Camera angles and movement

This video touches on using one-shot vs two-shot angles to portray different levels of power. When two people are in the same frame it means they have equal power. When the camera focuses only one one person it could mean tension/power imbalance. I think it’s not necessarily about power but when there’s just one person in a frame it means the person has an important role to play at that moment - he could be petrified, threatening, experiencing a mixed bag of emotions. Whatever he’s experiencing is important for us to experience too.

The second half of the video focuses on whether cameras should also be moving or on a tripod. I like what he said about the use of a handheld camera to capture a character losing it. When the filming device is unstable the explosive emotions of the individual being filmed are amplified. I think tripod should be used where stability is required, where we are filming more pedestrian interactions within a fixed perimeter.

Video: