Well done on completing the work, tasks and videos on the Oakes Future page. This really shows your commitment to the course and we are excited to be working with you more in September. This next page will be updated with different tasks to help develop your skills further. It gives you the opportunity to delve into content from the course and get you ready to start in the new term. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions but use this page to strengthen your knowledge and interest in Film.
Your task is to create an illustrated guide to camerawork.
You can do this as a word document
eg make a little booklet. Take a photo. Label it. Explain the typical way this shot might be used –
Example: Establishing shot. This gives the viewer a clear sense of where a film story is set.
Or Close up. This is often used to show a character’s feelings.
Alternatively, you could make a short film with a commentary (eg “This is a long shot of my annoying little brother; now I’m zooming in to a close up of his face so you can see his expression – that devious look which shows he’s plotting mischief… Now I’m using a point of view shot to show what he has noticed on the table: an extreme close up will show an extreme close up of a bottle saying ‘Itching powder’”) You can make it as serious or jokey as you want, but do IDENTIFY all the camera techniques you use.
I find it helpful to learn the terms in groups – those realted to DISTANCE – how close or far the camera is from the subject. MOVEMENT – when and why the camera moves; whether it moves along the ground or in the air, or moves while being fixed to a tripod. ANGLES – when the camera looks up, down, or wonky! Then there are a few ODDS and ENDS.
DISTANCE
Extreme close-up
Close-up
Mid Shot
Long Shot
Extreme Long Shot
Establishing Shot
MOVEMENT
Pan
Tilt
Tracking shot
Dolly shot
Hand held camerawork
Steadycam
Zoom
Focus Pull
ANGLES
High angle shot
Low angle shot
Canted angle/Dutch tilt
Aeriel shot
Wide angle shot
ODDS and ENDS
Two shot
Point of view shot
You have now named, defined and made examples of lots of camera terms – well done. The next step is to grow confident at identifying them.
1.Play a game of camera-bingo!
Ideally, you will rope in family members to do this with you.
- Make a 3×3 grid, with one camera term in each box (so 9 in all.)
- Make sure you choose a range from your different camera categories, Distance, Angles, Movement, Odds and Ends.
- If you’re playing against someone else, then have different grids with some different shots.
- Watch the start of a film. As you spot a shot from your grid, tick it off.
- When you have 3 in a row, shout “Bingo!” and give yourself some chocolate!
2.Then choose a film that you like.
- Watch the opening 2 or 3 minutes several times.
- Make notes in 3 columns:
A. IDENTIFY each camera shot
B. DESCRIBE what we see on the screen
C. EXPLAIN what that tells the spectator