Camera Angles and Shots.

Camera Angles and Shots.

For our first A-Level Media class we looked at how the positioning of camera angles creates and changes the meaning of scene withing in film. To do this we watched an extract of 'Good Will Hunting' and 'A Knights Tales' and then recalled what we had noticed and the differences between the two.
'Good Will Hunting' started with an establishing shot then long camera shots as the two people in the scene were having a conversation. Although the extract had started with an establishing shot showing the background and scenery the rest of the shots were close-ups to emphasis how serious the conversation actually is and you get emotional because you feel like you are the person the man is talking to. Another thing that emphasis's the emotion is that there are no reaction shots from the other character until the end of the conversation which is really unusual for a film or any piece of Media.
'A Knights Tale' had quicker camera shots which turned slower due to the fact that at the start there is more happening in the start and to get the full effect and all the reactions of different people. The camera shots slowed down because there wasn't as much going on but the other people were reacting and the director or editor thought it was important to keep.

Different types of Shots!

• Extreme Long Shot: An establishing shot, this is used to determine the place of which the film or scene is set. They are usually identified by landmarks for example the Hollywood sign or Big Ben.
  
• Long Shot: Where the person or object is shown in small which could mean that the person is walking down the street because this type of shot provides for movement.
  
• Medium Long Shot: Usually a shot of a persons head and torso used when two or more people are having a conversation because you are able to position them with in the smaller shot.
  
• Medium Close-ups: The medium close-up shows both facial expressions and body language. A medium close-up is normally used when filming a conversation between two people.
  
• Close-ups: The scale is usually quite large and this is to show the facial expression of a person in a conventional way however it could include anything (e.g. a hand or an object).
  
• Extreme Close-ups: Focused on one feature, normally a feature to do with a person. In 'Of Mice and Men' there is an extreme close-up of a hand and in 'Inception' the extreme close-up is of an object.
  
• Crane Shot: This is shot from above and different viewpoint as many films are usually shot from ground level, and this can also be moved round and zoomed because the person is on a crane or something similar.
• Pan: A pan is when the camera is stationary but moves from one direction to the other to follow what is happening.
• Tracking: The camera is following the action on a horizontal line going from one direction to the other.