Camera Shots, Angles and MovementsA2 Media Music Video ResearchMartyna Nowakowska

Camera Shots• Camera shots are used in music videos for various reasons. They can

show the viewers what is happening, as well as showing and expressing the main characters’ feelings.

• Some of the most used shots include: Wide Shot

Mid Shot

Medium close-up

Close-up

Extreme close-up

Over-the-Shoulder Shot

Examples of the following on next slide.

Shot Example Notes

Wide Shot This shot gives the viewers a sense of the location, while (usually) still showing the main subject of the story.In this example we can see a car driving down a highway near a desert, from this we get a sense of isolation and loneliness, which is the theme of the song, Scar Tissue (Red Hot Chili Peppers).

Mid Shot This shot type shows either the artists or the main character(s) of the video from the waist up. The character is what this shot mainly focuses on, however it does give away a little bit of the location. For example, in the music video for Brendan’s Death Song we can see the guitarist and the drummer are somewhere where it’s warm as there are palm trees and a blue sky behind them.

Medium Close-up This shot is somewhere in between of the mid shot and a close up. It show the character of artist from the chest up. This shot focuses on the emotion in the facial expression of the subject.

Shot Example Notes

Close-up This shot show the artist’s of character’s face, and just the face, however the audience can still see some background. This type of shot is good at showing the emotion even better. This shot can also show the audience something that the character or artist is doing, for example playing the guitar, or show an object relevant to the story.

Extreme close-up This type of shot shows the artist’s or character’s face extremely close. This can show a crucial emotion, and set the mood for the video, or give the audience a better idea at how the character is feeling. This is also used to show lip-syncing. In the example we can see a girl who just got a tattoo done on the inside of her mouth which links to the meaning of the song.

Over-the-shoulder shot

In a narrative/story based music video the OTS shot is used for dialogues, alternating from one side to the other, whereas in a performance based video, this will be a shot where one artist is not facing the camera.

Camera Angles• The way the camera is positioned determines the angle of the shot.

There are many different camera angles used in the production of music videos to convey different images.

• Some of the most used angles include: Eye level

High angle

Low angle

Bird’s eye

Slanted

Examples of the following on next slide.

Angle Example Notes

Eye level This angle is very common in music videos, and shows the artists/characters how they would be seen if they were among us, in real life. This angle shows the scene as a real world view, as we would expect to see it normally. In this example we can see a very relateable situation of a funeral, and therefore this angle has been used in order to show the real emotion and feeling of the shot.

High angle This angle shows the character or artist from above giving the impression of them being less powerful, not significant or submissive, however this isn’t always the case. This angle can be used purely for an artistic and interesting effect.

Low angle This angle shows the subjects from below. This usually is used to show the characters as powerful or intimidating, and similarly to the previous shot, this isn’t always the case. It can also be used for a purely artistic and/or interesting effect.

Angle Example Notes

Bird’s eye view This angle show the scene from above. This can be used in order to show the location or scenery, or for a dramatic effect. In this case we can see the stage like set up on a roof.

Slanted This is also know as the Dutch angle and is usually used for a dramatic or artistic effect.

Camera Movements• The camera movement allows the operator to follow the artist/characters

and/or to show their performance. A director may choose to move action along by telling the story as a series of cuts, going from one shot to another, or they may decide to move the camera with the action.

• Some of the most popular movements include: Panning

Dolly/Tracking

Zoom

Pedestal

Crane/Jib

Handheld

Movement NotesPanning This can be described by saying that the camera pans

the scene horizontally. The camera is placed on a tripod which operates as a stationary axis point as the camera is turned to follow the subject in the middle of the frame.

Dolly/Tracking This is similar to the zoom, however the whole camera moves towards or from the character, not just the lens. The camera is mounted on a cart and travels along tracks for a smooth movement.

Zoom This movement involves changing the focal length of the lens to make the subject appear closer or further away in the frame.

Pedestal This is a movement which requires the camera to move up and down without changing its vertical or horizontal axis. The camera is on a tripod and the operator moves the camera up and down the tripod leg.

Crane/Jib A crane can be used to lift a camera (and operator, if it's big enough) from low to high shooting positions. Less expensive jibs can support the weight of a camera and lift it several feet off of the ground.

Handheld This is pretty much self explanatory. It’s where the operator will just simply hold the camera, and then employ a number of basic camera moves by moving the feet - trucking in and out, dollying in one direction or another, tilting, panning, zooming - and combinations of all of these.

In the video for the song Dark Necessities we can notice that the camera is never still. From the beginning, where the artists are shown on the sofa, to the parts where the skaters are filmed. The camera is never still. Even though at some points it seems still, if you look closely and carefully, you will notice the slightest movement.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0oIoR9mLwc

Handheld Example

In the video for the song Desecration Smile we will find a pedestal camera movement. This one consists of the guitarist playing, and this is shown to us through that specific movement.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-nNksBWxNI

Pedestal Example