Week 3: Student Blogs

I commented on Cori Holloway and Ryan Witthoff's blog posts about different shots. 

The most interesting shots Cori filmed were the dolly shot, the high angle shot, the low angle shot, and the extreme close-up shot. What I liked about her dolly shot was it felt like you were walking with the subject, giving the audience a feeling of inclusivity. The high angle shot gave a really unique perspective and allowed you to fully observe the scene below. This shot can give the illusion that you are hanging over the edge of something, adding to the scene. Maybe in the scene they are figuratively barely hanging on while the audience feels the same physically. The low angle shot looked like it could be used in music videos or more playful settings. The subject in this shot looks larger than normal, making it seem like they are important even if they aren't. The extreme close-up shot evokes feeling uncomfortable because of the excess of intimacy between the subject and the audience. These are used sparingly because they are used for more serious, intimate moments. 

Ryan filmed a dolly shot, cameo shot, extreme long shot, and reaction shot. Like Cori, he had a very good dolly shot. In this scene, the subject is running away from something, but you don't know what. If the camera moves at the same speed the subject is running, it creates the illusion that the audience is running away from the same threat. In the cameo shot, the audience is closer up to the subject and they are centered in the center of the frame. This lets you know that this character is important and you should pay attention to the scene. It also lets you feel a sense of closeness with the subject because it feels like you are having a conversation with them. The extreme long shot establishes the setting and/or lets you know the subject in the shot is not of importance. The reaction shot creates mystery for the audience and makes them curious to know what is behind the camera that caused that reaction. 

Week 2: Different Shots

This week was our lesson on different types of shots and we were assigned to create 12 different shots and describe our experience. 

1. This shot is a freeze frame shot. I used this shot to freeze a shot of Whitney jumping on the bed. I think this shot can add a comical element to a scene as well as an element of surprise.

2. This shot is a tight shot. Whitney takes up the whole frame in this shot. I think this shot can shock and make the audience uncomfortable with how close it is.

3. This shot is an eye level shot. This shot can also be very uncomfortable because of the unbroken eye contact of the subject.

4. This shot is a cameo shot. Filming against a solid background allows the subject to be the focus for the shot. This shot can be used when something very important is about to be said by the subject. This shot screams to the audience "hey this is important pay attention!"

5. This shot is a close shot. A close shot seems to be the standard shot when a subject is speaking. It draws the eye to the subject.

6. This shot is a low-angle shot. A low-angle shot seems like it would be used more for comedic purposes or something that isn't very serious.

7. This shot is a close-up shot. In this particular shot it shows my hand petting my cat. I think that these shots can be useful in introducing a scene and what a character is doing. 

8. This shot is a flash shot. This type of shot can be surprising and shocking, as well as bring an element of mystery. The audience is not given enough time to fully dissect what is happening into the scene.

9. This shot is a follow shot. This shot can be hard to film if you don't know where your subject is going. I had this trouble when filming, especially because my subject was a cat.

10. This shot is an extreme close-up shot. An extreme close-up shot can be uncomfortable and mysterious. The audience can become uncomfortable from being so up close and personal with the subject but also be curious to see the rest of that subject and the setting.

11. This shot is a tilt shot. Tilt shots can be useful in showing the setting of the scene and providing a glimpse into the action while not instantly revealing the character and the scene unfolding.

12. This shot is a high-angle shot. This can give an interesting perspective and also allow you to observe everything around the subject as a whole.

Why I'm Taking AICE Media Studies

I am taking AICE Media Studies to fulfill my AICE Diploma requirements of taking seven AICE classes. I am also taking this class because of my interest in cinematography and curiosity of how films come to life. I hope to further understand the world of film and be able to develop a film of my own with the knowledge I've learned.