Camera Movement

Camera Movement

Camera movement is when the director chooses to move the camera with the action in the movie other that using a series of cuts. Moving the camera often takes a great deal of time, especially with long scenes. Not only must the style of movement be chosen, but the method of actually moving the camera must be selected too. There are seven basic methods:

Pans - A movement which scans a scene horizontally. The camera is placed on a tripod as the camera is turned. Often, used to follow a moving object e.g.: Car, plane etc.

Tilts - Very similar to pan, however, it is a movement that scans vertically

Dolly Shots – Can be called tracking shot. This movement is when a camera is placed on a moving vehicle and moves alongside the action. It usually is used for action and chase scenes, following a moving figure or object. Another way is if the camera is mounted on a moving object like its POV, to portray movement of the object.

Hand-held shots - The camera is literary handheld by the camera operator. Usually used for the shot to be bumpy and jagged. Can connote instability.

 Crane Shots - Basically, dolly-shots-in-the-air. A crane is used to move the camera up, down, left, right, swooping in on action or moving diagonally out of it. Mostly used for high angle shots.

Zoom - A zoom can change the position of the audience, either very quickly or slowly, saving the director a lot of time. It pretty much is just a single shot moving towards a particular subject. The drawback to zoom is that if it isn’t used effectively and can become distorted to the audience. To get the best of using zoom use a tripod.

The Aerial Shot – Like a crane shot, instead usually taken from a helicopter. This is often used at the beginning of a film, in order to show setting and movement.