CAMERA ANGLES

Within our film we will have to include various different camera angles and shots. These are listed and described below.


180 DEGREE RULE

The 180 degree rule is a basic guideline in film making that states two characters (or objects) in the same scene should have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two objects, it is called passing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side is known as the reverse angle.


This is a visual example of a 180 degree rule in action. Showing the imaginary axis and the 180 degrees each side.


As you can see the camera does not go out of it's 180 degree semi-circle and stays in line with the two objects in the shot.

Shot Reverse Shot

Shot Reverse Shot is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off screen) and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes they are looking at each other.

This is a visual example of shot reverse shot. As you can see the character are shown one at a time and you can always see the back of the opposite characters head.





The camera then switches when the other character speaks and you can still see the back of the other characters head. This shows how their conversation is working and who's talking when.

Match on Action

Match on action refers to a film technique where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shots action. Although the shots may have been filmed hours apart from each other, match on action gives the impression of continuous time when watching the edited film.



This is again a visual example of match on action taking place. It shows the girl walking down a corridor. The first shot shows her walking from the front, she walks and it looks as if she will walk into the camera.

The shot then switches and you see her walking up the rest of the corridor from behind.











There are also various other shots that we can use within our film although we may not necessarily feel the need to use or these they are useful to know and some may suit a thriller film more than others.

Panning Shot
Panning is the horizontal movement or rotation of a camera or a scanning of a subject horizontally on video or a display device. Panning a camera is a motion similar to that of someone shaking their head.

Tracking Shot
A tracking shot is a segment in which the camera is mounted on a wheeled platform that is pushed whilst filmimg. Tracking shots can include smooth movements forward, backward, along the side of a subject or on a curve. Tracking shots, however, cannot include complex pivoting movements, aerial shots or crane shots.

Tilt Shot
Tilt shot means that the camera is in the same position but tilts the angle up and down. It means the camera is looking up or down at the subject in the frame, instead of being on the same level as this way it usually makes the shot more dramatic. A downward tilt is used to make something look less important wheres as an upwards is used to give the impression of superiority.

Crabbing Shot
Crabbing shot is almost like a tacking shot, however it is a side to side movement at a constant distance from the action or subject. It mimics how a crab would walk.