Camera Shots and Angles

In today's lesson with Mr. Buckmakster we learnt about different camera shots.

- Extreme close-up (ECU) just the character's eyes and nose
- Big close-up (BCU) from the character's eyes to their mouth
- Close-up (CU) Just the character's head
- Medium close-up (MCU) the character's shoulders and head
- Medium shot (MS) (Two character shot) two character's upper body and head
- Medium Long Shot (MLS) Two character's whole body and the scene
- Long shot (LS) what's happening in the scene, not just the characters
- Establishing shot (ES) As far back as possible to show the scene and establish where you are
- High angle shot (HA) shoot from above - creates vulnerability
- Low angle shot (LA) shoot from below - creates power
- Birds eye view shot (BEV) From above
- Dutch angle (DA) when the shot is on a slight tilt - makes the audience unsure
- Eye level shot (EL) Camera is at exact eye level with character - creates intensity
- Reverse angle shot (RA) you see the character and then it flips to what the character can see/ is looking at
- Pan shot - moving from left to right (or right to left) around the character
- Crab shot - moving from left to right (or right to left) across the character
- Track shot - moving the camera in
- Zoom - moving the lens in
- Ped shot - moving the camera up and down
- Tilt shot - moving the camera up and down and tilting it as it's moved

 For homework I have watched 3 different scenes from different scenes and analysed the camera angles/shots.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2

First I analysed about a minute from the last scene of Harry Potter (Where they are trying to defeat Lord Voldermort)

The first significant camera angle was a medium close-up shot (MCU) of both Harry and Voldermort separately. This exaggerated their feelings and helped to portray their desperation.

It then goes into a long shot (LS), this shows what is happening in the scene and helps to represent the story line. It also helps to overstress the fight between voldermort and Harry as it is the main event on the screen and the colour attracts the eye.

A medium close-up shot (MCU) of voldermort helps to show his anger when fighting Daniel

The 4th significant camera angle was a low angle shot (LA) of Nagini, Voldermort's snake, this gives him a state of power, and shows that he belongs to Voldermort, thus having a higher status than others.

A medium close up shot (MCU) of Ron and Hermione running from Nagini also helps the audience to deduce their feeling and helps to convey their fear.

The 5th significant camera shot is an extreme close up (ECU) of voldermort, this helps to signify his anger and anxiety.

There is a reverse angle shot (RA) of Hermione and Ron, this shows what they are running from and are scared of.

A medium close-up shot (MCU) of Voldermort portrays his pain and sudden loss in power when his last horcrux was destroyed.

Finally, there is a medium close up shot (MCU) of Voldermort's wand as it flies out his hand to stress that it is a very important prop and part of the scene .

Grease, final scene

Next, I analysed the musical grease. I also did the last scene of this, where Sandy and Danny are at the school's summer fate (up until 1:20)

At the beginning of the scene Doody, Sonny and Putzie are walking in the crowd, they then look up and see something and smile. The Camera Pans from left to right and we see Danny walking towards in them.

It then goes into a medium shot (MS) where they are talking to each other, this suggests portrays the friendly atmosphere and shows they are all friends

The camera then does a reverse angle shot (RS) to see what the boys are looking at and to see why they look surprised/shocked. When the camera focuses on what they are looking at (Sandy in her cat suit) is uses a ped shot, this helps to build suspense and emphasises that what they are looking at in strange/will be a shock.

There is then a medium close-up shot (MCU) of Danny when he sees Sandy, this helps to show and exaggerate his expression and feelings (shock).

The film uses the rule of third method to emphasise that Sandy (when she is smoking) is the main focus of that part if the scene. Because she is to the left of the screen, and not the centre, the audience's eye is drawn towards her and she becomes the focus of their viewing.

Finally, after Danny starts singing he falls to the floor, the camera then uses a high angle shot (HA) for a split second, this portrays the idea that Sandy has gained power over Danny because of the way she is dressed and acting. This idea is reinforced when Sandy stands over Danny and kicks him out of the way.