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!

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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.

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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.)

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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.

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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.