camera movement

CAMERA

MOVEMENT

Static Frame

Mobile Frame

How does camera movement function? How does it tell the story or express meaning?

What motivates the camera movement?

• Motivated camera movements are those that are prompted by the characters and events in the film, such as when the camera follows a moving character or reframes the shot to reveal another character or the setting.

• Unmotivated camera movements are those that pertain to the filmmaker’s commentary on characters and events, such as when the camera pushes in on a character who stands perfectly still.

Unmotivated camera movement: The camerapushes in on a stationary character.

Motivated camera movement: The camerafollows a moving character.

How does the camera move?

• Pan• Tilt• Tracking shot or Dolly shot• Crane• Hand-Held Shot• Steadicam

Questions to ask about camera movement

• How does the camera move?• Why does the camera move? Is it motivated

or unmotivated?• What is the effect or meaning of camera

movement?