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.!