The Ultimate Guide to Panning and Tilting

Introduction

• Camera movements like pan and tilt can change the mood of a scene.
• A pan turns a camera on a horizontal axis; derives from "panorama," meaning a wide view.
• A tilt pivots the camera vertically on an axis.

Differences Between Movements

• Panning and tilting vs. dolly and crane movements:
  • Dolly: moves through space horizontally.
  • Crane: moves vertically.
• Combinations: A dolly can include a tilt; a crane can include a pan.

Purposes of Pans and Tilts

• Establish spaces, follow movement, reveal information without cutting.
• Effects depend on filmmaker's aim.

Types of Movements

• Slow Pans:
  • Emphasize grandeur or build tension (e.g., "The Passenger," "It Follows").
  • Director David Robert Mitchell uses slow pans for suspense.
  • Apichatpong Weerasethakul uses slow pans for a meditative quality.
• Fast Pans:
  • Add energy; used for comedy or punchlines (e.g., "The Fabelmans," Wes Anderson films).
  • Whip pans show disorientation (e.g., "The Red Shoes").

Degrees of Movement

• Subtle Movements:
  • Maintain focus on performance (e.g., "Les Miserables").
• Full Movements:
  • Reveal more information (e.g., "Barry Lyndon," "Elephant").

Length and Composition

• Extended Pans/Tilts:
  • Follow action, emphasize trapped feeling in real-time (e.g., "Children of Men").
  • Build suspense with length and slow pace (e.g., "Paranormal Activity 3").

Framing and Lenses

• Framing evolves throughout a pan/tilt, but filmmakers often decide on starting and ending looks.
• Wide-Angle Pans/Tilts:
  • Establish large locations or vertical spaces (e.g., "Vertigo," "Star Wars").
  • Terrence Malick uses for ethereal quality.
• Medium-Angle Pans/Tilts:
  • Focus on intimate detail or specific reactions (e.g., "Easy Rider," "Raiders of the Lost Ark").
• Close-Up Pans/Tilts:
  • Emphasize small details (e.g., "Once Upon a Time in the West").

Blocking and Staging

• Blocking: Actor movement in a scene.
• Staging: Camera placement relative to actors.
• Movement synchronization with subject’s blocking (e.g., "Possession").

Camera Positioning

• Pans/Tilts with Motion:
  • Creates a flowing effect (e.g., "Donnie Darko").
  • Low-angle pivots create epic quality (e.g., "Gladiator").
• Eye-Level Pans:
  • Highlight a character’s perspective (e.g., "Eight and a Half").
• High-Angle Pans/Tilts:
  • Layout locations; emphasize height (e.g., "Me and Earl and The Dying Girl," "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol").

Conclusion

• Pans and tilts can greatly enhance a shot for various effects.
• Use StudioBinder's storyboard software for planning shots.
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