Georgia Adderley's Media Blog : Camera angles and shots

Camera angles and shots have huge effects on the way the audience sees a character and how they feel about what is happening in the media text at specific points.

Tracking (dolly shot)- When the camera moves to follow or track a person or object – often this may involve the camera moving on a trolley or dolly. Sometimes on rails in order to minimise the camera shaking.

· This could be included in a horror film as it would allow the audience to see what is going on in surrounding areas of the scene. This would intrigue the audience as there may be a hint to something else that may happen.

Panning- When the camera moves from right to left or left to right on a pivot – a high speed pan is called a whip pan.

· A whip pan is most likely to be used in a horror film as it could help to film a fast action. For example of a ghost or a flying doll etc.

Zoom – A way of moving on and out on objects without moving the camera- this has an amateurish feel to it as the camera tends to shake or the zoom may be uneven and jerky – often used to suggest the use of binoculars.

Static camera – The camera is in a fixed position and does not move.

· In my opinion this would not be effective for a horror film as it wouldn’t intrigue the audience at all.

Extreme long shot – Establishing shot, exterior shot which established time and location of production. They tend to be at the start to provide the audience with information.

Long shot – It allows you to see characters from head to toe this helps to understand the relationship between the character and their environment.

· I believe that this would be effective for the horror genre as it helps set the scene and how the character is feeling in the environment; also if it included surround sound then this would be more effective as they may feel as if they are in the same room as the character shown.

Mid shot – This is a view of a character from waist up. It enables the audience to become more familiar with the character and motivations in the narrative. It allows you to be able to see facial expressions and body language in more detail.

· As the facial expressions and body language is captured in this camera angle this leads to the audience connecting more with the character and in the way they feel.

Two shot- There is two characters on the frame. It expresses the relationship with each other and actin they find themselves in.

· I personally think this would be effective as it would make the audience feel as if they are interacting with another character (the feeling of being in the film) this would also build up an intense feeling for the audience because they feel so involved that they would be affected by any other action that could possible happen.

Close up – It allows the audience to see the head and shoulder with very little background in the frame. Focuses’ attention on characters and their emotions at that time. Frame object of significance to the narrative.

Point of view – Engages the audience with characters motives.

Extreme close up – Draws audiences further into the emotion. The attention is focuses completely on the character. It is intense for the audience as it’s an unfamiliar view point. And the audience is not able to see any other action

· Due to this shot making the audience feel intense as it is unfamiliar this would fit with the horror genre as horror is an unfamiliar thing to anyone. Also the audience can’t see any other action so may feel anxious of what is going to happen next.

High angle shot – This suggests that the character is inferiority and feels small.

· This would be effective as it would intrigue the audience to why that character would feel like that.

Low angle shot – This suggests that the character is superior and have power.

· This would be effective as the audience would want to ask questions like why and what given this person power.