Research- Camera movement

3. Camera movement 

The purpose of camera movement: 

• Direct the viewer's attention
• Reveal off screen space
• Provide narrative information
• Creates expressive effects such as evoking suspense, surprise or tension. 
• Tracking subjects during a following shot
• The camera would move for re-framing, which involves slight pans or tilts designed to maintain the balance of a composition during figure movement. A camera operator will re-frame when a sitting person stands up, for instance, so as to keep the person in the frame and allow for appropriate head room. Re-framing helps fix the viewer's eye on the most important figures within the frame. 

·         Static shot- The camera remains stationary

·         Track in- The camera moves in on a subject, which is effective for reaction shots and drawing the audience closer to the character.

·         Track out- The camera moves out on a subject

·         Tracking shot- The camera moves on a horizontal axis, usually to follow a character.

·         Follow shot- any moving shot that follows the actor.

·         Tilt- a shot which moves vertically revealing what a character sees or tilt upwards to capture an entire building structure.

·         Pan- a shot which moves horizontally

·         Swish pan- A swift pan from one point to another, resulting in blurring the scene in between the two points. This can be used as a transition by creating a blur and then ending the shot at a completely different point of action.

·         Car mount- A shot taken from a camera within a vehicle

·         Steadicam shot- A shot using the Steadicam. This is useful for hand-held scenes, whereby smooth movement is required to be executed.

·         Zoom- The movement of the camera’s zoom lens.

·         Smash zoom- A very swift zoom

·         Zolly- This is a technique by which the camera dollies in and simultaneously zooms out or reversely zoom in and dolly out simultaneously. It is an effective shot in reflecting a sense of unreality, or to suggest a character undergoing a psychological change, such as shock or a sudden realisation. Such effect has been executed in Steven Spielberg’s film Jaws, when Police Chief Brody, recognise there is a shark attack on the beach, so the zolly shot is effective in its use to show his startled reaction. It also suggests a change to a more dark and cold atmosphere. As the camera dollies towards him, the zoom lens is pulled back. The world/ his reality changes, whereupon he begins to see through child eyes again

Applying camera movement to 'Child Eyes'

After analysing the few major films in terms of their outstanding cinematography, I recognised the significance of camera movements in conveying emotions, providing narrative information and directing the viewers’ gaze or following a characters movement. After attending the cinematography discussion by a panel representing Rankin Films at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival, I recognised that camera movements need to be driven by a specific purpose and shouldn’t merely be used for its aesthetic value. 

At the beginning of 'Child Eyes' static shots can be used for showing moments when Michael comes home from work, eating dinner and watching TV, with the purpose of emphasising his inactive and mundane life-style. As the film progresses and Michael becomes more physically and mentally active, follow shots can be used.