camera shots

Camera Shots

A camera shot is the amount of space that is seen in one shot or frame. Camera shots are used to demonstrate different aspects of a film's setting, characters and themes. As a result, camera shots are very important in shaping meaning in a film. Reviewing the examples on the right hand side of this page should make the different camera shots clearer.

An extreme long shot (animation on right) contains a large amount of landscape. It is often used at the beginning of a scene or a film to establish general location(setting). This is also known as an establishing shot.

A long shot (animation on right) contains landscape but gives the viewer a more specific idea of setting. A long shot may show the viewers the building where the action will take place..

A mid shot (animation on right) contains the characters or a character from the waist up. From this shot, viewers can see the characters' faces more clearly as well as their interaction with other characters. This is also known as a social shot

A close-up (animation on right) contains just one character's face. This enables viewers to understand the actor's emotions and also allows them to feel empathy for the character. This is also known as a personal shot.

An extreme close-up (animation on right) contains one part of a character's face or other object. This technique is quite common in horror films, particularly the example above. This type of shot creates an intense mood and provides interaction between the audience and the viewer.

When analyzing a film you should always think about the different camera shots and why they are being used. The next time that you are at the cinema or watching television see what camera shots are being used.

Important: These camera shots are used in all forms of visual texts including postcards, posters and print advertisements.

Camera angles

It is important that you do not confuse camera angles and camera shots. Camera shots are used to demonstrate different aspects of setting, themes and characters. Camera angles are used to position the viewer so that they can understand the relationships between the characters. These are very important for shaping meaning in film as well as in other visual texts.

The following examples will help you to understand the differences between the different camera angles

A bird's eye angle (animation on right) is an angle that looks directly down upon a scene. This angle is often used as an establishing angle, along with an extreme long shot, to establish setting.

A high angle (animation on right) is a camera angle that looks down upon a subject. A character shot with a high angle will look vulnerable or small. These angles are often used to demonstrate to the audience a perspective of a particular character. The example above demonstrates to us the perspective or point of view of a vampire. As a viewer we can understand that the vampire feels powerful.

An eye-level angle (animation on right) puts the audience on an equal footing with the character/s. This is the most commonly used angle in most films as it allows the viewers to feel comfortable with the characters.

A low angle (animation on right) is a camera angle that looks up at a character. This is the opposite of a high angle and makes a character look more powerful. This can make the audience feel vulnerable and small by looking up at the character. This can help the responder feel empathy if they are viewing the frame from another character's point of view.

As with camera shots, you will be able to see many examples of camera angles in any film or visual text that you view. The next time that you watch television or see a film, take note of the camera angles and think of how they affect your perception (idea) of different characters.

Another camera angle that you might come across is a Dutch angle.

A Dutch angle (animation on right) is used to demonstrate the confusion of a character. The example above should disorientate you.

Camera movement

Composers of films also use camera movement to shape meaning. The following are some examples of common camera movements and how they can be used to shape meaning in films.

A crane shot (animation on right) is often used by composers of films to signify the end of a film or scene. The effect is achieved by the camera being put on a crane that can move upwards

A tracking shot and a dolly shot (animation on right) have the same effect. A tracking shot moves on tracks and a dolly shot is mounted on a trolley to achieve the effect in the example above. This camera movement is used in a number of ways but is most commonly used to explore a room such as a restaurant. By using a tracking shot or a dolly shot the composer of a film gives the viewer a detailed tour of a situation. It can also be used to follow a character.

Panning (animation on right) is used to give the viewer a panoramic view of a set or setting. This can be used to establish a scene

Cinematography

Cinematography is the combination of the techniques described in this chapter. This includes camera shots, camera angles, camera movement and lighting. Use the term cinematography to group all of these together, for example, 'The cinematography in that film was exceptional.'

Mise en Scene

Mise en scene refers to all the objects and characters in a particular frame. More specifically, it refers to the composition of the frame. When you use the term mise en scene, you are discussing where the composer or director has placed all the elements of the scene within the frame.

Action/Adventure Convention Analysis        – Homework

1.   The title of the film is Iron Man 3 it was released on 18 April 2013, it was directed by Shane Black and the main characters are Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley.

2.   The sub-genre is terrorism.

3.   Plot - Stark's experiences during the alien invasion of New York are giving him panic attacks. Restless, he has built several dozen Iron Man suits, creating friction with his girlfriend Pepper Potts. A string of bombings by terrorist the Mandarin has left intelligence agencies bewildered by a lack of forensic evidence. When Stark Industries security chief Happy Hogan is badly injured in one such attack and left in a coma, Stark overcomes his stupor and issues a televised threat to the Mandarin, who responds by destroying Stark's home with helicopter gunships. Hansen, who came to warn Stark, survives the attack along with Potts. Stark escapes in an Iron Man suit, which his artificial intelligence J.A.R.V.I.S. pilots to rural Tennessee, following a flight plan from Stark's investigation into the Mandarin. Stark's experimental armor lacks sufficient power to return to California, and the world believes him dead. This is a conventional action/adventure plot because the hero’s girlfriend gets hurt so the hero has to save her then he get hurt…

4.   The protagonist in the film is Iron Man. He is brave and smart. He is a conventional hero because something he done wrong in the past and now the antagonist is taking advantage of it.

5.   The antagonist in the film is Aldrich Killian. He is smart and cunning. He is a conventional villain because he takes advantage of something the hero done wrong in the past.

6.   I think the hero’s girlfriend is also a conventional character because she gets hurt so the hero has to save her and he gets hurt…

7.   The main signifiers used were the weapon, explosions, characters and the plot. The location was also conventional USA (New York).

8.   –

9.   We see close up and bird view camera shots. Most of the film is fast paced but the action scenes are sometimes slow paced. They do this to make it look more dramatic.

10.         It has stuck to the conventions because it is hard to come up with a whole new plot and they might fear that the audience will not like it.

Action Adventure Films summer homework

I chose:

·         Jurassic Park 3

·         Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

·         Iron Man 3

·         Thor

·         Contagion.

Jurassic Park 3

1.       I think the protagonist in Jurassic Park 3 is Billy. I think he is the protagonist because he saved Eric from the Pterosaurs and at the end he was in the army air-craft when they were saved.

2.       The antagonists in Jurassic Park 3 were the dinosaurs because they were trying to kill the main characters. I also think the people who built the research administration center were also antagonists because they were killing dinosaurs and incubating their eggs for selfish reasons.

3.       The elements that proved Jurassic Park 3 is an action/adventure film was the plot. The plot had a lot of action in it (dinosaurs fighting and people dying).Also the location proved Jurassic Park 3 is a action/adventure film because it is set in the middle of an island full of dinosaurs.

4.       Men were represented as brave and strong as they were the ones fighting the dinosaurs and using weapons. However women were scared of everything. When the plane landed the men went out in armor the protect everyone.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

1.       I think Ethan is the protagonist because he is in the middle of the movie cover and because he was the one that did all the main stuff like fighting and climbing up buildings.

2.       -

3.       The element that proves this is an action/adventure movie is the plot. A Russian wants to start a nuclear war however he needs the activation codes the team needs to intercept the exchange or the country will be nuked.

4.       Both women and men were brave however nobody in the movie thinks women are under cover so they succeed.

Iron Man 3

1.       I think Tony was the protagonist because he was the only character on the movie cover and he is Iron Man. Iron Man saves civilians and Potts from the Mandarin.

2.       I think the antagonist is Aldrich Killian because he is the creator of the Extremis virus (cures disability and sever injuries), which turns people into supervillains. I know this because in the movie he gets disabled people and gave then the virus.

3.       I think the props prove this is an action/adventure film because of Iron Man’s costume. The costume is a high tech suit with missiles and other weaponry.

4.       Men are represented as strong, brave and always one step ahead, although women are sneaky, devious and frightened.

Thor

1.       The protagonist is Thor because he was the main character, he saved innocent people and he was the king of Asgard.

2.       The antagonist was Loci. I know this because he was the adopted brother of Thor, he was jealous that he didn’t get the throne so he murdered his father.

3.       I think the props prove this an action/adventure film because the weapons in the film are incredible. Thor’s is my favorite weapon because it does almost everything.

4.       Men are represented as strong and brave. Women are also brave and courageous.

Contagion

1.       I think Dr. Erin Mears was the protagonist because she helped the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make the cure for the disease.

2.       The antagonist was the disease because it killed a lot of people.

3.       I think the plot proved it was a action/adventure film because it was similar to a zombie apocalypse film.

4.       Men were represented as brave and immune. Women were Smart and cleaver.

Key term meanings

1.       Audience - the group of people spectating a public event.

2.       Denotation – Indicating a symbol or mark.

3.       Connotation - 

4.       Genre - A class or category.

5.       Ideology - The body of ideas reflecting the aspirations of an individual

6.       Institution – An organization or foundation.

7.       Media language –

8.       MIGRAIN –

Media language

Institution

Genre

Representation
Audience
Ideologies and Values
Narrative
Economical, political, social, historical

9.       Narrative - A story or account of events.

10.   Representation - The expression or designation by some character.

11.   Signified – To be aware of your surroundings.

12.   Signifier -