Camera shots and angles are used by film makers to help the audience

understand the film. These elements are essential to film makers so they can

show the specific parts of the film in different views.

The Camera shot determines how much of the presented frame the viewer can

establish. Each shot has a specific use and function these will be described in the

following slides. If a specific frame was to be shot in a different shot type the

frame would be seen from a different view, so the new shot wouldn't have the

same impact or meaning as the original frame as it would have be filmed in that

shot for a specific purpose.

Camera angles are the physical place of the camera for each frame. The camera

angle works similar to a camera shot and would be used for a specific reason and

tell the meaning of that shot to the viewers.camera angles are used to illustrate

tension,mood and relationships between the characters and their environment.

Camera shots

Extreme long shot-ELSThis shot can also be referred to as an

extreme wide shot. An extreme long

shot is used to help the viewer depict

the setting. This shot reveals the whole

environment of which the film or scene

is set. If any characters are in the shot

then they will appear very small in the

background. This shot allows the

audience to visually picture the scene

or place, giving them a idea of what

actions will appear in the scene.

Long shot-LSThis shot can also be referred to as a

wide shot. A long shot will reveal the

subject's full body from head to toe/top

to bottom. This shot often follows a

extreme long shot as the filmmaker

would want to introduce the characters,

the main character in particular. This

will help the audience become familiar

with that character and their

characteristics and place them in the

already established environment.

Medium long shot-MLSThis shot shows the character in

relation to the environment and shows

the character from the knees upwards.

It is usually used between long and

medium shot.

Full shot-FSA full shot includes the subject in full

with the top of the subject near the top

of the screen and the bottom of the

subject near the bottom of the screen

so it fills the whole frame.

Medium full shot-MFSA medium full shot is similar to a full

shot where the subject fills the whole

frame but the subject is in the middle

distance which allows some of the

surroundings to also be in the frame.

Medium shot-MSA medium shot makes the viewer look

directly at the subject and shows the

subject from around the middle so just

below the waist. This is used when the

character is trying to deliver important

pieces of information either verbally or

non-verbally.

Medium close shot -MCSThis shot frames the subject from just

above the waist. This shot is halfway

between a medium shot and a close-

up.

Close shot-CSA close shot is a shot taken close to an

object or person. Close shots are

usually used to show emotion, facial

expressions and the detail on the

subject but still allow room for some of

the background to be seen.

Close-up-CUA close up shot allows the camera to

focus on specific details of a subject as

there is next to no background being

seen in the frame. The characters head

and shoulders can be seen in the

frame, this allows the audience to

familiarise with the characters different

facial expressions.

Big close-up-BCUThis shot would usually contain

minimal background and consist of the

characters head taking up the entire

frame often only showing the

characters eyes and mouth or the main

part of an object.

Head close-up-HCUA head close up is usually used to

express the characters emotion and

the main features of the head will take

up the entire screen. These features

include: eyes,mouth and nose. Other

features such as hair and ears would

just be outside the visible frame.

Extreme close-up-ECUAn extreme close up will focus on a

specific part of the subject, the part that

the camera will be focused on varies

depending on the action within the

scene.

Camera angles

High angleA high angle shot shows the character

from above the eye level of a person.

The camera will be pointed face down

towards the character to show their

lack of importance, how powerless they

are or vulnerable they are compared to

other characters.

Low angleThe low angle shots shows the

character from below the eye level of a

person looking up at the character to

show how important, powerful and

dominant they are.

Canted angleThis camera angle is deliberately

slanted to the side. This angle is used

to show tension, disorientation and

uneasiness. This technique is used to

create a dramatic effect.

Birds eye viewThis angle is similar to what a bird

could see during flight. It is sometimes

used as a establishing shot to show

where the character is or is travelling

to. To use this in a film footage is

usually filmed from a helicopter.

Worms eye viewThis angle is the opposite of a birds

eye view. A worms eye view is filmed

from a similar perspective to a worm.

Allowing footage to be filmed from very

low down. This technique is usually

used to make a character seem taller

than they really are.

Point of view-POVThis angle is from the perspective of a

persons point of view. This camera

angle would be filmed from a particular

persons eye level and shows the

surroundings or actions fron their

perspective.