Camera Movement

Some examples of Camera Movement are set out below but make sure you refer to the key terminology post  as you must make sure you understand them all. 


Tracking


The tracking shot - this can come in several forms, from behind, in-front or sideways (when it’s known as crabbing) It is known as a tracking shot from the use of train type tracks to run a camera smoothly - look for the tracks in use in the clip below

In the clip below there are two different examples of tracking (once Bond gets out of the helicopter) 

This is an example of "Crabbing"

In the past, tracking shots would have been done exclusively with tracks or a “dolly”, a wheelmounted camera, but now steadicam is used extensively, a hand-held gyroscopically balanced camera which moves smoothly - you can see a steadicam in the clip below: 

Panning

This is when the camera rotates from left to right from a fixed position

Remember there are a number of different effects that camera movement can have on the audience. Your job is work out why the director/cinematographer has opted for a particular choice of movement. Is there a reason to Zoom in rather than track forward?


In the clip below see if you can identify a range of shot types, angles and camera movement. Furthermore what effect do the range of these shots have on you as the audience. The opening shot is an excellent example of a crane shot

Key terminology: Camera shots, angle, movement and composition

You should be able to identify and understand the following key terms: 

Camera Shots, Angle, Movement and Composition

 Shots: establishing shot, master shot, close-up, mid-shot, long shot, wide shot, two-shot, aerial shot, point of view shot, over the   shoulder shot, and variations of these.

 Angle: high angle, low angle, canted angle. 

 Movement: pan, tilt, track, dolly, crane, steadicam, hand-held, zoom, reverse zoom. 

 Composition: framing, rule of thirds, depth of field – deep and shallow focus, focus pulls.

Basic shot types & angles

In the presentation below you can see examples of the basic shot types that you will need to identify in the exam. Remember its about WHY they are used and the effect they have on the audience that is important.

Basic shot types & angles

View more presentations from Armthorpe Media.

About this Unit - What the Exam Board says

This is what is written in the OCR Specification about the written exam and in particular SECTION A: 


The purpose of these units is first to assess candidates’ media textual analysis skills and their understanding of the concept of representation using a short unseen moving image extract (AO1, AO2); second to assess candidates’ knowledge and understanding of media institutions and their production processes, distribution strategies, use of technologies and related issues concerning audience reception and consumption of media texts (AO1, AO2):

The examination is two hours (including 30 minutes for viewing and making notes on the moving image extract) and candidates are required to answer two compulsory questions. The unit is marked out of a total of 100, with each question marked out of 50.

There are two sections to this paper: Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation (50 marks) Section B: Institutions and Audiences (50 marks)


Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation

An ‘unseen’ moving image extract with one compulsory question dealing with textual analysis of various technical aspects of the languages and conventions of moving image media. Candidates will be asked to link this analysis with a discussion of some aspect of representation within the sequence.

The moving image extract will be provided by OCR in DVD format, with full instructions for the administration of the examination, viewing conditions and note-making time. Centres must prepare candidates in advance of the examination, using a range of examples from texts from the genre stated below, to demonstrate textual analysis of all of the following technical areas of moving image language and conventions in relation to the unseen extract:

 Camera Angle, Shot, Movement and Composition
 Mise-en-Scène
 Editing
 Sound

The focus of study for Section A is the use of technical aspects of the moving image medium to create meaning for an audience, focussing on the creation of representations of specific social types, groups, events or places within the extract. It is not necessary to study the history of the genre specified. Centres should use examples of the genre specified with their candidates to prepare them for undertaking unseen textual analysis.

For examination in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012:

The unseen moving image extract will be four to five minutes long and will be from the following genre:

TV Drama

The sequence will be taken from a contemporary British one-off or series or serial drama programme.