Examples Of Different Camera Shots

2 Shot

2 shot is used to let the audience see both characters at the same time in the same shot. They would normally be talking to eachother but that is not always the case.

This movie is Once. The 2 shot is of the lovers. This shot is to show that they are close and spending time together.

Point Of View Shot

Point of view shot is used to allow the audience to see what is happening from the cameras point of view. Also so they experience the feeling of the character.

This programme is the Peep Show. The point of view shot is of one of the men giving the other one something. It allows the audience to see how the man feels.

Low Angle

Low angle is used to make the character in the shot seem superior, dominant and strong.

This movie is Titanic. The low angle is of him looking down at Rose DeWitt Bukater. In this shot he is meant to look strong and dominant.

High Angle

High angle is used to make the audience think that the character in the shot is weak, vulnerable and inferior.

This movie is also Titanic. The high angle is of her looking up at Jack Dawson. In this shot she is meant to look week and vulnerable.

Long Shot

Long shot is used to ensure the audience sees the environment he characters are in, what they are wearing and what props are used. Long shots are also used to put sequence in context.

This movie is Touch of evil. The long shot is of two rich characters. This shot tells the audience that they are rich yet walking down a street that does not look very classy.

Medium Shot

This medium shot is also a low angle shot. Mediums shots are used to ensure the audience can identify a characters body language, see what the character is wearing and see a little bit of the setting.

This movie is titanic. The medium shot is of Jack Dawson. This shot tells the audience that he is not rich because of his clothing but feels superior, due to the low angle and his body language.

Close Up Shot

Close up shots are used to see he characters facial expressions and emotions. It is also used to focus on key props or gestures.

This movie is Mission Impossible. This close up shot is of a woman. The close up shot is used to tell the audience that this woman is extremely important to the man holding the picture.

Establishing Shot

An establishing shot shows the audience where the movie is going to be set. This is a good technique of filming because it is a way of making sure the audience do not get confused about the setting of the movie.

The movie is Panic Room. This movie it is set in a big city, most probably New York.

Spectator Or Master Shot

This is a high angle long shot. It makes him seem extremely vulnerable.This allows the audience to see the bigger

picture. Also able to see the whole scene, setting, props and surroundings.

In this scene Andy Dufresne is being sentenced to prison. This is the reason a high angle shot is being used.

Shots in TV Dramas

Emma

The scene five minutes into the programme is of two women Miss Fairfax and Miss Woodhouse talking. Miss fairfax is asking Miss Woodhouse to cover for her and tell the family that she has gone home. Miss Woohouse replies in her favour but she is worried for Miss Fairfax walking to Highbury alone is the heat they are experiencing. The scene ends with Miss Fairfax being rather adamant to walk by alone.

There is a use of pan. This is to show that the two ladies are talking to eachother. It is also to show what two characters they are before they start their conversation.

Miss Fairfax walks towards Miss Woodhouse to enable them to talk to eachother without them have to shout across the large room. As Miss Fairfax walk towards Miss Woodhouse the shot is known as an establishing shot, this is extremely rare to find in the middle of a movie or TV Drama programme. That is why i believe that this shot is infact a master shot. This shot is used to show the audience their surroundings. Who is around them, what is around them. In this particular shot they are completely alone in a large room having a private conversation that is only to be heard by themselves.

The last shot used in this is is the shot revers shot. There may be only three different shots in this scene but the shot revers shot is used for quite some time and is used throughout the whole conversation. Shot revers shot is used during a conversation. The camera is pointing to the person speaking and alternately changes according to the dialogue. This is when the 180° rule is most important. Both of the characters must stay on their side of the lens throughout the whole scene whether half of the back of their head is facing the camera or they are speaking their dialogue and their whole face is facing the camera. Not only was the shot reverse shot used, but a medium close up shot is used at the beginning of the conversation. This shot is used to show the character's body language rather than their facial expressions, this type of shot does not make this part seem intense. As the conversation continues and gets more intense and when Miss Fairfax becomes more determined to walk alone the medium close up shot slowly and gradually zooms in and changes to a close up shot. This is make the audience notice the character's facial expressions rather that their body language. It also makes the audience feel more involved and intense.

Emma on BBC iPlayer

Holby City

The scene six and a half minutes into the programme is of two teenagers Donna and Maria. Donna's father recently passed away. Earlier in the programme she was given a box. The box contained items that had been left for her from her father. The focus in this scene is the envelope and what it contains. Donna is reluctant to open it, but on the other hand Maria convinces her to open it. Inside the envelope are some instructions for her, an address and a surprise for her.

The first shot is known as an establishing shot, this is extremely rare to find in the middle of a movie or TV Drama programme. That is why i believe that this shot is infact a master shot. This shot is used to show the audience their surroundings. Who is around them, what is around them. In this particular shot they are in what looks like a park or maybe it is the outside of their work place. As well as the dialogue it is known that the conversation they are having is not private because there are other people around them. They maybe not be listening in on their conversation but if it was that private they would not take the risk.

There is a use of pan. This is to follows the two girls talking to eachother.

While there is a use of pan the shot that is being used is the 2-shot. This is because there are two people in the shot standing next to eachother, walking along together. This shows that they are friends and that this conversation is not too big a deal. This is because if it was an intense conversation they would be face to face. That happens later but not yet.

The next shot is the shot reverse shot. The shot revers shot is used for quite some time and is used throughout most of the conversation. Shot reverse shot is used during a conversation. The camera is pointing to the person speaking and alternately changes according to the dialogue. This is when the 180° rule is most important. Both of the characters must stay on their side of the lens throughout the whole scene whether half of the back of their head is facing the camera or they are speaking their dialogue and their whole face is facing the camera. Not only was the shot reverse shot used, but a medium close up shot is used for most of the conversation. This shot is used to show the character's body language rather than their facial expressions, this type of shot does not make this part seem intense. When Maria says to Donna 'I think he has written to you', there is a close up shot on Donna's face. This is used to shot her facial expressions and he reaction to that line.

There is one more shot i need to talk about. This is the extreme close up. An extreme close up is a shot in which the scale of the object is even larger, as when a small object, detail or body part fills the screen. This occurs when Donna takes out the letter. There is an extreme close up on the letter to let the audience know that, that particular letter is extremely important in this episode but most importantly this scene. I believe there is a close up shot here because it resembles how much her father meant to her and that it may be last object or thought she has of her father.

There is one more extreme close up in this scene. The close up is on the keys that her fathers left for Donna. There is another extreme close up shot because once again these keys are most probably very important to her and a key factor for the episode. Extreme close up shots are used to show the audience that those object are important. It is a little like writing on the screen, 'These objets/props are important' but just portrayed in a more practical way.

Holby City on BBC iPlayer

Camera Shots

Establishing Shot - Usually a long shot, sets up the setting of a scene. It is used at the beginning of a movie.

Close up Shot - Tightly frames a person or object to show detail or emotion. To make things significant.

Medium Shot - Cuts of at the waist. Generally shows more body language and less specific detail.

Long Shot - Shows the entire figure or object, often in relation to its surroundings. typically filmed 'far' rom the object.

Tracking Shot - Follows the action at a constant distance. It keeps the object on screen.

Aerial Shot - Shows the entire image from a high position. Sometimes referred to as a birds' eye view shot.

Dolly Shot - The camera is placed on a dolly and moves at a constant rate. It does not necessarily follow the action.

Handheld Shot - Filmed from cameraman's own hands therefore it is a little shaky. It can be used to show perspective or feeling.

Zoom Shot - Either zooms into isolate the subject or zoom out to show it in a wider context.

Swish Pan - Moves the camera from one subject to another very quickly.

High Angle - The camera is located above the subject and films down on it. Sometimes used to show which character is more powerful.

Reverse Angle (shot reverse shot) - Switches between 2 or more subjects during a dialogue scene.

Low Angle - Shot from knees up. Shows power of character.

Arc Shot - To move around an object.

Point of View Shot - When you look through the characters eyes.

Head on Shot - When the action comes straight at the camera.

How to analyse an audio-visual text

• Camera Angles
• Lighting
• Costumes
• Make Up
• Editing-Contumacy
• Setting
• Dialogue
• Camera Movements-Pans
• Proxemics-Composition, when two people are in a shot it is called 2 shot.
• Close up-Shot sizes
• Mise-en-scene- set, cost, make up, prox and lighting
• Sound effects, dialoge, music sound
• Editing, mise-en-scene, sound track

My Notes on Conventions of TV Drama

• Dialogue
• Actors
• Stories
• Mini Series
• Series
• Serials
• One-off Drama
• Cliffhanger ending

TV Drama is dialogue led. This is supported by use of actors and narrative. Also by the dominance of the use of particular camera techniques.

Drama can vary in lengths of episodes from 30 minutes - 2 hours.

The Drama is framed within a key location/setting which can be linked to a historical period or comtemporary setting.

TV Drama can be placed into different categories (genres) e.g. crime drama and hospital drama.

Storylines/narratives are fictional and have a vast range of themes/motifs (from crime to soap opera).

TV Drama have specific technical techniques that are used in storytelling.

Episodes may be self contained of story lines. Maybe continued over several episodes.

Audiences expectations of a TV Drama is to be entertained, informed and to have affairs dramatised.

Activity 2.4

Eastenders
Doctor Who
Casualty
Holby City
New Tricks
True Dare Kiss
Holby Blue
Jekyll

this may not have anything to do with the second bit of 2.4 but i gave it a go...

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/where-to-put-a-us-import/2012895.article

Prison Break, A TV Drama