I really love Michael Mann and he uses moving camera shots frequently in many of his films. I couldn't find the individual examples on Youtube but I have the trailer for Public Enemies and a tribute video someone did to him, containing a good amount of shots.
There are some other examples that I couldn't find online. One was the scene from Gladiator when Russell Crowe has just survived in the desert arena and the camera rapidly spins around him with a low-angle shot.
Camera movement is very important and can add a great deal of depth to a film or a particular scene. The audience can move with the camera and the movement can be used to show point of view or even symbolize some of the characters traits. Movement becomes bad however when there is too much of it and it takes away from the story because the audience becomes distracted. Knowing when and how to use it in shots is key to its success.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Camera Movement
Here a few examples of camera movement from films I like.
The classic Steadicam shot from Goodfellas.
The use of the Steadicam following the actors through the kitchen, etc made the audience feel like they were right there, following the action in one smooth,long take.
Another example from Children Of Men
The classic Steadicam shot from Goodfellas.
The use of the Steadicam following the actors through the kitchen, etc made the audience feel like they were right there, following the action in one smooth,long take.
Another example from Children Of Men
Monday, October 10, 2011
Shot Analysis. "Easy Rider" Freedom
The scene I chose for my shot analysis comes from the film "Easy Rider", directed by Dennis Hopper and staring Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, and Hopper himself. Here's a link to the IMBD page for the film that includes the full synopsis. In this particular scene, towards the end of the film, Wyatt (Fonda), Billy (Hopper), and George (Nicholson), are in the South, and after experiencing some ignorant, threatening behavior from the locals, due to their looks, the characters are camping out in the woods. They begin to talk about America and how it was and what it has become. They discuss the irony in this "free" nation and how people react to true freedom.
IMDB Easy Rider
Unfortunately I don't know how to place each individual image on here. I've been at it for awhile but I can't get it to work right. I'll put the time with each shot description then I'll put the video at the end for reference.
Shot 1: Down Pan to Long Shot (0.06)
Moss on the trees gives location, which at this point is in the South. River in the background, along with the sunset coming in through the trees. Motorcycles on the left side of the frame with Wyatt next to the campfire, situated on the z axis. George and Billy are situated to right. Shot establishes location and setting.
Shot 2: Medium two shot of George and Billy. (0.08)
Fire Illuminates their figures, they are facing the fire.
Shot 3: Medium Shot (0.12)
Light source is the fire, which is situated in the foreground, on the left line of the rule of thirds. Wyatt is behind the fire. His nickname is Capt. America, and his American Flag motorcycle helmet is in the bottom right corner. Aside from establishing his location in relation to the fire there is some symbolism here. Wyatt's character is on a mission, which is to find America, what America really is. He himself represents this free idea of America, and the optimism he has on the road exudes throughout most of the film. The fire being in the foreground symbolizes that the optimism is still there, that there is still hope for him on his quest, and ultimately hope for America itself. The helmet in the shot reminds the audience of this.
Shot 4: Close up of George (0.16)
George's head is almost positioned directly in the middle of the frame. The only thing illuminated is his face, from the fire. His eyes seem to be looking at the camera, as if speaking directly to the audience. He says " You know, this used to be a hell of a good country." This sets up the subject matter for the discussion presented in this scene. The close up shot and the position of his eyes emphasize the importance of this statement.
Shot 5: Medium Close Up OTS shot (0.20)
Over right shoulder of George, but with the right side of his face situated on the left line of thirds. Billy is on the z axis, looking at George. George says, "I can't understand it", referring to his previous statement. The fire illuminates from the right off-screen. This establishes who George is talking to, which is Billy.
Shot 6: MCU Reverse OTS shot (0.28)
Billy is on the right side of the screen, with George's face on the left line of thirds. Fire illuminates from the left side, off frame. George looks at Billy as he responds. "Everybody got chicken man, that's what happened...We can't even get into a second rate motel..." They're discussing the irony in how such a "free" country won't accept them because they look and act different.
Shot 7: Back to Medium Close Up OTS shot (0.38)
Back to shot over George's shoulder, facing Billy who says, " I mean a second rate motel man. They think we're gonna cut their throat or something man...they're scared man." He looks back at George after dragging his cigarette. George responds to his statement, "They're not scared of you. They're scared of what you represent to them." Billy shows a puzzled look on his face, "Hey man, all we represent to them is someone who needs a haircut." to which George responds, "Oh no..." This is important because the conversation is reaching a climax. George is explaining what he means and is about to make his point about this country.
Shot 8: Back to Medium Close up Reverse OTS (0.52)
George says, "What you represent to them, is freedom." To which Billy, after exhaling his smoke, says "What's wrong with freedom man, that's what it's all about." George responds, "Oh yeah that's right, that's what is all about..."
Shot 9: Medium Shot (1.01)
Back to shot of the fire and Wyatt. Wyatt is laying down, relaxed with the fire still in the foreground on the left. George's character continues to talk but he is not shown in the frame. Wyatt doesn't seem to be listening to what is being said. This shot is important because what George is talking about, the true idea of freedom, is represented by Wyatt in the film, so as he says it there is a cut to Wyatt. George says, in regards to freedom, "Oh yeah that's what its all about all right, but talking about it, and being it, that's two different things..."
Shot 10: Medium Two shot of George and Billy (1.06)
George and Billy are looking at each other, the fire illuminate the front of their bodies and sides of their faces as George continues the conversation. He says to Billy, " I mean it's real hard to be free when you are bought and sold in the marketplace..." Both look down, as if taking in what was just said, then George says, " I mean don't..." Then the shot cuts to the next shot.
Shot 11: Medium Close up OTS Billy's shoulder (1.17)
It goes back to the shot of George over Billy's left shoulder. The fire is flickering off-screen to the left, lighting up George's face and the left side of Billy. George continues his sentence, "...ever tell anyone they ain't free, because then they'll get real busy killing and maiming to prove to you that they are. Oh yeah, they gonna talk to you and talk to you about individual freedom..." You can see the seriousness and almost sadness in George's face as he says this.
Shot 12: Medium Close Up Reverse OTS (1.30)
Shot is over George's right shoulder, looking at Billy as the conversation continues. " But they see a free individual, it's gonna scare em." George says this as Billy looks at him, his brow tense. Billy then looks at the fire and responds, "Well it don't make em running scared..." He takes a drag of his cigarette.
Shot 13: Medium Close Up OTS (Billy's Shoulder) (1.39)
George is staring at Billy and he disagrees with Billy's last statement, he says, "No...it makes em dangerous."
Shot 14: Medium Close up Reverse OTS (1.45)
Billy nods in response to what George has just said and the people being dangerous. Then George makes an odd noise, waving his elbows and Billy's face looks surprised.
This is an important conversation in the movie, because it touches on an important theme from the film. That freedom is different for everyone and it is very difficult to be accepted as someone who truly lives free, if what you choose to do is against the cultural norm of the time or area where you live. It's one of my favorite scenes from the film. Here is a Youtube link to the clip..
IMDB Easy Rider
Unfortunately I don't know how to place each individual image on here. I've been at it for awhile but I can't get it to work right. I'll put the time with each shot description then I'll put the video at the end for reference.
Shot 1: Down Pan to Long Shot (0.06)
Moss on the trees gives location, which at this point is in the South. River in the background, along with the sunset coming in through the trees. Motorcycles on the left side of the frame with Wyatt next to the campfire, situated on the z axis. George and Billy are situated to right. Shot establishes location and setting.
Shot 2: Medium two shot of George and Billy. (0.08)
Fire Illuminates their figures, they are facing the fire.
Shot 3: Medium Shot (0.12)
Light source is the fire, which is situated in the foreground, on the left line of the rule of thirds. Wyatt is behind the fire. His nickname is Capt. America, and his American Flag motorcycle helmet is in the bottom right corner. Aside from establishing his location in relation to the fire there is some symbolism here. Wyatt's character is on a mission, which is to find America, what America really is. He himself represents this free idea of America, and the optimism he has on the road exudes throughout most of the film. The fire being in the foreground symbolizes that the optimism is still there, that there is still hope for him on his quest, and ultimately hope for America itself. The helmet in the shot reminds the audience of this.
Shot 4: Close up of George (0.16)
George's head is almost positioned directly in the middle of the frame. The only thing illuminated is his face, from the fire. His eyes seem to be looking at the camera, as if speaking directly to the audience. He says " You know, this used to be a hell of a good country." This sets up the subject matter for the discussion presented in this scene. The close up shot and the position of his eyes emphasize the importance of this statement.
Shot 5: Medium Close Up OTS shot (0.20)
Over right shoulder of George, but with the right side of his face situated on the left line of thirds. Billy is on the z axis, looking at George. George says, "I can't understand it", referring to his previous statement. The fire illuminates from the right off-screen. This establishes who George is talking to, which is Billy.
Shot 6: MCU Reverse OTS shot (0.28)
Billy is on the right side of the screen, with George's face on the left line of thirds. Fire illuminates from the left side, off frame. George looks at Billy as he responds. "Everybody got chicken man, that's what happened...We can't even get into a second rate motel..." They're discussing the irony in how such a "free" country won't accept them because they look and act different.
Shot 7: Back to Medium Close Up OTS shot (0.38)
Back to shot over George's shoulder, facing Billy who says, " I mean a second rate motel man. They think we're gonna cut their throat or something man...they're scared man." He looks back at George after dragging his cigarette. George responds to his statement, "They're not scared of you. They're scared of what you represent to them." Billy shows a puzzled look on his face, "Hey man, all we represent to them is someone who needs a haircut." to which George responds, "Oh no..." This is important because the conversation is reaching a climax. George is explaining what he means and is about to make his point about this country.
Shot 8: Back to Medium Close up Reverse OTS (0.52)
George says, "What you represent to them, is freedom." To which Billy, after exhaling his smoke, says "What's wrong with freedom man, that's what it's all about." George responds, "Oh yeah that's right, that's what is all about..."
Shot 9: Medium Shot (1.01)
Back to shot of the fire and Wyatt. Wyatt is laying down, relaxed with the fire still in the foreground on the left. George's character continues to talk but he is not shown in the frame. Wyatt doesn't seem to be listening to what is being said. This shot is important because what George is talking about, the true idea of freedom, is represented by Wyatt in the film, so as he says it there is a cut to Wyatt. George says, in regards to freedom, "Oh yeah that's what its all about all right, but talking about it, and being it, that's two different things..."
Shot 10: Medium Two shot of George and Billy (1.06)
George and Billy are looking at each other, the fire illuminate the front of their bodies and sides of their faces as George continues the conversation. He says to Billy, " I mean it's real hard to be free when you are bought and sold in the marketplace..." Both look down, as if taking in what was just said, then George says, " I mean don't..." Then the shot cuts to the next shot.
Shot 11: Medium Close up OTS Billy's shoulder (1.17)
It goes back to the shot of George over Billy's left shoulder. The fire is flickering off-screen to the left, lighting up George's face and the left side of Billy. George continues his sentence, "...ever tell anyone they ain't free, because then they'll get real busy killing and maiming to prove to you that they are. Oh yeah, they gonna talk to you and talk to you about individual freedom..." You can see the seriousness and almost sadness in George's face as he says this.
Shot 12: Medium Close Up Reverse OTS (1.30)
Shot is over George's right shoulder, looking at Billy as the conversation continues. " But they see a free individual, it's gonna scare em." George says this as Billy looks at him, his brow tense. Billy then looks at the fire and responds, "Well it don't make em running scared..." He takes a drag of his cigarette.
Shot 13: Medium Close Up OTS (Billy's Shoulder) (1.39)
George is staring at Billy and he disagrees with Billy's last statement, he says, "No...it makes em dangerous."
Shot 14: Medium Close up Reverse OTS (1.45)
Billy nods in response to what George has just said and the people being dangerous. Then George makes an odd noise, waving his elbows and Billy's face looks surprised.
This is an important conversation in the movie, because it touches on an important theme from the film. That freedom is different for everyone and it is very difficult to be accepted as someone who truly lives free, if what you choose to do is against the cultural norm of the time or area where you live. It's one of my favorite scenes from the film. Here is a Youtube link to the clip..
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Reflections
I feel like I've learned a great deal so far in this class. I learned first of all how to take risks and to just experiment with the camera. My strengths, or areas I've feel that I've improved in would be camera operation and framing and composition. I feel like I'm confident with my framing, and now everything I look at on T.V. or Film, I try to dissect the composition. Lighting is definitely challenging to me, and knowing what filter to use when. It's just memorization with the filters, but I haven't committed myself to it yet. With lighting, it's just being more familiar with the different types of light and knowing when and where and how to use them for a certain effect.
Videography, personally, has become addicting to me. I'm constantly thinking of things to photograph or how to get the most dynamic shots I can with whatever I'm presented. I think it's a valuable skill to possess and for people wanting to make films, I think it is crucial that they learn videography.
Videography, personally, has become addicting to me. I'm constantly thinking of things to photograph or how to get the most dynamic shots I can with whatever I'm presented. I think it's a valuable skill to possess and for people wanting to make films, I think it is crucial that they learn videography.
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