1. BIMM Filming 101 The Basics of Camera Shots & Rules to Follow When Filming Jan. 25 th /Jan. 28 th The Basics of Camera Shots & Rules to Follow When Filming Jan. 25 th /Jan. 28 th

2. Definition of a “Shot” After you press the record button and Before you hit the stop button What the camera records:

3. Garden Hose Most common shot by amateurs May last 10 minutes Shot from one spot: –from one side to the other –up and down –whole scene in one shot

4. Controlling Your Shots in a Scene Physically move the camera –closer to your subject or –father away from your subject Change the focal lengthfocal length –zoom in (narrow angle of view)zoom in –zoom out (wide angle of view)zoom out

5. The Four Basic Shots Long Shot Medium Shot Close Up Shot Extreme Close Up Shot (these shots are relative to each other)

6. Long Shot Frames a wide field of view Usually cameraperson at a greater distance Also called establishing shot:establishing shot –if first shot in a series –establishes location of scene (setting)

7. Medium Shot Frames your subject Still reveals some of the background (If subject is person, from the waist up) Provides more detail than long shot Usually more interesting to your viewer

8. Close Up Shot Shows details Best shot to show emotions (If subject is person, from the shoulders up)person

9. Extreme Close Up Shot Shows only a portion of subject Dramatic Use sparingly –zoom all the way in –get extremely close to the subject (If subject is person, usually from the chin up, sacrificing the top of the head)

10. Shot Angles Low Eye Level High Overhead

11. Low Angle Shot Camera looks up at the subject From a “worm’s” eye view Subject appears: –important –powerful –domineering

12. Eye-Level Shot As though human actually observing scene Neutral shot Actors’ heads level with focus

13. High Angle Shot Camera looks down at the subject Subject appears: –insignificant –weak –helpless

14. Overhead Shot From a “bird’s eye view Unnatural and strange angle Familiar objects might seem unrecognizable (at first) Puts audience in a godlike position

15. Moving Shots Pan Tilt Dolly Tracking

16. Pan Shot Moves horizontally (from left to right, right to left) Cameraperson remains stationery

17. Tilt Shot Moves vertically (from top to bottom, bottom to top) Cameraperson remains stationery

18. Dolly Shot Moves forward or backward (away from or closer to talent) Cameraperson moves with camera

19. Tracking Moves horizontally (from left to right, right to left) Cameraperson moves with talent

20. Miscellaneous Shots

21. Two Shot, Three Shot

22. Reverse Angle Shot Actually has two shots 2 nd shot is 180° angle from preceding shot

23. Over the Shoulder Shot Looking from behind a person at subject Cuts off frame behind the ear Person facing the subject should occupy about 1/3 of the frame

24. Cutaway Shot Used as a "buffer" between shots Interruption of a filmed action by inserting: –a different subject –a close up of a different part of the subject (the subject's hands) –just about anything else Usually followed by a cutback to original shot

25. Point of View (POV) shows what a character is looking at represented through the camera

26. Pedestal Shot Camera & cameraperson move up and down Camera points straight ahead Sometimes used to follow action (easy to shoot using tripod)

27. Whip Pan Shot Like a pan shot, but very fast Scene blurs during pan Usually used as transition –within a scene –from one scene to another

28. Arc Shot Shot from outside a circle Camera & cameraperson move together Usually only half of circle (semicircle)

29. Carousel Shot Shot from inside a circle Camera & cameraperson turn together Usually covers complete circle

30. Rule of Thirds Do not center subject Mentally divide the frame into thirds –vertically and horizontally –like a tic-tac-toe board overlaying your subject Place subject at intersection points

31. Natural Cut Off Lines Avoid the body’s natural cutoff lines: Neck Elbow Wrists Knees Ankles

32. Headroom Too much headroom— sinking! “Space between the top of a person's head and the top of the frame” Too little headroom— head cut off! Just right!

33. Lead Space Also called walking/talking room Space in front of your subject (when turned sideways) Directional force requires more space (in front)

34. Backgrounds Avoid distractionsdistractions Avoid mergersmergers –move the distraction/merger –move the camera or subject

35. Continuity Character –costume (dress) –hair Location –camera angle –lighting –audio background sounds volume of dialogue Direction of travel –talent moves in same direction – same setting

36. What’s Wrong with the Continuity?

37. Light Sources Keep behind (or to side) of camcorder Don’t shoot into sun or lighting Backlight (gain) setting reduces light (but can reduce clarity)