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CU- Close-up. eg.
Someone’s head filling the frame
BCU- Big Close-up. eg.
Someone’s face filling the frame
ECU- Extreme Close-up. eg.
Someone’s eyes or mouth filling the frame.
Basic Camera movements and how to do them:
Pan- Side to side horizontal camera movement from a fixed point.
How to:
Fix the camera to a
tripod
, loosen the horizontal axis as much as you need and move
the pan handle smoothly from side to side.
Or:
Stand very still, using your arms to hold the camera steady and rotating your waist.
Tilt- Up-Down camera movement from a fixed point.
How to:
Fix the camera to a
tripod
and loosen the tilt axis. Move the pan handle up and down.
Or:
Hold the camera steady and do the same movement with your body. It will be steadiest if
you move from the waist with your knees slightly bent.
Track/ tracking shot- shot in which the camera moves, usually steadily in one direction
parallel to the ground.
How to:
Fix a tripod securely to standard
tracks
and
dolly
suitable for your camera- or
improvised tracking devices such as a bike, skateboard or trolley. Any tracking device on wheels
or tracks may make noise, be visible in the shot or cause sudden bumps and jolts.
Or:
Use the
GlideCam
kit. You will need lots of practice and special demo sessions for this.
Or:
use the circular
Fig Rig
, practice your ninja steps and hold the rig steady, walking very
quietly, steadily and slowly.
Finally:
You can do plain old hand-held tracking shots but you have to practice your technique,
and at the end of the day they still probably won’t be totally smooth.
Whichever way you do it this will probably take some practice, so allow time in your scheduling
to set it up and get it right.
Jib
- camera movement up or down vertical to the ground.
How to:
Attach your camera or tripod securely to a
jib
or
crane
suitable for your camera. Use
the appropriate weights to balance it and move the jib steadily like a seesaw. You will need
special demo sessions and some practice before you use the jib or crane. It involves heavy
weights and large bits of equipment.
Or:
You can also achieve a similar effect over a very small distance using the
GlideCam
kit. As
above, this requires special demo sessions and practice to avoid hurting yourself or the kit.
Jib shots will always take some practice, so allow time in your scheduling to set it up and get it
right.
Or:
Hold the camera and use your knees to make the up-down movement. You could use the
Fig
Rig
to help smooth out arm shakes.
Or:
Find a nearby escalator to provide you with a dramatic crane-like jib!
Tips for Shooting
Spatial Rules:
•
If your subject is walking or looking to one side of the frame, try leaving a bit of space in
that direction. If you pan to follow their movement, try anticipating their movement
instead of following it- that way they can’t catch you out and leave frame before you catch
up with them.
•
Try thinking about how shots will cut together in the edit. If the next shot involves them
coming into frame or travelling across frame, think about the direction in which they left