Camera shots and movements

1. Camera Shots and Movements
Establishingshot (/wide angle shot/extreme longshot): itdescribeswhere youare,showingasmuchinformationas
possible, generally shows an exterior as it’s a scene-setter
Wide shot: gives loads of information, shows size and scale (how big/how small/how chaotic)
Crane shot (/dollyshot): useful wayof movingthe camera, givessense of movement,givesversatility,highupinthe
air/aerial
Ariel shot (/bird’s eye view): variation of crane shot, generally taken from a helicopter, helps establish setting and
movement at the start of a film, versatile as the camera can keep up with everything
Close up: verylittle background,forcesthe audience tolookinaspecificplace,addsweighttoimportance of objects,
centralises focus on certain image, can highlight emotion, a very intimate shot
Extreme close up: extreme versionof close up,suchasjust someone’seyes,magnifyingbeyondwhatthe humaneye
would experience in reality
Point of view: seeingthroughthe actor’s eyes,the audience become the character,audience identifies/sympathises
with the character, or builds tension/hostility
Subjective pointofview(/overthe shouldershot): seeingwhatthe actorseesbutnotthroughtheireyes,puttingthe
viewer in the scene but as an accomplice to the action, an observer
Two shot: shows a conversation/link or reaction betweencharacters, generally when two characters are in the shot
interacting, effective to show connection, relationships or conflict
Shot/reverse shot: the shot is on one person, then cuts to the other person facing the opposite way and then cuts
back to the firstperson,onlyone personinthe shotat once but as theyface differentdirectionsthe viewerassumes
they are looking at one another (180 degree rule)
Pans: a movementwhichscansa scene horizontally,usingatripodso the cameraoperatesona stationaryaxisasthe
camera is turned in order to follow a moving object or cover a scene, important positioning of things in the scene
Tilts: a movementwhichscansascene vertically,otherwisesimilartoapan, effectivelyusedincomedytoexaggerate
height etc.
High angle: shot from high up, implies information about the character (weak, inferior, vulnerable)
Low angle: shot from low down, implies information about the character (powerful, superior, dominant)
Dolly shot (/tracking shot): the camera physicallymovesonadolly,trackor placeson a vehicle e.g.atruck,generally
following a moving figure or object in order to be alongside the action
Hand-held shots: gives jerky, ragged effect to sometimes make shots seem more realistic, totally at odds to the
smoothness of the dolly shot,involves the viewer very closelywith the scene and builds tension as the shot is more
personal and intimate, creates urgency
Zoom/reverse zoom: whenthe camera gets closeror movesawayfrom the actionin a scene veryquickly,the zoom
lens means the camera doesn’t need to physically move, this shot suggests surveillance, voyeurism and intense
observation