Throughout our opening sequence we will need to use lots of different camera angles to make the viewer fill involved and wanting to watch on. Here is a list of the different angles and how other films have used it in their films to help me with mine. I will also describe what the shot is used for.
Types of Possible camera angles:
Example Establishing Shot
Establishing shot (as seen in ‘Tinker tailor solider spy’). An establishing shot sets up the context of a specific scene for the audience. This is usually found at the beginning of a scene, or film to let the audience know about the basic time and setting of the film. This type of shot could make our opening sequence successful due to the fact it allows the audience to get an idea of what’s going to happen in the next scene, which in turn will keep them interested and therefore fulfill our purpose to entertain. The establishing shot is key for the audience to recognize the setting, and therefore the narrative will make sense to them and therefore interest them through verisimilitude.
Example High Angled Shot
High angled shot from (‘Lord of the Rings’). This shot is located above the subject, so it appears to be looking down upon the subject. This type of shot is common in scenes where power balances need to be expressed and this is used to make the subject appear vulnerable and powerless to the audience. A number of modern day films, including thrillers use high angled shots of some kind, mainly combined with over the shoulder shots to show power balance.
Example Low Angled Shot
Low angled shot from (Orson Welles). This shot opposes the high angled shot, in a way that the camera is angled below the subject, as if looking ‘upwards’ to them, giving them power and status. This type of shot is common particularly with films in our genre, when giving the ‘antagonist’ power over the victim. I feel that this shot will intrigue the audience if we were to use it in our sequence, and therefore they would be kept entertained, at the same time as getting a clear idea of the specific roles between characters. This shot would be vital to use to explain the pragmatics of gender inequalities within our opening sequence, to explain who is the most powerful in the situation. The low angled shots could be positioned from the vulnerable characters perspective, as though he or she is looking up to the more powerful character.
Over the shoulder shot
Over the shoulder shot from (‘Breakfast At Tiffanies’). This type of shot is filmed from behind one characters shoulder, directly looking at the other character (often in a two shot format between two people with unequal power differences). This can accurately display the balance of power and authority between people, especially if angled correctly. A high angled over the shoulder shot is designed to look down upon the opposing character, to enhance their vulnerability. A low angled over the shoulder shot is designed to be positioned looking ‘upwards’ towards the higher-powered character, to enhance their authority and status over the weaker character. From our research we learnt that this type of shot is used to portray power balance, and it can also be used for building tension between the characters especially in thriller genres. We found that this shot would be highly beneficial for us to use in our opening sequence to portray the power balance between the antagonist and victim, and also to help portray the traditional gender stereotypes between men and women. It shows the emotions of the characters.
Close up
Close up from (‘Angry birds the movie’). A close up is used to explain the emotions of a particular character, and express to the audience how they are feeling at a certain point. They only include the characters expressions and not the whole scene; therefore they traditionally do not last for more than a few seconds, before the camera cuts away. A close up would definitely be vital to use in our sequence due to the fact it would be the most detailed way in which we can portray how the characters are feeling, both with each other, and in the context they are in. Close ups do not have to be just of facial expressions. They can vary between objects and other body parts (mainly hands or faces). I feel this would articulate realism further, therefore creating more an immersive piece.
Extreme Close up
Extreme close up from (‘ Harry Potter’). This shot is where the camera focuses on a certain feature of an object. This mainly applies to facial features, such as eyes or lips to create effect and imply how a character is feeling. I think that extreme close-ups can really work successfully when implying and emphasizing emotion. Occasionally extreme close-ups are used on select parts of objects, used for emphasis, for example, if the film had an association with guns they may take a select section of a gun and film to emphasize detail. These extreme close-ups are more common in opening title sequences to give the audience that initial impression of the content of the sequence. We found that these types of shots are used more frequently in soaps and documentaries rather than my genre of drama action thriller; therefore we may not use many extreme close-ups.
Example Two shot
Two shot (‘Friends with Benefits’). This is shot between two people, and often combines with many other shots such as medium shots, wide shots, high angled shots and low angles shots. We will use many two shots in different contexts to portray the fact the two characters are involved with one another. I think that this will really give the audience a deeper insight into their lives as characters as well as their relationship to one another. Two shots are an instant way of explaining to the audience that these two people have connections with one another, and therefore lead their expectations towards the fact they could be involved with part of the narrative.
Example Medium Shot
Medium shot (‘PS I love you’). A medium shot is shot from a ‘medium’ distance away from the subject. This shot mainly emphasizes the subject from about the waist upwards, getting at least half their frame in full view. This is a good shot for understanding body language at the same time as analyzing their expressions. I think that we should use a variety of medium shots, and medium two-shots throughout because this would make the audience understand the context and narrative of our sequence in detail. We would film both the characters in conversation to display their presence with one another, and also create verisimilitude about the social group they are in as medium shots can convey a lot about body language and speech.
Example Long Shot
Long shot (‘Hurt Locker’). This shot captures a subject’s full frame, so the audience can get an idea of the appearance and body language of the character as well as their surroundings. This is good for setting the time, place and characterization. I think that we will try to include it into our sequence because it creates a sense of ‘place’ for the audience and also helps lead their expectations towards the narrative. The audience would be able to understand the context of the situation slightly more, by getting to grips with the characters surroundings it can create verisimilitude for the audience, and cause them to become even more interested in the narrative.
Point of view
Point of view shot – P.O.V. (‘Clover field’). A shot taken with the camera placed approximately where the character’s eyes would be, showing what the character would see; usually cut in before or after a shot of the character looking. Horror films and thrillers often use POV shots to suggest a menacing and unseen presence in the scene.
Connor McKenzie 