FilmFilmTechniquesTechniques

Camera shots and anglesCamera shots and angles

ContentsContents

Film techniques – shot sizeFilm techniques – shot size Extreme long shotExtreme long shot Long shotLong shot Medium shotMedium shot Close-upClose-up Extreme close-upExtreme close-up

Film techniques – camera anglesFilm techniques – camera angles High-angle shotHigh-angle shot Eye-level shotEye-level shot Low-angle shotLow-angle shot

FilmFilm

Films tell us about people, places, stories Films tell us about people, places, stories and ideas. A good story is part of a film’s and ideas. A good story is part of a film’s appeal but so is the way in which the film-appeal but so is the way in which the film-maker brings that story to the screen.maker brings that story to the screen.

If we put a series of images together, we can If we put a series of images together, we can create a visual text that tells a story. The create a visual text that tells a story. The ways the images are shot and sequenced ways the images are shot and sequenced help to construct the story and help to construct the story and communicate meaning.communicate meaning.

Extreme long shotExtreme long shot

An extreme long An extreme long shot shows the shot shows the landscape of a film. landscape of a film. It is often used in a It is often used in a film’s opening to film’s opening to give information give information about where the about where the action is taking action is taking place and to signal place and to signal the atmosphere of the atmosphere of the film.the film.

Long shotLong shot

A long shot A long shot includes a full-includes a full-length human length human figure and some of figure and some of the surroundings. the surroundings. This shot shows This shot shows the link between the link between the characters and the characters and their environment.their environment.

Here there is a connection between the characters and their traditions which is represented by the sacred Maori house

Medium shotMedium shot

A medium shot A medium shot usually shows a usually shows a person from the person from the waist up. We can waist up. We can view their facial view their facial expressions and expressions and body language, body language, and get to know and get to know the character more the character more closely.closely.

Close-upClose-up

A close-up contains A close-up contains almost no background, almost no background, but focuses on the but focuses on the whole of an object or a whole of an object or a person’s face. Close-up person’s face. Close-up shots are used to give shots are used to give detail, often of a detail, often of a character’s personality, character’s personality, and can reveal the and can reveal the thoughts and feelings thoughts and feelings of a character.of a character.

Background can be seen

Eyes down cast, a downward vector

Extreme close-upExtreme close-up

An extreme close-An extreme close-up focuses on part up focuses on part of an object or of an object or face; for example face; for example an eye. Extreme an eye. Extreme close-up shots are close-up shots are often used to show often used to show tension.tension.

This emphasises the crying and distress of the baby

High-angle shotHigh-angle shot

The angle of the The angle of the camera helps to set camera helps to set the mood of the film.the mood of the film.

In a high-angle shot, In a high-angle shot, the camera is above the camera is above the person or object, the person or object, often making the often making the person or object person or object appear weak, inferior appear weak, inferior or under pressure.or under pressure.

The boys are in a weak position

Eye-level shotEye-level shot

An eye-level angle An eye-level angle shows a character shows a character at eye-level to the at eye-level to the camera, camera, encouraging the encouraging the audience to see the audience to see the character as being character as being on an equal footing on an equal footing with themselves with themselves and other and other characters.characters.

A Low-angle shotA Low-angle shot

In a low-angle shot, In a low-angle shot, the camera is the camera is below the person below the person or object, usually or object, usually making that person making that person or object seem or object seem powerful and powerful and important.important.

The whale becomes dominant and threatening

Point of viewPoint of view

A POV or point of A POV or point of view shot shows the view shot shows the audience the scene audience the scene through the eyes of through the eyes of one of the one of the characters. This characters. This gives the audience gives the audience an idea of being in an idea of being in the scene and the scene and experiencing the experiencing the action or event. action or event.

Pan, track, TiltPan, track, Tilt

Pan – a pan shot is the movement of the Pan – a pan shot is the movement of the camera lens across a scene. This shows a camera lens across a scene. This shows a number of aspects in a scene, it may be number of aspects in a scene, it may be long, medium or close up. A pan shot can long, medium or close up. A pan shot can emphasise a group reaction to an event emphasise a group reaction to an event for example.for example.

Track – a tracking shot follows a character Track – a tracking shot follows a character or a car as it moves along. or a car as it moves along.

Tilt – The camera lens moves up or down. Tilt – The camera lens moves up or down. This changes the importance or status of a This changes the importance or status of a character or action.character or action.

AnalysisAnalysisWhat type of shot is What type of shot is this?this?

What is the effect of What is the effect of using this type of using this type of shot?shot?

Why is the background Why is the background included in the shot?included in the shot?

What visual techniques are seen in this shot?What visual techniques are seen in this shot?

What meaning does this convey?What meaning does this convey?

Rewrite these sentences and then put Rewrite these sentences and then put into a paragraph into a paragraph

down expression is facial Her and looking serious down expression is facial Her and looking serious she is.she is.

The creates of feelings her eye line downward a The creates of feelings her eye line downward a revealing vector negative thoughts or direction.revealing vector negative thoughts or direction.

shown grandmother is The by a reveals close shot shown grandmother is The by a reveals close shot up her which emotions.up her which emotions.

connects character to the This background the connects character to the This background the this case which is the in kitchen.this case which is the in kitchen.

is to background the frame the right She of with is to background the frame the right She of with positioned the clearly seen.positioned the clearly seen.

Rewrite these sentences Rewrite these sentences The grandmother is shown by a close up The grandmother is shown by a close up

shot which reveals her emotions. Her shot which reveals her emotions. Her facial expression is serious and she is facial expression is serious and she is looking down. The vector of her eye looking down. The vector of her eye line creates a downward direction line creates a downward direction revealing negative thoughts or revealing negative thoughts or feelings. She is positioned to the right feelings. She is positioned to the right of the frame with the background of the frame with the background clearly seen. This connects the clearly seen. This connects the character to the background which in character to the background which in this case is the kitchen.this case is the kitchen.

Write a paragraph analysing this shotWrite a paragraph analysing this shot