Experimenting with Shot Types and Camera Angles

Medium shot
This shot type is where the clip is filmed from medium distance and usually captures the character's upper body. This is used in every film because it allows the reader to see some body language as well as facial expressions.

Close-up
This is where the camera is zoomed in on something that the director feels is of some important in a scene. Close up shots, specifically used in thriller films, are used to capture detail such as a certain facial expression. They are effective in the thriller genre because they show a character's emotion really well which gives the reader insight on what the character are feeling.

Extreme Close-up
Similar to a regular close up shot, this is used to show detail that would not normally be noticed by the naked eye alone without the close-up. In the thriller genre this may be used to focus on a character's wound or injury to show the severity of a situation to the audience. A good example of when this is used is in the Saw squeals where the camera is zoomed in on the jigsaw piece taken from the victims skin of which indicates the killer is 'Jigsaw'.

High angle shot
This type of shot can connote inferiority and weakness because it makes us look down on the character and makes them look small to us. Thriller films may use this effect to show a characters personality. Also it can be used to show a character is vulnerable in a situation and show the audience who is in control.

Low Angle Shot
This shot type is the opposite of a high angle shot- it connotes power or superiority of a character. In thrillers, a villain is often shown as overpowering by making the audience look up at them making them look bigger.

Long shot
This is mainly used to show the audience the size of something for example a long shot of a building would allow the reader to see how big it is. For the thriller genre, it is common that the long shot conveys a sense of isolation and a location being deserted.

Tilted angle shot
It is where the camera is on a slight diagonal tilt to make the shot look uneven. This camera shot is quite commonly used in thriller or action films and they essentially show the audience that something isn't right and almost foreshadows an upcoming disequilibrium where the order of events within the film are disrupted.

Point of view shot
This is where the shot is taken from the point of view of the character or creature which basically allows the audience to see the same as what the character can. By doing this it gives the illusion to the audience feel as though they are part of the film and that they are actually there which of course builds excitement. These types of shots can be carried out by using a handheld camera or even a GoPro camera. An example of when this is used is in the Jaws sequels when they recite the shark attacks from the point of view of the shark.

Cowboy Shot
This camera angle is very specific and it is simply where the camera is zoomed in on the characters eyes so the audience can understand that their eyes are fixed upon something. In a lot of cases this camera shot type is used when filming a cowboy shoot-out in a western film hence the name of the shot type.

Over the Shoulder
Normally, this camera shot involves two characters conversing while facing each other and is where the scene is shot over the shoulder of one of the characters looking towards the other. This is useful in film because it allows the audience to see what the character is seeing and also adds realism to the shot.

Panning/Dolly Shot
This is a camera movement technique that involves moving the camera horizontally to the left or the right. With this technique you can track or follow an object or a person while they are in motion. In thriller films, panning is commonly used to film chases either in the car or on foot as it builds tension and makes it realistic.

Tilt
A similar sort of technique to panning is tilt. For this technique the camera is moved either up or down to track or follow an object. An example of a good use of tilt is in Skyfall where the camera follows the movement of the ascending elevator.

180 Degree Rule
This is where the scene is filmed only in the half circle in front of the camera which marks the centre line. If the camera goes across the line it will look like the characters switched place which may cause confusion amongst the audience.

Shot Reverse Shot 
This is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character and then the shot reverses and the other character is shown looking back.

 

 



Match On Action
Match on action is an editing technique where one shot is cut to another shot portraying the action of the subject in the first shot. A good example of when this is used is when a character begins to open a door on one side and then then it is shown from the other side.