Next task - camera movement

Your next training task will involve creating a sequence of shots which involve camera movement. Please see below for more information:

You will be shown a number of different kinds of shots and have filmed 10 second examples of these. You have also been asked to edit these into a sequence including titles. This should have been uploaded to your blog. If you did not complete these, you should do so first.

Next you will demonstrate that you can:

• Book the camera and a tripod
• Set the camera on the tripod
• Move the camera smoothly

Basics:

Responsibility - you owe it to your viewers not to make them motion sick, unless, of course, that is your goal! Rapid pans, tilts, repeated zooms can make a person feel woozy, and may also prevent them from clearly seeing your video.

The standard rule with moving shots is this: whenever possible, start your sequence stationary on a subject, then pan/tilt/zoom/reverse zoom, then hold stationary again. This helps enormously for editing purposes.

For example, if you want to move your camera from one end of a building to another, start focused on one side of the building and hold that shot for three seconds (stationary position), then pan to the other side (slowly enough so the video won't be a blur), then stay focused on the other end of the building for three seconds (stationary position). If you edit or cut away in the middle of a pan/zoom/tilt/reverse zoom, you may make your viewer disoriented.

In general, use shots with movement sparingly. Try to put a still shot (no pan, tilt, or zooming) in between two pans/tilts/zooms. This gives the viewer a moment to get their bearings.

Safety – make sure you have checked that there are no obstacles to your movement, or the movement of your performers/ crew. You should run through each of your shots prior to a take in order both to make sure that the shot will work and that everything is completely secure

The Shots

Shot	Description
Slow pan through 180º	Camera should be at eye level for a Year 7 student
Whip (fast) pan through 180º	Camera should be at eye level for a Year 12 student
Slow upward tilt through around 75º	Camera should start at near-ground level and tilt to around 75º focusing on a building
Fast downward tilt through around 90º	Camera should start at around +45º and end at around -45º, with 0º being at eye level for a Year 7 student focusing on a person
Zoom	Camera should be at eye level for a Year 12 student zooming in on a sign
Reverse Zoom	Camera should be at near-ground level beginning on a single leaf/ flower and zooming out to show a landscape
Point-of-View (slow)	Camera should travel smoothly down a corridor, replicating a student walking through the school
Point of View (fast)	Camera should travel quickly through an external location, replicating an individual being chased
Follow	Camera should track an individual through several doors
Overhead pan	Camera follows an individual from above head height

• Your shots should last between 5 and 10 seconds. Once you have completed the practical task, you should write a brief account of how to use a camcorder safely and sensibly on your Blog.
• You can create a short narrative within which to frame your shots if you wish. You are also invited to use a range of shot distances.
• You should aim to have all material ready for upload by the beginning of the lesson on Monday 28th September (period 4).