Orlando Video Production

RT Design is Orlando’s top audio and video production house. Our services range from web walkouts and audio production for radio commercials to music video production and tv commercial production. If it’s about audio or video then it’s about us. If you have any questions regarding an audio or video project or to get a quote, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Article – Using Camera Angles for Best Effect

When you hear a movie director critiquing another’s movie you often hear the choice of camera angle criticized for one reason or another. I think it’s worth exploring the use of angles a bit in this post to let you all know what they are talking about, and how to choose a good mix of angles for your own productions.

The vast majority of any movie is going to be shot with standard angles, height and perspectives. Think of unusual angles as salt. A sprinkle here and there adds flavor to any dish, overdo the salt and it spoils it.

In my opinion, it’s better to get the standard shots in the bag first. Concentrate on the long, medium and close ups from natural angles. Get the vanilla footage down first, then think about adding a little salt by planning a couple of unusual angles for the piece. Depending on the scene you could stand on a ladder, sit or lie on the floor. Looking down on someone can make them look insignificant and weak, whereas looking up at them does the opposite. It can make them look powerful. Using shots like this can add drama to a piece and add dialog to your movie without having to say a word.

To add a little extra flavor to a scene what about placing the camera inside something? Inside a refrigerator when a subject is getting something to eat, inside a suitcase when they are packing/unpacking. Your imagination is the only limiter here, just keep it sensible and make sure the message still gets through loud and clear.

The other way to spice up a scene is by adding focus pieces to it. Find something interesting to put in the fore or background. How about a nice bottle of wine in the foreground of a wide shot of a couple at dinner? A bunch of flowers in a romantic scene? Something that adds to the scene or dialog can make all the difference to how your movie communicates to it’s audience.

To learn about camera angles, do what movie makers do best, watch each other’s work. Especially that of the greats. Looking at still pictures in a gallery or book can also be an inspiration when looking at composition and placement within a scene. Take inspiration from anywhere you want as long as you use it creatively, and sparingly within a piece.

Remember an unusual angle is the salt, not the main ingredient. It should never overwhelm or become the main view of any scene, but the little extra ingredient to make it that much more interesting.