Embedded Files
Camera Work
Camera Work
There is no film, that I know of, that has been filmed entirely in Close Up, or entirely in Long Shot. The filmmaker uses a variety of shots. They use this variety to guide you through the events and characters as they unfold and interact with each other and their environments, so that you have all of the information you need to understand the story as the filmmaker intends you to understand. You will need to discuss the camera work used if you wish to make statements about what the filmmaker intended - because it is their decisions behind the camera that control your perspective, what to focus on, and how you see the world of their story. Your teacher will probably do a shot by shot analysis of a scene if they wish to do a focus on cinematography, but lets looks at the camera work in general, as the general principles apply throughout the film.
Close Up - Window to the soul - Emotion, psychology, thoughts, feelings
Close Up - Window to the soul - Emotion, psychology, thoughts, feelings
Close Up shots are used in every scene of the film. Because the film is about characters, we need to understand what these characters are feeling, how they see and understand the events around them, how they react to the events that unfold. The Close Up shot brings the audience right up to their faces so that every detail that crosses their faces, each thought, each emotion, every twitch of an eyebrow, smirk, dark glare...everything that a character is feeling, can be seen clearly. Discuss the use of Close Up shots when you need to communicate that the filmmaker shows that a characters emotions, or how they understand events, is important.
Long Shots - What's going on - Action of body, setting, understanding space
Long Shots - What's going on - Action of body, setting, understanding space
Long Shots are taken from far enough away from a character that we can see most of their body. Because we can see their entire body, we are able to see how they use their body. Anytime a character undertakes an action that is dynamic, or uses their whole body, a Long Shot captures their movements. This is important in the many action scenes that involve Maximus in combat. Even though a Close Up focuses on emotion, a Long Shot can capture a characters posture, the way they stand, which can show how ready a character is to act on the emotion established by the Close Up shots. Gladiator uses a lot of Long Shots to show Maximus' leadership because we can see his confidence in how he carries himself, and we also see the masses of soldiers, gladiators and people of Rome and their group reactions (respect, admiration, loyalty) to his action.
Another important use of Long Shots are to establish the settings in which the characters find themselves, and how they are positioned in relation to other characters. Because the character takes up far less of the screen compared to a Close Up shot, we can see clearly what is behind the character, where the character is, what they are doing, and where they are positioned compared to other characters. As discussed in the 'Settings' page, the location of the scene is important to understand the characters. If we couldn't see the battlefield, the soldiers, the ruins, we would not get an understanding of Maximus' role, and the gritty business and sacrifices he committed on behalf of Rome.
If you want to discuss the filmmakers use of setting, action, groups or positioning as being important to understanding the story, then talk about how the filmmaker used Long Shots to place the audiences focus on it - it says the filmmaker thought it was important.
The Medium/Mid Shot - Best of both worlds - Interaction, reaction, posture, intent
The Medium/Mid Shot - Best of both worlds - Interaction, reaction, posture, intent
The Mid Shot (or Medium Shot) is in between the Close Up and the Long Shot. It captures the upper body of characters, close enough to see their emotion, but far enough away to see characters they are interacting with or actions they are performing. This is the perfect zone for capturing the mixture of emotions and actions that involve other characters. The primary use for this shot in cinema is during conversations because we understand how the characters are feeling about the conversation, and we can see the characters they are interacting with. We also see it when an emotion is essential for understanding the action a character is undertaking. For example, when we see Maximus roaring during combat, or Commodus casually playing with his sword in the Senate to be more intimidating. Therefore, when you need to connect a characters emotions to the setting, or actions they are engaged with, discussing Mid Shots enable you to say that the filmmaker is saying this connection is important.
Low Angle - Power, dominance, victory, strength
Low Angle - Power, dominance, victory, strength
Low Angle is when the filmmaker places the camera lower than the subject (character or object). This forces the audience to look up at the subject which makes the subject seem larger, or looming over the audience. On a subconscious level, we see the subject as being bigger than us, which forces us to afford more power to the subject. This 'power' can reflect many situations - physical power, political power, victory, strength, intimidation, dominance, menace...etc.
The filmmaker uses Low Angle to communicate to the audience that the subject is in some way 'more' than something else in the scene. When you wish to talk about a character being 'more', discuss how Low Angle shots are the filmmakers way of showing this. Often, it will be used in conjunction with High Angle shots on others in the scene.
Maximus and Commodus both receive Low Angle shots when the filmmaker wishes to show their 'highs'. Maximus even gets Low Shots at times you wouldn't expect it - When he is about to die after killing Commodus, he is shown standing, swaying, and issueing his wishes. The use of Low Angle reinforces that in that moment, he has total power over the future of Rome. Likewise, in many battle scenes, even when Maximus is on the ground, he gets a few Low Angle shots to show he is still in the fight and has the ability to control the situation.
High Angle - Weak, powerless, intimidated, losing
High Angle - Weak, powerless, intimidated, losing
The direct opposite of Low Angle, a High Angle is when the filmmaker places the camera higher than the subject. This forces the audience to look down upon the subject which activates a subconscious feeling of seeing the subject as being 'less' - powerless, weak, dominated, intimidated, losing, inferior, victimised...etc.
If you wish to explore a characters lows and moments of weakness, using discussion around the filmmakers use of High Angle shots provides evidence of the filmmakers intent to communicate the character as being 'less', as that is important for the story.
Maximus experiences many lows throughout the story, as that increases the stakes and tension because the audience needs to be delivered a sense that a character can fail, because that drives the tension and drama. The filmmaker uses many High Angle shots during these moments; when his family are killed, he becomes a slave, he realises he exists for peoples entertainment, he is unable to act against Commodus, or during his failed escape. The use of High Angles communicates the filmmakers intent of delivering doubt as to whether he can succeed.
Likewise, when Commodus is intimidating people such as his sister, senators, or people he views as traitors, the use of High angle on his targets help reinforce his menace which is established by using Low Angles on him. He also receives High Angles though when he is suffering his own lows, such as when his sister drugs him, he feels as if he is losing control, or when he feels the 'mob' (common people of Rome) is forcing him to let Maximus live.
Mid Angle - Normal, neutral, equal, true, fact
Mid Angle - Normal, neutral, equal, true, fact
Mid Angle is when the camera is placed level with the subject, and communicates a more normal view of a subject. Mid Angle neither affords or takes away power from the subject, which makes the subject and their actions appear normal, factual, and based upon what we already know of the character and events in the scene. Hence, one Low Angle or High Angle shot and the meaning they carry, influences these more neutral shots. Generally, High and Low Angle shots are used sparingly, so the Mid Angle does most of the work in relating a story without being heavy handed or condescending to the audience.
This makes Mid Angle shots generally harder to discuss because its easier to discuss that which stands out from 'normal'. However there are times when Mid Angle shots stand out because they are used when a character is experiencing a strong 'high' or 'low'. An example of this can be seen during many of Maximus' fights when he has been knocked off his feet, and is under pressure from another combatant. We would expect a High Angle shot showing his weakness, but most shots of him on the ground are actually Mid Angle which communicate that he is still the equal of his enemy - but we still remember the few High and Low Angle shots that create tension or doubt, to keep the drama alive.
Page updated
Report abuse