Cinematography (camera angles and shot types)

Cinematography (camera angles and shot types)

1. Cinematography
Shot types/ movement
 Cinematography is the art of photography and camerawork in film-
making.
 When describing different cinematic shot, different terms are used to
indicate the amount of subject matter contained within a frame.

 Extreme long shot or establishing shot can be taken from as much as a
quarter of a mile away and is generally used as a scene- setting,
establishing shot. It normally shows an exterior e.g. the outside of a
building or a landscape and is often used to s how scenes of thrilling
action e.g. in a war film or disaster movie. Shows when and where.
 Wide shot- this is broader shot, showing perhaps parts of the set or
externals- to emphasise size, scale, the dramatic or epic.
 Crane shots- basically dolly shots in the air. A crane is a useful way of
moving a camera, it can move up, down, left, right, swooping in on
action or moving diagonally out of it.
 Aerial shot/ birds eye view- an exciting variation of a crane shot, usually
taken from a helicopter of a drone. This is often used at the beginning of
a film, in order to establish setting a movement. A helicopter or drone is
like a particularly flexible sort of crane- it can go anywhere, keep up with
anything, move in and out of a scene, and convey real drama and
exhilaration.
 Long shot- it is called a long shot because the camera is placed far away
to catch a large area of view. Usually (but not necessarily) the opening
establishing shot of the movie is a long shot. If of a person, we see all of
them, head to toe.
 Medium shot- the medium shot is the most common shot used in
movies. The medium shot should generally contain all the action of the
scene and should be well matched with the flow of the long shot. If of a
person it literally shows from their middle up.
 Close up- this shows very little background, and concentrates ion either
a face or a detail of mise en scene. This shot magnifies the object and
shows the importance of things be it words written on paper or the
expression on someone’s face. If it is of the eyes it would be to show
they are sad or maybe the mouth to show that they are angry.

2.  Extreme close up- as its name suggests an extreme version of the close
up generally magnifying beyond what the human eye would experience
in reality.
 Point of view- this is a shot where we see what the actor sees through
their own eyes, identification, sympathy with the view or a sense of
discomfort/ tension if the point of view is hostile
 Subjective point of view (over the shoulder shot)- this is a shot where
we see what the actor sees but not through their own eyes- this puts the
viewer in the scene but as an accomplice to the action.
 Two shot- this shows a conversation/ link or reaction between
characters or hero/ villain/ antagonist/ protagonist- a connection,
relationship or conflict.
 Shot/ reverse shot- is where one character is
shown looking (often off-screen) at another
character shown looking “back” at the first
character. Since the characters are shown
facing in opposite directions, the viewer
unconsciously assumes that they are looking
at each other (the 180 degree rule).

Angles/movement
 High angle- this shot looks down on the action from a superior position-
the observer dominates, power, higher status
 Low angle- this shot looks up at the action from below, an inferior
position – the observer is vulnerable, weak and low status
 Pan- a movement which scans a scene horizontally. The camera is placed
on a tripod, which operates as a stationary axis point as the camera is
turned, often to follow a moving objects which is kept in the middle of
the frame
 Tilts- a movement which scans a scan vertically otherwise similar to pan.
 Dolly shot- sometimes called a tracking shot. The camera is placed on a
moving vehicle and moves alongside the action, generally following a
moving figure or object. Complicated dolly shots will involve a track
being laid on a set for a camera to follow hence the name. The camera
might be mounted on a car

3.  Hand held shots- the hand held camera can give a jerky/ ragged effect,
totally at odds with the organised smoothness of a dolly shot and is
favoured by filmmakers looking for a gritty realism, which involves the
viewer very closely with the scene.

 Zoom/reverse zoom- this is when the camera gets closer to or moves
away from the action in a very quick movement. The zoom lens means
that the camera need not be moved, like with a dolly/ tracking shot. This
can suggest surveillance, voyeurism and intense observation.

4. Establishing shot- establishes location, tells us where we are Close up- shows character in more detail
Medium shot- shows another character High angle- makes character feel small/ less important
Wide angle- gives a larger view of the setting
Extreme close up- shows character in detail, can show
emotion
POV- can show perspective of the character
Over the shoulder- more depth in
conversations
Low angle shot- makes character seem inferior to other character