Camera techniques - Camera Movements

Camera movements can create brilliant visuals and effective communication. A moving shot can look more real and interesting to the viewers. Various equipment like track and trolley, dollies, rigs, jibs, cranes, drones, etc., are used in this process.

1.      Tilting

Tilting is a vertical camera movement in which the camera points up or down from a stationary position. Tilting the camera up can show the height of the subject; whereas tilting down can show the depth of a subject. Tilting up can also resembles emotions or situations like rising interest, expectation, hope and tilting down show disappointment, sadness etc. A variation of the tilt is the pedestal shot, in which the whole camera moves up or down.

2.     Panning

Panning is a horizontal camera movement in which the camera moves left and right about a central axis. This is a rotating movement, where the camera is mounted on a tripod. Panning can film a panorama view of the location. Panning should be smooth and jerk less for a perfect shot.

3.     Trucking

Trucking refers to side-to-side camera movement with respect to the action. In a trucking shot the camera move along or parallel to the subject, creating a feel that the background is moving while the subject stays stationary.

4.     Tracking

Tracking shot is defined as movement parallel to the action, at a constant distance. In this kind of shot, camera travels along the movement and actions of the subject or scene. The tracking shots use physical tracks, or hand-held walking shots, Steadicam shots, etc.

5.     Dollying

Moving the camera towards or away from the subject is dollying shot. A dolly is a cart which travels along tracks. The camera is mounted on the dolly and records the shot as it moves. Dolly shots have a number of applications and can provide very dramatic footage. Dollying creates an in and out movement. This type of shots can create varied emotions in the viewers. Dollies are operated by a dolly grip.

6.     Zooming

Zooming shot does not require the camera to move at all. Zooming means getting the subject moving closer to or further away from the action, using a zooming lens. Zoom in and zoom out are the effects created using a zooming lens. Zoom in is getting the subject closer to the camera while zoom out is moving away from the subject. It creates a great amount of creativity to the videographer. Zooming is just changing the focal length of the camera lens. As the distance from the subject varies, it also changes the entire portion of the frame, including the background.

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Camera techniques - Camera Angles

Camera angle determines the angle or position of the camera from the subject. The height and orientation or level of the camera decides the angle of the camera. Various angles can create different moods and meanings to the scene.

1.      High Angle Shot

In a high angle shot the subject or scene is filmed from a higher angle. Here the camera points downwards. The subject looks relatively smaller while filming from a higher angle.

2.     Low Angle Shot

The subject or the scene is filmed directly from below in a low angle shot. The camera is pointing upwards towards the subject and it appears larger to the viewers.

3.     Bird’s Eye View

It is an extreme of high angle shot. In this case the camera is pointing downwards to the subject from a longer distance. The camera will be either mounted on a crane or a drone. In this case the camera is directly above the subject and the subject may look too small for the viewers. It is also called overhead shot.

4.     Eye Level Shot

In this case the camera is placed proportionate to the eye level of the subject. It is commonly used in medium shots. It gives a feeling to the viewer that the character or the subject is directly looking at them.

5.     Dutch Angle Shot

In the case of Dutch angle shot the camera angle is deliberately slanted to one side. This can be used for dramatic effect and helps portray restlessness, disorientation, worried or desperate action, alcoholism, madness, etc. It is also called a Dutch tilt and oblique shot.

6.     Point of View Shot

This type of shot shows the perception or view point of a specific subject or character present in the scene. It is not deliberately used in film making. Point of view shot can make the audience feel they are watching a real incident. Found footage films and horror films have extensively used this type of shots.

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Camera techniques - Distance from the Camera/ Shot sizes

Distance from the camera is determined on the basis of the shot. A shot is a series of frames that runs for an uninterrupted period of time. It is the moment that the camera starts rolling until the moment it stops. Shots vary on the basis of the distance from the object and the angle through which the camera captures the visual. The concept of distance and proximity is important to determine the shot. Basic types of shots are:

1.      Extreme Long Shot (ELS)

In the extreme long shot, the view is so far from the subject that the subject isn't even visible. The point of this shot is to show the subject's surroundings. It is commonly used to capture landscape shots.

The extreme long shot is often used as an establishing shot. It is the first shot of a new scene that is used to show the audience where the action is taking place. It is also useful in scenes where a large number of subjects are involved. For example, in a war movie an extreme long shot can show the scale of the action. It is also called and extreme wide shot or landscape shot.

2.      Long Shot (LS)

Any shot that shows the full body of the subject is called a long shot. It shows the bottom to top of the subject and the details of the location in which the subject is situated. It can also be defined as a camera view of an object or character from a considerable distance to make the subject look relatively smaller in the frame. It is also called a wide shot or wide angle shot. It is used to show the location where the action takes place. Long shot is used to set the atmosphere of the scene. It is also used establish the interconnections between the characters in a course of broad range of action.

3.     Medium Shot (MS)

The shot that is filmed from a medium distance is called a medium shot. It refers to the presentation of the subject from the top of the head to the waist or knee. It is also called waist shot or bust shot.

The medium shot shows a portion of the background, and details of the action of the subjects. It is commonly used for two person shots and for showing working scenes. 

4.     Close Up (CU)

In the close-up shot, a certain feature or part of the subject is magnified. It takes up most of the frame. It is a shot taken from a close distance and is used for showing details. A close up of a person usually means a close up of their face, i.e., persons head from shoulders or neck. A close-up exaggerates facial expressions which convey emotion. It emphasizes the subject’s emotional state.

5.      Extreme Close Up (ECU)

It shows the extreme details of the subject. It is also called a detail shot or close on. It is too close to any specific part of the subject to show the general reactions or emotions.

6.     Over The Shoulder (OTS)

In this shot the camera is placed behind a subject who is looking at the main subject. The person facing the subject should usually occupy about 1/3 of the frame. This shot helps to establish the position of each subject, and get the feel of looking at one subject from the other's point of view. This kind of shot is used during a conversation scene.

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Equipment used in Film production

The basic equipment used in a cinema production is of four types.

1.      Lights

Lights are used in a studio to provide illumination for the camera. Camera can’t capture visual without light. Different types of lights are used in a studio production. Key light, fill light and back light are the basic types of lights used in a production. (Details in three point lighting techniques)

2.     Camera

It is the key equipment used in a television production. Professional cameras are commonly used in a production. It is the quality of the camera that determines the picture quality.

3.     Microphones

Microphones are used to capture audio. Microphones used in a production studio vary in size and quality according to the requirements of the production.

4.     Live editing suit

It is used to live edit the recorded video footage of the production.

5.     Jib, track and trolley, and rigs

This equipment is used to mound the camera and move it in necessary directions.

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The Stages of Film Production - Post production

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Post production is referred to as post and it is the final stage of production process. It comprises of tasks like editing, mixing, dubbing, special effects, etc.

1.      Assembling the rushes

The rushes or raw footage of the video are sorted in an order and viewed by the producer to ensure the quality of visuals. This helps to find any missing links or scenes which are to be noted for re shoot.

2.     Editing the video

The first stage of editing is rough cut where the video is organized according to the original script. An editing suite or software is used for this purpose. No kind of effect or sound is added in a rough cut. Later the video editor proceeds for the final cut or final edit after the approval of the producer. The dubbed sound, other sound effects, animations, visual effects and title graphics are added in the final cut. There are two types of editing; namely linear and non-linear. Non- linear editing is used widely for editing.

3.     Adding sound

This comes during the final edit process. The background score and other musical sounds will be recorded earlier. This process is done in an audio recording studio by the music composer and singers. This also includes recording live sound effects. All these sound effects will be edited and added to the final video.

4.     Dubbing

Dubbing is a complex process of recording human voice. In this process the dubbing artists will deliver dialogues for the characters, in a recording studio. The lip sync with characters in the video is most important for a perfect dubbing. Sometimes the actors who played the role will dub for themselves. Nowadays live recording is widespread. So dubbing is losing its relevance.

5.     Adding Visual effects and graphics

All the video footage will not be of desired quality or color temperature. So certain changes will be made in the case of color and brightness of the video. This is called color correction. This can be done by using various editing suites or software for color correction. This process is done during the final edit stages. The graphics or computer generated imagery is also created during this period by graphic designers and animators.

6.     Adding credits or titles

In the end of the final edit, the titles and credits for the technicians involved in the production is prepared. Adding credits requires experience as the names should be added in the order of importance. The courtesy for people supported the production also include the credits. Legal warnings on smoking, drinking, etc., also comes under this category. Titles of the film will be prepared earlier using graphics or animation.

Later the final product is previewed by the producer and other responsible authorities to ensure that there are no errors, and the content of the film does not violate any policies of the studio or the concerned organization.

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The Stages of Film Production - Production

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The production process begins with shooting. Director, actors and crew gather at a television studio or on location for filming the scene. Every scene will be shot according to the shooting schedule.  The basic equipment used for production is cameras, lighting devices, audio recording devices, Jibs, trolleys and various rigs. The number of cameras used for shooting may differ according to the nature of film. Most of the studio productions like phone in films and music shows require only one camera, i.e., single camera production. 

Productions for reality shows, serials and group chats require more cameras and are called multi camera production. Lighting for production requires a number of professionals and equipment for better visual quality. Basic lights used in a production are of three types; namely key light, fill light and back light. The cinematography and lighting techniques will be supervised by the chief camera person or the director of photography.

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The Stages of Film Production - Pre production

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It is the first stage of production. It involves everything that happens before shooting. Pre-production tasks include scripting, storyboarding, planning, budgeting, casting artists; construction of sets, props, and costumes, acquiring equipment like lights, camera, etc. Pre-production involves various tasks like:

1.      Conceptualization

It is the process of creating concept. Concept or subject matter is the basic idea of the film. A concept defines the objectives of the film and says what it is about.

2.     Research

Research is the deep study conducted on the idea or concept. Various aspects of the concept are analyzed in this process. Data collection from various sources to find out the possibilities of producing the film is the main objective of this stage. Research helps to create a one line of the story which is further developed into a script.

3.     Scripting

Script is the skeleton or basic structure of what we see as a film. Scripting is the process of writing down the entire matter to be produced. There are two types of scripts; namely screenplays or story scripts and shooting scripts. The screenplay is the basic script and it describes the story in its normal order. But the order of sequences in a shooting script will be arranged in the order of shooting schedule. Sometimes different scenes from two different parts of the story will be shot at one location for the convenience of production. Shooting script helps to arrange the sequences and scenes as per the availability of location and artist.

There are three types of treatment used for scripting. First one is short treatment. It is a short outline of the film without dialogues or commentaries included in it. Next type is step outline which describes the details of the basic story line and its sub plots. It is a sequence by sequence description. The third type is Full treatment, in which the details of characters, their behavior and relations, properties used, dialogues etc. are described in details.

4.     Storyboarding

A storyboard is the pictorial representation of the scenes. It provides a graphical representation of the camera angles and helps to fix the shot during production. A production crew includes artists who draw the storyboard according to the directors or producers instructions.

5.     Casting and Crew selection

Casting is the process of selecting suitable artists for the production. It is very important as the wrong choice for a particular role can lessen the effect of entire film. Selecting talented performers and anchors for film is done under the supervision of casting director and film producer. Selection of technical staff like camera person, music composers, sound recording artists, lighting team, etc., comes under crew selection process.

6.     Planning and Shooting Schedule

Shooting schedule is the basic order of conducting a production. Sometimes scenes from different parts of the story will be shot in the same location. In some cases scenes of some artists will be shot together as per their conveniences. In that case a shooting schedule will be prepared to arrange the conduct of production. A shooting script is the textual representation of schedule. Final decision on the types of properties used, and the number of junior artists in a scene, etc., comes under the shooting schedule.

7.     Location hunting & Acquiring permission

Finding suitable locations for shooting is a difficult process. It is a must for outdoor shooting. Some of the locations like forests, government buildings, institutions, etc., require special permissions from the concerned authorities. These types of activities are done in this stage.

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Production Process: The Stages of Film Production

The production process refers to the stages required to complete a feature film production, from the concept to the final copy. The production process is almost the same for all type of broadcast media.

1.       Pre-Production

2.      Production

3.      Post-production

These three stages are prime elements of producing meaningful and effective films. Production process is leaded by executive producer who guides the production team. The production team chose the crew, artists, location and equipment. They make finals decisions on script and content. The production team includes assistant producers who help to make the production run smoothly.

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Auteur theory of Filmmaking

Auteur theory, theory of film making in which the director is viewed as the major creative force in a motion picture. In film criticism, auteur theory holds that a director's film reflects the director's personal creative vision, as if they were the primary "auteur" (the French word for "author"). In spite of the production of the film as part of an industrial process, the auteur's creative voice is distinct enough to shine through all kinds of studio interference and through the collective process. In law, the film is treated as a work of art, and the auteur, as the creator of the film, is the original copyright holder.

Auteur theory has influenced film criticism since 1954, when it was advocated by film director and critic François Truffaut. This method of film analysis was originally associated with the French New Wave and the film critics who wrote for the French film review periodical Cahiers du Cinéma. Auteur theory was developed a few years later in the United States through the writings of The Village Voice critic Andrew Sarris. Sarris used auteur theory as a way to further the analysis of what defines serious work through the study of respected directors and their films. 

The championed filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa, Satyajit Ray, Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks, and Jean Renoir are known as absolute 'auteurs' of their films. Although André Bazin, co-founder of the Cahiers, provided a forum for Auteurism to flourish, he explained his concern about its excesses in his article "On the Auteur Theory".

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