FS 100 - Camera Movement

Mobile frame

Ability of the frame to move with respect to the framed material

Distinguishes film & video from pictures

Changes onscreen & offscreen space, & can change angle, level, height & distance

Plan-sequence

Entire scene done in one shot

Types of framing (5)

Pan, tilt, tracking shot, crane shot, hand-held shot

Pan

Rotation of the camera on the horizontal axis, camera as a whole remains stationary

Tilt

Movement of the camera on vertical axis, camera as a whole remains stationary

Tracking shot

Camera as a whole changes position in any direction 

Can be done with a dolly, crane, aircraft, or steadicam

Primarily follow a character or object while in movement

Crane shot

Used to change camera height in an ascending or descending motion

Hand-held shot

Camera is supported by the cameraperson without compensating equipment

Bumpier movement than dolly or steadicam

Used to mimic documentary aesthetic

Functions of the mobile frame

Most common function is reframing a character when they move in relation to another character (usually by pan or tilt)

Can reveal/conceal offscreen space

Can detach from a character to reveal setting details or plot development

Visual field can yield a sense of subjective movement for the spectator

Dolly-zoom shot

Expressing character subjectivity

Long take

Duration as real time experience

Does not necessarily = a shot with camera movement

Must introduce change (ex. character & mobile frame movement) to sustain viewer interest

Mobile frame can replace editing functions through reframing and tracking

One shot films

Historically restricted by film magazine being 35mm

Digital cameras in 1990s allowed much longer takes

The Body Remembers

Not a one-shot film

Used a 16mm camera for a documentary effect

Uses hidden cuts to make most of the film look like one long take

Real time transitition: choreographed stitch points where camera assistants would have a camera pre-rolling to swap with cinematographer, transitions digitally seamed in post-production

Functions of mobile framing in The Body Remembers

Extended tracking shot of main characters restricts narration to them and facilitates sympathy for them

Sense of real time

Documentary aesthetic

Continuous movement mirror their literal and metaphorical journey

Creating moments of discomfort and empathy

Dolly shot

Track in: dolly pushes forward

Track out: dolly pulls out (essentially going backwards towards audience)