September 26th: Learning Camera Angles and Movements

The last few weeks we have learned about camera angles and movements. It was quite interesting because these are more applicable techniques to actual filming, as they are more used for shooting scenes rather than just individual frames.

Angles were quite cool. They basically translated the concepts of single frame shots and turned it into a moving picture. For example, reverse angles take the idea of an over-the-shoulder shot and turns it into a rotating 180 degree dialogue scene. The scene in The Dark Knight Rises where Batman interrogates the Joker is a good representation of this angle in cinema.

This scene really exemplifies the dynamic between the two, which is one of the main purposes of this angle. You can also see that this scene is taken at an eye-level angle, which adds a more personal feel to it and really makes things more immersive to the audience. Another interesting angle that is very unique is the canted angle, which has the camera tilted to show being off-balance or just being odd or out of place. A good example of this is in the movie Office Space.

Here, we see them use the canted angle to show their mania in destroying the obnoxious printer. As well, it is shown using one of the various camera movements available to to improve the feel of a scene. Here, they used the hand-held movement to add to the crazed feel by moving in awkward, uncomfortable ways around the scene as they destroy the printer. Camera movements add to what angles have to offer, as how they are combined truly will define the feel of a scene, even if no movement is used, which in its own right is a movement.

Thankfully, angles and movements are pretty simple in their own right. The only difficulty was when looking into the more specific sub-angles, such as the difference between an eye-level and a shoulder level angle. Movements were very simple as they were all very distinct, and few share traits. The two closest were the track and dolly, and the main difference is what dimension it travels on.

In the making of my film, this is one of the most important concepts to know. These are what makes the composition of a scene when it comes to shooting it. Considering the action film genre I am going with, dramatic angles and odd movements will be used to effect to make some sort of epic fight or suspenseful moment more interesting. Otherwise, the basic movements and angles: panning, tilting, eye-level, high angle, low angle, etc, are all part of the basic components of a movie.