Selecting Camera Movements

Beginners normally tend to move around the camera either because they don't know why they should do it, or because they want to have one lengthy shot that will cover all the action or simply because they can move the camera! But one ought to remember that every camera movement has a reason.

The camera movements that one sees on the screen are as follows:

PAN, TILT, ZOOM IN /OUT, DOLLY IN/ OUT, TRUCK LEFT/ RIGHT, ARC LEFT/ RIGHT, TONGUE UP/ DOWN.

Pan/tilt: To follow action. To include or exclude subjects. To show spatial relationships. To shift attention. To build or clear suspense. To show panoramic views.

Zoom in/out: To adjust framing by removing or including certain objects. To get a bigger view of far away objects or get a wider shot when the normal lens cannot provide the desired field of view. Increase or decrease depth of field. To increase flexibility in terms of production. To produce distorted images or otherwise.

Dolly/track in: To exclude some objects. To focus attention on part of action. To shift emphasis on an object or part of action. To create subjective movements. Increase emotional tension within the frame. To decrease field of view. To get closer to objects.

Dolly/track out: To increase field of view. To go farther away from objects. To include more objects. To create subjective movements. Decrease tension.

Truck right/left: To Follow moving subject across the screen. To reveal context. To create subjective movements. To emphasise depth of field.

Arc left/right: To provide fresh point of view. Exclude or include background or foreground. To reframe a shot. To provide subject’s position vis-à-vis the set/ location. To avoid transitions and maintain continuity.

Tongue up/down: This movement is normally used in all gameshows, quizzes etc. when the camera on a crane/jib moves over the anchor on to the audience or vice-versa.

Some notes on TIMECODE

What's it?

Timecode is the address of every frame that is 'printed' on it when you record video onto a tape using a camera or a video tape recorder. Remember: The camera or the VTR needs to have a timecode generator in order to provide the address. The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers developed this technology. Hence the name SMPTE timecode.

What are its uses?

Timecode allows you to know how much footage you have recorded & is represented in terms of HH:MM:SS:FF where H stands for hour, M for minutes, S for seconds & F for frames. For example, if the timecode shows 00:24:21:06, it means that you have recorded 24 mins, 21 seconds & 06 frames.

Timecode is also used to synchronize two different recordings done on two different recording equipment. It also helps editors to determine how much video/audio can/should be inserted during editing.

There are two kinds of timecode: LTC (Linear Time Code) & VITC (Vertical Interval TimeCode).

LTC: To put it simply LTC is the irritating tone that one hears sometimes on colour bars before the programme begins. The beep occupies a channel on the tape. It's called Linear or Longitudinal TimeCode since it occupies space across the length of the tape. This is mainly used by broadcasters since timeslots & scheduling is important. However, the machine has to be running & the tape has to be in motion if one has to identify the LTC.

VITC: This is another type of timecode that is hidden in the video track & helps one identify the exact frame even when the tape is not being played. You will see in action when you sit on a linear edit suite. It's placed in sections of the video signal which are not displayed on the screen. This time between frames is called the "vertical blanking interval". Therefore, this type of timecode is called Vertical Interval Timecode.

WELCOME TO LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

This weblog is conceptualized to be a one-stop video production guide for Indian students. You will see links to equipment manufacturers and dealers in India to help buyers and a number of tips and tricks that will help you see through your production.

Tips on taking care of your video equipment like camera, lights, microphones, audio mixers etc, and tips on both single and multi-camera productions etc will form part of the content.

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