show a conversation between two characters but can also be used to show one character following another and is often  used in horror films.

Why is Over The Shoulder Shot used?

The over the shoulder shot is used to show a conversation between two or more characters or can be used to show someone following another or can even be used to show someone looking at something of importance to create suspense. 

Crowd Shot

What is a Crowd shot?

A crowd shot is a shot of a large group of people used to create a sense of insignificance to the character and shows the world or setting bigger than just themselves.   

Why is a Crowd Shot used?

The Crowd shot is used to give more meaning to the characters surrounding and is often used in times of distress or haste.

What Have I Learned?

I have learned the importance of the over the shoulder shot and the crowd shot and how it is used and how it can be used in films and how it affects the story and the audience.

My Camera Work: Camera Angles

Camera Angles

 Low level shot

What is a low level shot?

A low level shot is a show were the camera is positioned from below a character's center of axis and can be used to display higher strength, intelligence, social status, or importance and is often use in important figures such as Darth Vader or Giants or even War Generals to give the effect of great importance or power and to minimize the importance of the viewer or other characters.

Why is a low level shot used?

A low level shot is used by directors and Cinematographers to give power or importance to characters who were often side character than became main characters using this shot and is often use when introducing the characters to a new setting and can also be used to show the feeling of intimidation that the other characters are feeling.

High Level Shot

What is a high level shot?

A high level shot is a camera angle that gives the character a minimal meaning and is often used to display weakness or less power or importance.

Why is a high level shot used?

A high level shot is often used to minimize the effect or power of a character or can show helplessness within a character and is used on characters who are weaker. Using the high level shot will diminish the power or control a character has while often giving power or control to the opposing character.

What have I learned?

I have learned that the low level shot and high level shot is another amongst many other framing techniques that are used to add feeling or manipulate to the viewers feelings and can be used when filming a character of great importance or unimportance.

My Camera Work: Shot Sizes

Shot Sizes 

 

 Full Shot

What is a Full Shot?

A full shot is a shot size is a shot size that allows a character to fill in the frame giving both the character and setting significance without letting one overpower the other and can often tell the viewer a lot about the story or the character.

Why is the Full Shot used?

A full shot is used to display the character and his or her surrounding emphasizing both the character and setting without giving too much attention to one or the other and is often used by cinematographers in film during important and severe scenes.

Establishing Shot

 What is establishing shot?

The establishing shot is a shot size used to establish the setting, time of day, and weather of a film. It is often used to give hints to the viewer about the tone, purpose, mood and genre of a film. 

Why is the establishing shot used?

It is used to tell the viewer's about the story and how its written while also telling the viewer about the setting which can tell us the social status or class of the characters, for example showing a big luxurious house tells the viewer the characters are high in society while a run down small house can tell us the viewer the characters are poor or low in society. An establishing shot not only tells the viewers of the setting and its character but can also tell the viewer about the genre or what to expect, for example a big scary castle on the top of aa hill in a storm tells the viewer the story is a horror film as for a nice upkeep building with a bright blue sky like the in the picture above tells the viewer the film is more joyful.

    What have I learned?

I have learned that the establishing shot and full shot is used for more than just showing some building or back drop but can be strategically used to portray the setting and genre of the film and can set the mood for the rest of the film, and can also give the viewer more hints and ques of film.