Cinematography: Angle Research

 Cinematography: Angle Research

I researched into angles to help expand on any angles we may use in our film. Angles can depict various different things such as inferior characters and superior characters and can also indicate a view of disorientation. 

Camera angle: The position of the camera in relation to the subject of a shot. The camera might be at a high angle, a low angle or at eye level with what is being filmed. 

 

High angle: A high angle is a camera angle in which the camera that looks down upon a subject or object and is often used to make the subject or object appear small or vulnerable. The height of the camera for this particular angle can be altered by making the tripod extend or even standing on a high surface and pointing the camera at the subject. These particular shots are typically used in scenes between adults and children to convey the authority the adult has over the child. However, the high angle can portray the child as vulnerable. Here are a few examples of the high angle shot.



The High Angle is suggesting the males vulnerability as he
is in a compromising position despite having a gun. However, it
could also indicate that despite in a vulnerable position,
he still has the power to fight back. 

The High Angle within this shot evokes the importance of the male
catching the ring. The high angle shows the worry on the characters face and places him
below the ring, to suggest that the ring is of extreme importance. 




This High Angle conveys the child to be small and looking up
towards an adult. 

Low angle: A camera angle that looks up at a subject or object. Often used to make the subject/object appear powerful/dominant. This shot can be used as a point of view perspective a child looking at the adult or portrays authority over the subject. Here are examples of the low angle:



Within Charlie and the chocolate factory, the low angle is used to
present how high the elevator has risen above the town, placing Charlie in
a superior position for the first time. 




The low angle in Matilda is demonstrating her perception of the world,
reminding the audience that she is a vulnerable, small child.




Within Pulp Fiction, the Low Angle in this scene give Vincent and Jules an
essence of superiority over the contents of the boot, it creates intrigue as to what they are
looking at.

Canted angle: Camera angle that makes what is shot appear to be skewed or tilted. This can often be used to convey a character who is drugged, disorientated, entering a state of mind, or sometimes a point of view perspective.
Notable uses:
The 1920 German film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, first used the canted angle also known as the Dutch angle, derived from the word 'Deutsche'  to emphasise the madness of the characters. It also was used to represent the social destruction taking place in Germany shortly after the first World War.










In 1929 Dziga Vertov's documentary featured the canted angle among other revolutionary camera techniques that are widely used in today's cinematic works.


Canted Angle: Vertov




Canted Angle in Vetovs work




Vertovs unique techniques



Other noteworthy uses of the canted angle can be seen in the film The Third Man (1940). There is an extensive use of canted angles to emphasise the protagonists alienation.

Within the film Battlefields Earth (2000), the canted angle was overused, even in scenes where it added no purpose for the angle. However, it was used to convey other worldly creatures. Critics have stated that the over use of the canted angle makes it a laughable piece of cinematic history even to the point of one critic stating that the director had emulated the angle from successful films but yet had to learn why they used it.



As you can see from the trailer, the canted angle is frequently used out of context.








The canted angle in this scene, disorientates the viewer and creates
movement in the violent action. It excludes the audience from being personally
involved but depicts the feeling of the Joker physically.

Inception features a dream like state, the cantered angle reinforces this state of mind
the characters can enter and disorientates the viewer as it is not commercially used within films.

The video above demonstrates the angle degree at which a canted angle can be positioned. I found this useful as whilst filming I may refer to the variation of the canted angle to disorientate the viewer. I feel a canted angle will be suitable for the underpass scene in which Vera has a flashback to a murder that takes place there.

The camera angle research will enable me to select a variety of angles for the short film in order to make the film look professional and well dissected into shots.