In class we talked about camera movement and were given the task to find two examples of the following:
-high angle shot;
-low angle shot;
-panning shot;
-crash zoom shot;
-long take
High Angle
The detective is powerless and scared since he doesn’t know what to expect. The high angle shot effectively conveys those feelings to the audience.
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix
The dementor has an advantage of Harry as he is petrified by them. Using the high angle shot, it shows the power that the dementor has over Harry and makes him powerless, even though he has his wand.
Low Angle
Quentin Tarantino Low Angle Shot Compilation (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill 1&2, Inglorious Basterds, Death Proof). The low angle shot is perfect to communicate superiority and power relations. It makes it clear to the audience who the dominant figures are. Quite often the trunk of a car is involved.
Panning
The Grand Budapest Hotel Panning shots follow the action/reveal something to the audience, in this case from a subject to an empty space or from a character to the other
La La Land Emma Stone dancing and Ryan Gosling playing the piano
Crash Zoom
Kill Bill 1&2, Django Unchained Mostly used to shock/reveal a piece of action suddenly, to show the character’s reaction, to emphasize and focus on facial expressions
Long Take
Goodfellas This long take shows familiarity with the place, importance and respect: they (Henry and Karen) walk through the kitchen to get to the dining room of the restaurant-a table is set up just for them in the middle of the room. The audience is allowed and ‘privileged’ enough to follow them.
The Shining Danny knows the hotel quite well at this point, this take shows how big and empty the place is, like a labyrinth. The camera is positioned at Danny’s eye level, so it feels like the audience is on a tricycle behind him.
Frame by Frame 