Camera shots, angles, movement and composition

This is the first of the 4 technical areas we are covering. You will need to know all the terms off by heart, be able to identify them in a clip, consider the reasons the director has used them and

how they construct representations.

Camerawork

What do you know already about camera shots?

Try to guess or name some of the camera shots shown here on the screen and on your sheet –

don’t write anything down (in pen) yet!

Directing – Camerawork 1/4: Camera Shots

Directing – Camerawork 1/4: Camera Shots

Aerial shot Close-up 2-shot Extreme close-up

Over-the-shoulder POV Long shot Establishing shot

Wide shotMaster shot Mid-shot

Establishing Shot

• This is a shot that sets up, or ‘establishes’ the setting, scene or participants. Usually a long or wide shot at the beginning of a scene (or sequence) that is intended to show things from a distance and to inform the audience with an overview of what is about to occur. A classic establishing shot of Paris

from The Avengers TV programme

Master Shot

• A shot which keeps all the major players in a scene together in one go. Often a long shot, and normally always a wide shot, it can also be an establishing shot but is not always.

Soaps like Eastenders use the master shot frequently to show interactions

Master Shot

• A medium-shot that generally keeps the top half of a body in the shot. Useful for showing some detail or prop whilst still keeping the actor’s face in view.

In this mid-shot the gun is important as well as

the emotions

Mid-shot

• A shot in which the scale of the subject is relatively small. A human in the shot would normally be the height of the screen. Very useful to demonstrate action.

Shows like Doctor Who with lots of action feature many long-

shots

Long-shot

• A shot which shows something relatively large, filling the frame. Close-ups of a person’s face, for example, fill the whole screen, and are commonly used to show detailed emotional reactions.

Emotions are the number one reasons for

using close-ups

Close-up

• A shot which shows something very large. It is commonly part of the body or face, and normally shot with a zoom lens.

Faces are the normal focus of an extreme

close-up

Extreme Close-up

• When the action of a scene is covered panoramically, usually shot with a wide-view lens.

Shows like Lark Rise to Candleford show off their locations with

wide-shots

Wide-shot

• A shot which features two characters, often used to show reactions to events or communication. 3-shot is three, etc.

A 2-shot is great for showing the power

relationships between 2 characters

2 shot

• Quite straightforward really! Used to show you action or conversation but also remind you who is watching it.

The many conversations that occur in soaps

make them full of over-the-shoulder shots

Over-the-shoulder shot

• A way of shooting in which the camera acts as if it were the eyes of someone. This creates an intense relationship between the viewer and character.

The audience almost ‘become’ the character

with a POV shot

Point-of-view shot (POV)

• An extremely high-angle view of a subject, taken from a crane, helipcopter, plane or high building.

The aerial shot can achieve some beautiful

effects

Aerial Shot

Choosing the right camera shot is very important in creating meaning…

• Directors carefully consider how to set up their subject matter to create the effects they are aiming for. They go for the best shot to communicate.

• With this in mind, look at the next slide with a still from Waterloo Road.

• Think about why that particular shot has been selected for the moment shown.

Shot types:What camera angle is this?

Why has the director chosen it for this moment?

Choosing the right camera shot is very important in creating meaning…

• Now work in a pair to discuss why this camera shot has been chosen for that moment…

• Feed-back to the other pair on your table.

Shot types:What camera angle is this?

Why has the director chosen it for this moment?

Shot types:What camera angle is this?

Why has the director chosen it for this moment?

Shot types:What camera angle is this?

Why has the director chosen it for this moment?

Shot types:What camera angle is this?

Why has the director chosen it for this moment?

Shot types:What camera angle is this?

Why has the director chosen it for this moment?

Now you’re going to put yourself in the position of a director, using your

newfound knowledge of camera shots…

• Complete the sheet for the 2 scenes suggested.

8 minutes• Extension: think about how you could employ some camera

movement to add meaning to your scene.

Draw, in the space above, four images, in chronological order, of the 4 camera angles you would choose if you were to portray the following scene:

A couple split up at a party after an argument (soap)

Draw, in the space above, four images, in chronological order, of the 4 camera angles you would choose if you were to portray the following scene:

A maid in a household gets some revenge on her employers (period drama)

• Watch the first 1m 30 seconds of Lark Rise to Candleford (BBC period drama).

• Pick out 2 camera shots and be prepared to discuss why they have been used in this clip.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0doKZFNWZXE