Cinematography:Composition & the Camera in MachinimaCS 5964Thursday, January 29, 2009“WALL-E”or“Clockwork” at www.z-studios.comHow many different shots?What angles, types of shots?Thursday, January 29, 2009SHOT SIZES & TYPES•A close up is a “tighter” shot while a medium full or full is a “looser” shot•Can apply to whatever subject or object--animals, bugs, a box of cerealThursday, January 29, 2009Establishing Shot•A wide angle shot that shows the location of the scene.•Helps to familiarize the audience with where the scene is taking placeThursday, January 29, 2009Wide Shot (WS)•Includes the subject's full body and some of the surroundingsThursday, January 29, 2009Medium Shot (MS)•Includes about half of the subject’s body and less of the backgroundThursday, January 29, 2009Close-up (CU)•Includes the subject’s head, neck and sometimes shouldersThursday, January 29, 2009Extreme Close-up (ECU)•Includes only part of the subject’s face•Heightens facial expressions and intensity of actionsThursday, January 29, 2009Shot Sizes•A couple of ways to label but just be consistent within your own systemThursday, January 29, 2009Two Shot•Includes two actors and shows their relative distance from one another•It’s usually a medium shot•A three shot has three characters, etc..., up to a “crowd shot”Thursday, January 29, 2009Over the Shoulder (OTS)•Includes two actors, but the face of one and the back of the head/shoulder of another•Also called a “dirty shot” (compared to a “clean shot” that is not OTS)•Psychologically brings characters closer togetherThursday, January 29, 2009Point of View (POV)•The camera captures what one of the characters sees from their perspective•The other character is often looking straight into the camera, if there is another characterThursday, January 29, 2009Cut Away (CA) or Insert•A shot of an object in the scene that allows for an easier transition between shots--should be narratively driven•Shot is usually outside the immediate action•A clock is a common one but not always the bestThursday, January 29, 2009Cut In (CI)•A shot of an object in the scene that is within the action•Ex--hand pulling a gun from a drawer, or hands typing a letterThursday, January 29, 2009High Angle•The camera points down from above•The subject often looks more vulnerable or insignificantThursday, January 29, 2009Low Angle•The camera points up from below•The subject often looks more powerful or intimidatingThursday, January 29, 2009Bird’s Eye or Aerial•The camera points directly down onto a scene or subject, like a bird looking down onto the sceneThursday, January 29, 2009Worm View or Crotch Shot•The camera points directly upward, looking straight up at the subjects•Worm/bird...get it!•Most shots are at “eye level”Thursday, January 29, 2009CAMERA MOVESThursday, January 29, 2009Camera Movement•Motivation is key!•The camera should only move it if has a reason to•Does it follow action, reveal something, shift focus to another part of the scene, or have an emotional effect?•Just because it can move doesn't’ mean it should•Good camera work often goes unnoticedThursday, January 29, 2009•Pan--stationary camera rotates side to side, left or right•Tilt--Stationary camera cranks or bends up or down •Pedestal--Camera moves only vertical up or down •Track & Dolly--The camera moves on a track, often following action •Jib & Crane--The camera is mounted on a crane and moves to follow action or establish a sceneThursday, January 29, 2009COMPOSITION•What you exclude in the frame is just as important as what you includeThursday, January 29, 2009The Rule of Thirds•Avoid placing the subject dead center in the frame (there are exceptions--news anchors)•In a close up, the eyes often fall on the top lineThursday, January 29, 2009The Rule of Thirds•The horizon of a landscape usually should NOT be in the center of the frame•Exaggerate either the sky or the ground, for example Thursday, January 29, 2009Leading Looks•Directs the eye and indicates where character is looking off-screen (vector) •More ease when room for leading look, more tension when not•Especially important with moving shotsThursday, January 29, 2009Backgrounds•Pay attention to where your subjects are placed in relation to the objects in the background•A cluttered background distracts the viewer’s attention from the subject•Text especially distracts the eyeThursday, January 29, 2009Balance•Leading look changes balance, has weight•Masses--scale, volume, space (white/empty)•Tonality--relation of bright & dark; eye drawn to bright•Color--amount in frame, saturation, hot/coldThursday, January 29, 2009CLOSING WORDS•Be conscious of what your shooting and how; each choice changes the effect of the shot on your audience•A few minutes usually makes the difference between a good shot and a bad shot•Let your instincts guide youThursday, January 29,