Cinematography

L.O. today’s lesson we need to show understanding of the word Cinematography and how it is used in Thriller films. Some: Will be able to use media language correctly to analyse the effect of the camera shot shots with appropriate examples. (A) All: describe at least one camera element. (E)

Starter: What are the three main elements?

Ø  Camera movements

Ø  Camera angles

Ø  Camera positioning

Camera positions:

Long Shot (LS): a shot where you see most of an object (such as a characters body), yet enough background to see what kind of situation there in.

Extreme Long Shot (ELS): The camera is further distance from the subject, emphasising the background and also reducing the importance of the subject, sometimes used as an establishing shot.

Establishing Shot: similar to the Extreme Long Shot but defines the location and gives the audience a perspective on the action that is to follow, Also they are often essential to defining a genre of the film in question. E.G. (Horror will be dark and low lit maybe dark gloomy house).

Master Shot (MS): are also similar to establishing shot and are used at the beginning of the sequences as a reference point for the rest of the sequence to follow.

Medium Long Shot (MLS):  When the shot is focus on the subject from the knees upwards, it also permits a balance between the subject and surroundings. (We see both the subject and the background at the same time).

Medium Shot (MS): Is when the camera frames the actor from waist up, shows the characters body language and helps us understand the subject’s mood.

Close up (CU): shows a fairly small part of the scene and emphasises on something. Such as a characters face and neck in detail that it fills the scene (helps capture emotion).

Extreme Close up (ECU): singles out a portion of the face isolates detail and magnifies the minute, (this helps capture emotion).

Point Of View (POV): A shot that shows us what the subject/actor is seeing (Adds suspense). (Put yourself in characters position)

Two Shots (TS): is where to people are featured in the frame. (Creates suspense).

Over the shoulder shot: where the camera is placed at shoulder level in a scene and is shot this way.

Overhead shot: shows the subject and surrounding to get more of an impact on what is happening. (Brings the audience closer to the scene).

Camera Angles

Straight on angle: most common angle used, an angle that is at eye level facing straight on.

High angle shot: a shot that captures the action or subject from high up looking down.

Low angle shot: a shot that captures the action from a low down looking up.

Camera Movement:

It says camera elements because its made up of 3 different types of elements which come under 1 micro element they are camera positioning, camera angles and camera movement.

Will be able to use media terminology correctly to analyse they effect of the camera angle has.

Zoom: when zooming the camera does not move and the lens are focused down which is closer to the target so the shot goes from a long shot to a close up, whilst recording.

Tracking (known as dolling): where the camera follows a subject/actor when moving smoothly towards or away from the subject while the focus is constant. Tracking is (like zooming) draws the audience into a closer relationship with the subject, moving away tends to create emotional distance.

Tracking back: tends to divert attention to the edges of the screen and the speed of tracking may affect the viewer’s mood.

Pan: the camera moves from left to right or right to left to follow a moving subject.

Whip pan: is when a very fast pan causes the subject to blur, for example in sports relief the panning shot on YouTube blurs Richard Hammond and the lady next to him going back and forth when they are speaking.

Hand held camera: is used to produce a jerky, bouncy, unsteady image/footage which can create a sense of immediacy or chaos.

Steady cam: a hand held camera worn as a kind of harness. It uses a gyroscope system to ensure the camera remains perfectly level and smooth as the camera moves.

Tilt Shot: is where the camera moves from up to down or down to up from a fixed point.

Crane Shot: a camera is mounted on a crane and it moves around at a distance above ground level and it can move up or down left or right used for most panning shots. Example is when brad pit is chasing the killer in the film seven over the roof tops when he is walking on an air duct.

Rolling Shot: a camera moves diagonally, which makes the image askew (often used to show that a character is drugged/drunk). 

Aerial Shot: is where the camera looks down on something and it is like a birds eye view shot.

If your confused about any of the camera movements, angles or shots watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1japIhKU9I