A quick summary of key camera shots, angles and movements.

1. Shot:
The distance between the camera and the subject.
Angle:
The level at which the camera is held relative to
the subject.
Movement:
Whether the camera is static or in motion during a
shot.

2. • Gives an overview of
the scene and allows
the audience to see
where things are
occurring.
• Often used at the start
of a scene to ‘establish’
where characters are in
relation to each other,
setting and props.
• Difficult to show details.

3. • Usually shows the
upper-half of a person’s
body.
• Good for conversations.
• It allows you to fit one
or two people into the
shot.
• Can still see the setting
of the scene in the
background.

4. • Focusses on a specific
thing, such as an actor’s
face or an object.
• It is very good for
drawing the audience’s
attention to important
things.
• Used sparingly and
deliberately.

5. • Focusses in a lot of
detail on a specific
detail of a person or
object, such as a
person’s eye or a word
written on a piece of
paper.
• Provides even greater
emphasis.
• Be careful of focus and
that it isn’t too jarring.

6. • The camera is at the
eye-level of the actor, or
is aimed straight at the
object.
• This is a standard shot.
Most of your shots will
be this.

7. • The camera is above the
eye-level of the actor, or
looks down at the
object.
• This can make the
person etc. seem
smaller, weaker, less
intimidating, scared,
sadder or less
threatening.

8. • The camera is below
the eye-level of the
actor, or looks up at the
object.
• This can make the
person etc. seem bigger,
more powerful,
confident, threatening
or overwhelming.

9. • The camera is held at an
obviously slanted angle.
• Conveys uncertainty,
chaos or madness.
• Used deliberately, it can
be very effective. If
overused, it looks
amateurish.
• It takes practise to get
the right angle.

10. • The shot is taken as if it
is from the point of
view of a specific
character (i.e. as if we
are looking through
their eyes).
• Need to establish
whose perspective you
are looking from,
usually through a
proceeding close-up
shot.

11. • One actor’s face is shown,
while the back of the
other actor’s head is
visible in the foreground
in frame.
• Very useful for dialogue
scenes, but takes
planning and may require
separate recording of
audio/dialogue.
• Be aware of the 180o rule
if switching between two
actors.

12. • The camera is in a fixed
position and does not
move.
• Usually the camera will be
attached to a tripod in
order to keep it steady.
This is a standard shot.
• If the camera is held in
your hand, small
movements will be
unavoidable.

13. • Smooth camera
movements.
• Panning is where you
turn the camera
horizontally.
• Tilting is where you turn
the camera vertically.
• Both can be used to
shift focus, bring new
things into a scene or to
reveal information.

14. • A smooth shot where
the camera moves as
steadily as possible.
• Slows down pacing,
looks professional.
• Can be achieved by using a
chair with wheels and
holding the camera as still
as possible while moving
along a flat surface.

15. • The camera moves,
usually in order to follow
a character, with small
shuddering movements.
• The trick is to try and hold
the camera as still as
possible while moving.
• Don’t shake your hand!
Natural hand tremors are
often enough – larger
movements result in a
loss of focus.

16. • Abrupt transition where
the camera doesn’t move
between shots.
• Makes it appear a
person/thing has moved
instantly from one place
to another or has
suddenly appeared.
• In films it is avoided
unless you deliberately
want a particularly jarring
effect.