Tracking Shots

Hi there, welcome back to another lesson on how to best use the tracking shot!

     Unlike setting up the camera and waiting for the action to pass in front of you, a tracking shot is where you literally track your subject’s movement with the camera. This either can be in front of the character or following behind the character. Because the point of view of the camera is virtually the same point of view as the audience, these are best used to help the viewers feel like they are apart of the action that is taking place on screen.

     Normally, a tracking shot involves mounting your camera on a dolly (a platform with wheels), which is designed to move your camera smoothly from one direction to another.  Since these can be pricey and we are not professional filmmakers (yet!), you’ll have to make do with a very steady hand while holding the camera.

     Using the tracking shot can be as simple or as complicated as you’d like. If you just want a short clip of your character walking to class, talking to a friend, you could track their movement by walking a little in front and to the side of them. This would be a simple tracking shot.

     More complicated ones can track the action for whole minutes. Before committing to a highly orchestrated tracking shot, make sure you’ve done all the necessary planning because they can be a lot of hard work getting all of the desired elements and timing down.

     Here are some examples of the best tracking shots in film today: 

Note that this almost tells a story and it gives you greater insight on the character’s lives and routines.

     Notice how all of this had to be perfectly planned before shooting because, otherwise, there would be no way to juggle around that many extras for one shoot.

     Here are some other great examples of tracking shots: http://www.filmcritic.com/features/2007/09/the-ten-best-tracking-shots-ever/

     Stay tuned for next week where you’ll learn all about different camera angles (high, low, eye-level etc.).

    Like always, feel free to leave comments or suggestions below or email me at ljm7686@truman.edu

See you all next Friday at 7 p.m.!

Long, Medium and Close-up Shots

Welcome back,

     Let’s jump right in! The three most basic shots that make up all film scenes are the long, medium and close-up shot.

     The long shot (or wide shot) is mainly used to give the viewer context by showing what’s going on around the subjects. For example, if you want to film a soccer match, you’d most likely want to include a few long shots that encompass the whole game, instead of following around just one player. 

     The long shot is often used to set up a location so the audience is aware of where the upcoming scene will be taking place. This is called an establishing shot. Think of all the times you’ve seen shots of the exterior of Monk’s Café from Seinfeld or the Central Perk coffee house from Friends. These are all examples of long, establishing shots.

     An extreme long shot, which can be shot from distances of over a quarter of a mile away, are used to emphasize the vastness of a region or show large-scale action scenes. One of the best examples of this is in Lord of the Rings, which is compromised of many long shots to show not only massive battles sequences, but also to show the enormity of the landscape in comparison to the size of the characters:

     Medium shots are by far the most common shots in film. While it can be difficult to distinguish between a medium shot and a close-up shot, the general rule of thumb is that a medium shot shows the full-length view of the subject. These shots are often used in simple dialogue scenes between characters and to emphasize body language.

     Here is an example (from one of the best movies of all time!) of a medium shot to help you gauge what the proper distance should be between the camera and the subject:

     Close-ups are used mainly used to express emotion during a dramatic scene. In this case, the emphasis is on the character. Close-ups can also be used to emphasize something of great importance in a scene. These shots mainly appear mere inches from the subject and are called extreme close-up shots. This is the cue to the audience that this object will be significant to the plot.

     For example, in Lord of the Rings, the camera does many extreme close-ups on the ring to bring the reader back to its importance. Here is an example of a scene from Requiem for a Dream with shots ranging from regular close-ups to extreme close-ups. Note how the emphasis is on the characters and the emotion between the two:

     If you have any questions or thoughts feel free to comment or email me at ljm7686@truman.edu. Tune in next Friday at 7 p.m. to learn all about tracking shots!

Welcome!

     So you want to make movies? If the answer is, yes, then this is the place for you. This blog aims to teach all you new, aspiring filmmakers the basics of filmmaking, including different shots and techniques that all beginners should know before taking their script to screen. 

     My name is Laurie Mattson and I plan to be your guide during your explorations of the world of cinematography. I'm currently a senior at Truman State University and President of Truman State Filmmaker's Club. While I have made some short films in the past, I, too, am a beginning filmmaker. That being said, I aim to learn just as much from this blog as hopefully you all will. 

     After a while, I hope that you'll start thinking in screen shots. Every room you walk into and every person you meet, I want you to ask yourself, "What is the best, most creative shot I can get out of this?" That's what being a filmmaker is all about. 

     To learn more about film techniques, check out this blog every Friday at 7 p.m.
     To tide you over, here is the trailer for one of my favorite films in terms of cinematography, Requiem for a Dream:

     Start exploring on your own now: check out http://www.empireonline.com/ for the latest movie news.