Shot Sizes and Camera Angles
Subject Overview
Students will learn about fundamental shot sizes and experiment with shot sizes to create meaningful settings within the frame as well as being introduced to the ‘rule of thirds’ of image positioning in a frame. Students will also learn how camera angles can create atmosphere and meaning within a film. Expanding on from mise-en-scene and symbolism in film, students learn how the choice of shot size, framing and amount of space in the camera angle can help create emotion, emphasise the feelings and situations of the characters, and suggest a character’s power and position in the film. Reference to Alfred Hitchcock’s work is recommended in order to showcase how framing and angles can help to create meaning. BYOD: This course requires the use of a camera and tripod to be able to put theory into practice.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognise and identify at least four fundamental shot sizes based on seeing the shot and use their abbreviated forms in context.
- Compare shot sizes and communicate why one shot size would be a better choice over another in relation to creating meaning for a character or scene.
- Communicate how various angles help to create meaning, focusing on ‘Dutch’ angles, low angles and high angles and how this relates to power and or chaos and disorientation.
- Explain the difference between shot sizes and camera angles
- Present connections between camera angles and shot sizes with emotion and the power status of characters in a scene
- Demonstrate understanding of the importance of storyboarding in helping to visualise ideas about shot sizes before shooting
Prerequisites
No prerequisite knowledge required.