Blog 2: Camera Shots and Angles

Introduction:

In this blog I will be analyzing and providing examples for five popular camera shots and angles. 

The five camera angles I will be discussing are: Low angles, Medium Close Ups, Extreme Wide Shots, Close Ups, and Medium Shots.

 

Low Angle;  Breaking Bad (2008)

(Timestamp 1:13 - 1:40)

In this scene, Walter White enacts his plan to get revenge on Tuco for beating up Jesse Pinkman. 

The shot begins with Walter being framed in the middle of a Low Angle Shot. This low angle makes Walter feel larger in the scene, making him feel powerful and important, cluing in the audience to his intentions. Then the camera proceeds to tilt downwards, with Walter reaching towards the viewer. These camera movements are juxtaposed with a quick shot of Tuco using a high angle shot, making him smaller in the frame to emphasize Walter's power over him. After a brief pause, Walter throws the fake meth onto the floor causing a massive explosion. 

The camera switches to a low angle shot to showcase the scale of destruction caused by Walter's actions. Then again to have glass fall onto the camera. These camera angles add weight to the scene and put on full display the destruction that Walter is capable of. They serve to empower the protagonist and to let the viewer know that Walter is a force to be reckoned with, despite his frail appearance.

 Medium Close Up; All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)

 (Timestamp 0:25 - 0:58)

In this scene, Paul Baumer fights through hellish war conditions minutes before the peace treaty is set to take effect. 

The scene begins with Paul running across a war zone with his fellow soldiers dying to French gunfire. The camera follows Paul through his dangerous run to cover as the battle consumes his surroundings. The camera stays mainly in one position as it follows Paul. This Medium Close Up allows the audience to see Paul's emotional distress while being able to see the carnage unfold around him. It creates a sense of stress and tension with the viewer, as the overwhelming chaos of battle becomes ever more apparent. 

The M.C.U makes it so the battle feels like it poses a real threat to Paul's safety by making sure the camera focuses on him primarily. By showing him in specific, and his struggle through the environment, the audience can put themselves in his general perspective and feel his suffering.

Extreme Wide Shot; Shin Godzilla (2016)

(Timestamp 0:27 - 1:14)

In this scene, Godzilla annihilates the city of Tokyo.

The scene begins with a wide of Godzilla's Atomic Breath setting Tokyo ablaze. The E.W.S is used to show the scope of Godzilla's destructive power, completely igniting the city in seconds. Then the scene shows Godzilla using a laser to slice through the skyscrapers in the city. 

By using the Extreme Wide Shot, the audience can truly understand how large the city is and the destructive potential of Godzilla.

 Close Up; Mann Vs. Machine [Team Fortress 2]  (2012)

(Timestamp 0:53 - 2:22)

In this scene, the Red team partners up with the enemy Blu team to fight a bigger threat.

 The scene begins with the members of the Red team being framed in a low-angle close up. The camera angle makes the Red team look dangerous and sets a false expectation of conflict and dread. Then the camera cuts to a close up of a Blu team member's reaction to the threat of the Red team. But the audience's expectations are subverted when the Red team offers to team up with them. Then the camera shows a series of closeups of the teams walking throughout a town and gets ready to fight the robot invasion

The series of closeups builds tension and anticipation for the coming battle against the machines.  As the audience sees the reactions of each of the characters. 

Medium Shot; Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith (2005) 

(Timestamp 2:32 - 3:04)

In this scene, Anakin and Obi Wan duel on the lava planet of Mustafar.

The scene begins with a high angle medium shot of Obi Wan and Anakin on top of a pipe with lava flowing below. The medium shot showcases the struggle of the two main characters as they try to survive their environment and duel each other at the same time. This heightens tension with the audience because at any moment one of them could fall; and that is exactly what happens to Obi Wan. Then Anakin follows and a medium shot of the two fighting while lava erupts in the background.; This symbolizes a climax in the fight, as the lava rising symbolizes boiling point in the two character's relationship as they are now fighting to the death. 

The medium shot in this scene serves to further heighten the fights dramatic scale and introduce a threat that affects them both from the environment around them.