Camerawork and mise-en-scène

Overview

Camera distance, point-of-view shot and handheld camera used to signify.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is meant by camera distance?

   Model answer

   How much of the subject and its surroundings the frame includes, from extreme long shot to extreme close-up.

2. 2

   What does a close-up typically achieve?

   Model answer

   It isolates a face or a detail so that emotion or significance is made unmissable, and it creates intimacy with the subject.

3. 3

   What does an establishing shot do?

   Model answer

   It shows the location and the spatial relationship of what follows, so the audience knows where the action is set.

4. 4

   What does a low-angle shot connote?

   Model answer

   It looks up at the subject, which conventionally connotes power, dominance or threat.

5. 5

   What does a high-angle shot connote?

   Model answer

   It looks down on the subject, which conventionally connotes vulnerability, weakness or being observed.

6. 6

   What is a point-of-view shot, and what does it do?

   Model answer

   It shows what a character sees, which aligns the audience with that character's perspective.

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