Research: Cinematography - Miss Begum

Cinematography

                               

What is cinematography?

Cinematography is the use of camera positions and movements to depict changes of what is happening on camera and the mood of the picture on screen. Cinematography is one of the most important micro elements as it can also define the characters representations, through the angles and the movements. For example a shot at a low angle may show the dominance of the character that is on screen, this is as we would be "looking up" to the character.

Key terms:

Close up – A certain feature takes up most of the shot, e.g. Someone’s head. Close ups are generally used to put all the attention on one character, this is usually when the character is speaking of something important, or doing something the audience shouldn't see, but see their facial expression.

Extreme close up – A very tight shot which only shows detail of a subject such as someone’s eyes. This is usually used when the audience need to observe the character's facial expression or just their eyes as the audience will be able to see stress or a bead of sweat to show them things they would not normally be able to see. In the example we can see that the extreme close up is used to see the reflection in the glasses, this is to show that we are seeing what the character on screen is seeing.

Medium shot – Generally showing the subject from the waist upwards, from a medium distance. This shot is used to show the action of the character on screen and a limited part of the environment. As shown in the example, the character is seen holding a bow and arrow in the forest but we are unable to see who she is aiming at, this can force the audience to make assumptions or to stay confused until the narrative or picture explains.

Medium close up – Halfway between a medium shot and a close up, usually showing the subject’s head and shoulders. This can be used during a conversation or to show two people but a limited view of the audience. As we can see in the example there are two characters not engaging in conversation but we can assume that they are waiting for someone.

Long shot – Shows the entire object or a figure and its surroundings. The long shot can show the person and their environment as shown in the example here, the girl is visible and we can clearly see she is in a home of some sort and we can see what she is wearing.

Extreme long shot – A view from a great distance, used to set the scene, showing a landscape where detail is not very visible. The whole environment is visible as seen in the example. This is used to show the audience where exactly the scene is taking place and allows the audience to make assumptions as to what can happen due to the environment.

Establishing shot – Shows the audience where the action is taking place, usually at the start of a scene.This is shown to give the audience a general idea of where the next event or scene is going to occur. But it will not tell the audience specifically where, this is used in film usually to show a big city to show a change in environment.

A close up generally shows the person’s head. In this close up from The Shining (1980) displays the character's head looking through a broken door. Due to the close up shot, we are unable to see the characters surroundings, the broken wood and the character’s eyes show that he is clearly restricted from reaching the opposite side of the door from which he is in. The close up shot allows the audience to see the characters expression to cause the audience to feel fearful.

A medium shot shows the subject or subjects from a medium distance, some surroundings can be seen to depict the situation the characters are in. This example from Prisoners (2013) shows a man holding a hammer, aiming it at another man who is bleeding. We are able to see the man with the hammer’s angry facial expression, as well as the victimised man who is petrified due to his posture being quite tense. We can see because of the medium shot, that violence is going to occur and the audience would be scared for the man who is covered in blood.

Camera angles can include high angle shots and low angle shots

High angle shots look down on a subject from the top and can make them seem vulnerable or powerless, although they can also make the scene more dramatic. The camera is placed directly above their head. This scene from Harry Potter demonstrates a high angle shot and there is use of a prop pointing upwards showing the characters fear, this is also shown through his facial expression, clearly seen due to the high angle shot.

Low angle shots is when the camera is positioned below the subject’s eyeline, looking up. This angle makes the subject look powerful and dominant of the scene.

Camera movements

Panning shot – The camera moving in a horizontal plane, this is used to show the movement of a character, usually when they are walking. It can also be used to show the audience an environment, for example, buildings or the desert.

Tilt Shot – The camera moving in a vertical plane. This is usually used to show someone's body, possibly starting at their lower body then moving up to their face to show their facial expression.

Crane Shot - The shot is taken with the camera on a crane, allows camera movement to be flexible. This can be similar to a tilt and panning shot, but it is on a bigger scale to show the viewer most of the environment.

Zoom - The shot is used to capture or evade emotions. This is usually while someone is speaking or something has happened, to capture the facial expressions of the character clearly. In the example below, the zoom shot begins at 1:30.

Point of view - To show the audience the person on camera's view. This is to show where a character is looking without seeing their facial expression, almost as if we are in the position of that character.

Hand held - The shot moves as the person moves. This is to give the effect that we are with the character as the camera would track their movements.

Over the shoulder shot – A shot taken from the perspective from the shoulder of another person, usually in a conversation.

The ending monologue from American Psycho (2000) clearly illustrates a zoom shot from 0:45 onwards. The camera is zooming into the character's eyes to show the fact he has no emotion,  the zoom shot puts emphasis on this, especially as the start of the shot the character does not have a
particular expression on his face.

In this scene from The Dark Knight (2008), there is a mixture of a panning shot and over the shoulder shot from 1:10 to 2:40. The majority of the conversation takes place over the shoulder, demonstrating that the two characters having a conversation are the only ones in the room, the audience are restricted to the characters reactions during the conversation causing the audience to essentially 'choose a side'. We can see with the shot that they are both sat down at a table depicting them as equals, at this point neither one is dominant or inferior.

Thriller opening analysis:

This is the opening scene from Zodiac (2007), it contains a lot of cinematography which is very effective for the opening. The scene begins with a long shot of a car moving into a parking space, it then cuts to an over the shoulder shot which indicates the couple are having a conversation. The scene then varies between over the shoulder shots and medium shots while the couple are having a conversation. Soon after, cutting to another medium shot of the car, the couple are startled by bright lights from another car, there are then panning shots to show the movement of the other car and then the male character's reaction. There is then a quick close up of a gun while the couple are being shot, and there are close ups of them being shot and blood splattering everywhere. As the shooter lowers his gun there is a medium shot of him holding it but we are unable to see his face. There is then a long shot as the shooter returns to shoot the couple more, to make sure they are dead, the long shot is held as the man walks to his car and presumably drives off. This scene uses a variety of cinematography to keep the audience from seeing the face of the shooter, such as close ups of the gun, this frightens the audience especially as long shots are used to show the death of the couple but due to the lighting, they are unable to see the shooter.

Conclusion:

My research has helped me to start considering what shots to use, depending on how I want my audience to receive my opening. I now know I need to use establishing shots to set my scene, as well as close up shots for the detail and depiction of emotions of my characters. I will also use panning shots to show the movement of my character, as this is much more effective than my character simply just walking off screen. As well as this, I will use long shots to show where my characters are, so the audience can get an understanding of the environment my character is in.