Camera movements

When creating film and tv shows, directors use a range of different camera movements to show the characters, the context and the environment they are in. There are 9 key camera movements.

Pan shot:

Pan shots are used to show the camera swivelling from left to right or right to left. They can be used to show a change in focus of what is around the characters, the context or shifting focus to another character.

Ped

Ped (pedestal) shots are used to move up or down in height. For instance they might be used to move vertically up a character showing their height, body language and potentially revealing information. In this scene in mean girls,

the camera moves up showing Regina George onlooking everyone fighting. this shows her body language and makes the audience think about what the scene is showing.

Tilt

Tilting the camera angle up or down can show what the character is looking at and where their attention may be. For instance if a character walks along to a tall building at looks up at the building the camera may move and show the building to the audience. Or if a character looks at something on the floor the camera will tilt down to show that.

Dolly

Dolly shots are used to follow the character or reveal information. These are typically made with the camera running on a track to follow the movement of the scene. Dolly shots can be used going forward, moving into the character or whatever the filmmaker wants us to focus on, and backward revealing information from

the scene around the character. They are good shots to use as they feel very smooth and are a good progression between contextual points.

Track

Track shots are used in film and TV to again follow the characters, however instead of going forward and backward, they go side to side. This shows the characters' surroundings and the direction of where they may be going. With these types

of shots, you can get a sense of the surrounding areas as well. in this scene in Trainspotting, a track shot is used as the characters cross a road.

Zoom

Zoom is used to enlarge or decrease an image. It is done by the camera staying stationary (in place) and the lens on the camera is being moved closer or further away. An example of this would be in Kill Bill, it is zoomed in and an extreme close-up.

Crane

Cranes are used to get a wide shot of the surrounding areas where filming occurs. The cameras are strapped to the cranes and then begin filming and get an overhead wide shot. They are commonly used to show big areas of the land where it is filmed.

Steadicam

Steadicam is used to follow characters smoothly as they move throughout the scene, this is used instead of it being choppy. The camera is often strapped onto weights, levers and pulleys and operated by the cameraman. This provides a seamless movement without cuts and flaws. An example would be in The Shining, following Wendy and Danny through the maze.

POV

Point-of-view shots are used to replicate what the characters may be looking at and the emotions they may be feeling. They are shot at the characters eye level and are used to see their surroundings. An example of this would be in The Walking Dead when Neagan has the characters lined up. We see Rick kneeling with Neagans bat in front of him and then we are moved to a POV shot from Ricks perspective.