Plan: EXTREME Camera Angle Tutorial

Camera angles included:

• over the shoulder - over someone's shoulder
• birds eye - over the atrium or held by a person on a secure chair
• worms eye - place it on the floor face up (in a safe place)
• attached - hold like a hand bag (like it's attached to a bag)
• p.o.v - someone hold in front of eyes
• extreme close up - show eyes or mouth etc.
• high angle - point down at person
• low angle - point up at person

Ellie - camera woman

Kayleigh - actress/ voice over person

Mia - editor

SAD EVIL PANDAS GO.

Script:

K: Hello, in this video we're going to teach you how to use Extreme camera angles appropriately.

       Firstly the Over the shoulder shot. This camera angle shows an actor's perspective, similar to p.o.v, but from the subject's shoulder (it's less intrusive and more cinematic). To achieve this, the camera must be placed on a tripod that is at the appropriate height (i.e. the actor's shoulder). It's often used to show two actor's conversing. In this case you must follow the 180 degree rule, as to not confuse the audience.

       The bird's eye shot is often used as an establishing shot (specifically in Sci-Fi movies). To achieve this in a professional scenario you would need to use a crane or other similar equipment to elevate the camera. However, in a low-budget scenario you can either use a large tripod, extended to it's full length or the cameraman can hold the camera whilst standing/ sitting on a higher surface. If you choose to use the latter method, ensure the cameraman's safety before shooting.

       The worm's eye shot is the counterpart of the bird's eye shot. It's often used in dream sequences, pointed towards the sky, to relax the audience. All you need to do to achieve this is to place the camera on a dry surface and point it upwards. Make sure that others know not to walk within a certain radius of the camera so that they don't stand on it by accident!

       The "attached" shot requires a smaller, more moveable camera to be effective. Although, in some cases a larger camera can be used. In this instance, we are using a panasonic as if it is a hand bag. If you were to use a Go Pro to film this, all you would need to do is attach it to a hand bag and then carry it. Using a Go Pro would be more effective, as it provides a more realistic experience. This shot can be used in many instances. It's often used in music videos to provide an alternative view for the audience.

       Similar to the over the shoulder shot, the p.o.v shot shows the subject's p.o.v. However, this shot is far more intrusive than that of the over the shoulder shot, as it shows the direct vision of the actor. As a result, this shot is only used in appropriate circumstances, such as when you want the audience to identify with a specific character (excluding 'Peep Show', in which the entire sequence consists of p.o.v. shots, hence the name).

      Extreme close ups are appropriate for emotional situations, such as when a character is angry or upset. These shots show very minute details that may be missed when seen in wider shots. It's important to place the camera on a tripod or steady surface for this shot, as any tiny movements will be evident in the shot due to the extreme zoom. Be careful not to zoom in too much, as this looks awkward.

       The high angle is possibly one of the most used "extreme" shots in the film industry. It's used to show certain characters as inferior to their counterparts. A famous use of this angle is in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho', when the detective is killed. The high angle effectively shows that his killer is dominant and has the power to end his life. All you need for this shot is a tripod that's almost, if not fully extended, depending on how dramatic you want the shot to be. I wouldn't recommend an overly dramatic high angle shot, as it can look awkward and in extreme cases, the camera could slip off of the tripod.

        In contrast, the low angle shot shows characters who are more dominant. If the character is looking directly at the camera during a low angle shot, it can suggest that this character is more dominant than the audience. For example, in 'The Dark Knight' there is a scene in which the Joker is pinning Batman to the floor, which is shot from a low angle, showing that he is more dominant in this scene. To achieve this angle the tripod wants to be lower than your subject, but not too low, because you don't want to be able to see all the way up your subject's nose. The camera should be tilted upwards, keeping your subject neatly within frame.

       Thank you for watching our tutorial. Happy shooting!