Camera Angles

In this post, I will be discussing about three types of camera angles that are used in the media. Along with that I will explain why the camera shot is used as well as the effect it has on the audience.

The Shining (1980), Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance

This shot is a close up shot and it shows Torrance's face between two door ledges while he has a malicious look. His teeth are bared and his eyes look to his left which suggests he's looking at something. He has a strand of hair on his face and his nose is flared. The close up shot allows us to examine the intricate details on Torrance's face as well as getting an understanding of the characters emotion. This is an iconic shot as it has Torrance yell "Here's Johnny!" to someone. The close up shot allows Torrance to display a menacing psychopathic look on his face and it helps him to deliver the iconic line. This has an effect on the narrative for it shows to the audience, a sudden twist in the plot.

Inglourious Basterds (2009) left-to-right, (Eli Roth as Donny Donowitz/The Bear Jew and Brad Pitt as Lieutenant Aldo Raine/Aldo the Apache)

This shot is a low/point of view shot as it makes Donowitz and Raine the main subject of this shot. They both are looking down directly on the camera as Donowit has a hand (with a gun?) stretched out in front of us while Raine brandishes a large knife in front of us. This shot shows the dominance and power in the characters. The weapons also help in making these characters stand out and be more powerful. The point of view shot allows the reader to be immersed in the scene and make the audience almost feel like they are in the forest and are about to be killed by Raine and Donowitz. This is effective as it makes the story suggest that this is a suspense or action.

Mean Girls (2004), left-to-right, (Rachel McAdams as Regina George and Lindsay Lohan as Cady Heron)

This shot is an over the shoulder shot as it gets the audience to focus on George. We look over Heron's shoulder as a part of the scene but it also allows the audience to almost empathize with Heron as she listens to George. George has an disgruntled look on her face which suggests that she is unhappy about something to do with Heron. George's focus is completely on Heron and this adds on to her face that she is ignorant to anything else around her. This portrays to the audience that the movie is quite a dramatic movie due to the facial expressions and the mundane surrounding.