Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Film Making 101 Notes


žFilm Making 101
žCamera Angles, Movement,
ž and Other Awesome Stuff
žYou Never Knew You Knew

Make sure to take all of this information into consideration when formatting your screenplay!
ž
žCertain camera angles and “shots” make acting for the camera DIFFERENT from acting on stage.
Be sure to think about how each angle/shot would affect you as an actor.
ž
Camera “Shots”
What’s in it, and how far?
ž Long Shot: Full body in frame, few details.
Medium Shot: Waist up, used for dialogue & character interaction.
žClose Up: Just the face… we should already know where we are.
Extreme Close Up: Magnifies beyond what the human eye naturally sees.  (Used for dramatic effect.)
ž
žCamera Angles
Where’s the camera?
žBird’s Eye View: From way, way up above looking down.
High Angle: Not so way up, but still above.  Subject is surrounded by location.
žEye Level: Basic.  Camera is at straight on angle to subject.
Low Angle: Camera is lower than subject (useful for short actors!).  Gives feeling of dominance/power.
ž
Camera Movement
Where’s the camera going?
žPan: Scanning horizontally.
Tilt: Moving up and down.
Dolly: Moving on wheels to or away from your subject. (Can be used to follow.)
Hand-held: Sometimes bumpy, but adds realism (“fly on the wall” effect”).

ž NO ZOOMING.
 NO ZOOMING.
 ACK.