Camera movement: notes
Camera movement: notes
There are a range of key camera movements we need to learn:
Pan: horizontal turn left or right
Used to follow movement. A whip pan (very fast pan) can create a feeling of action or drama.
Track/Dolly: Camera moves on tracks/wheels
Tracks action smoothly – look for in chases or fast-moving sequences.
Handheld: camera held by hand, often shaky
Handheld camera can add urgency, realism, pace or unease to a scene.
Zoom: focal length of lens changed to make subject appear closer or further away
A zoom into a character’s face can show realisation or an emotional reaction.
Crane: Camera attached to crane – can pan, track or ‘swoop’ in or out as required
Crane shots are often high angle and show large, epic scenes of dramatic action.
Tilt: Camera tilts up or down from fixed point
The hero or villain can be made to look weak or powerful using a tilt (high/low angle).
Film transitions:
Cut (Straight cut, jump cut, match cut): Shot changes from one to another – the most common cut.
Dissolve: Shot melts into another – often shows passing of time.
Fade: Shot fades away and another shot appears. Fades to black often signify endings (of the day, scene or film)
The speed at which the film cuts from one shot to the next makes a huge difference to the experience for the audience. Generally, slow cuts build tension while fast cuts suggest action and excitement.
Juxtaposition:
The word juxtaposition literally means ‘the act of placing together side by side’. In editing, this is called Parallel Editing.
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