Benefits of Adding Movement to a Film

Exploring Space

• Visual geography: Movement helps the viewer understand a location's layout.
• Example: A camera moves through a character's house to familiarize the audience with the space.

Creating Relationships

• Characters and objects: Movement can focus on important interactions (e.g., a hand moving towards a knife).
• Following action: Movement often mirrors the action, important in fight sequences.
• Generating energy: Keeps the film's energy up and engages the audience visually.

Tools for Adding Movement

Dolly

• A cart that creates smooth movement.
• Can be pushed or pulled around the set.

Tripod

• Statically positions a camera.
• Swivels, tilts, and pans the camera.

Cranes

• Dynamic movement by raising and lowering the camera.

Rail Systems

• Smooth movement along built rails.

Advanced Techniques

• Helicopter shots, drones, etc.

Types of Camera Movement

Pan

• Definition: Horizontal camera movement.
• Example: "Magnolia" - clips of pans.
• Whip Pan: Fast pan causing image blur, often hides a cut.

Tilt

• Definition: Vertical camera movement.
• Example: Superhero landings - dynamic rush of motion.

Tracking Shots

• Definition: Movement along a track.
• Smooth movement: Dollies on meticulously set tracks.
• Example: Used to emphasize effort in tight spaces.

Steadicam

• Definition: A rig that provides steady motion while moving freely.
• Example: "The Shining" - following a tricycle.

Crane Shots

• Definition: Camera movement from one close-up to a wide shot in one go.
• Example: Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing".

Camera Lenses

Types of Lenses

Wide Lens

• Effect: Distorts spatial relationships.
• Example: "Raising Arizona" - baby in foreground, character looks far away.

Medium Lens

• Effect: Closest to natural vision, minimal distortion.

Long/Telephoto Lens

• Effect: Sharp/shallow focus, compresses depth:
  • Sharp focus on subjects, blurred background.
  • Compressed layers of depth.

Focus Techniques

Shallow Focus

• Foreground in sharp focus, background blurred.
• Example: "Seven" - Brad Pitt's face in focus, background blurred.

Deep Focus

• All layers of depth in sharp focus.
• Example: "Citizen Kane".

Rack Focus

• Definition: Change focus within a shot.
• Example: "The Young Victoria".

Zoom vs. Dolly

Zoom

• Definition: Lens changes focal length.
• Example: "The Shining" - background distorts and stretches.

Dolly

• Definition: Camera physically moves closer.
• Example: "The Godfather Part 2" - background stays undistorted.