Camera Angles in Short Films

Camera angles are extremely important when it comes to film. They make any movie more interesting and visually pleasing, rather than using one wide-shot throughout. They can be used to promote the idea of power or weakness, help a conversation flow and even reveal an object of importance. Overall, angles really make a movie run smoothly if done correctly and vice versa.

The first angle I want to mention is the Bird's Eye View shot, one of Alfred Hitchcock's favourites. This shot is quite unnatural, as the audience wouldn't usually look down upon people from this position... Unless they were especially tall or frequently use a particularly high pair of stilts. The point is, this shot puts the audience in a position of power, making the characters in-shot look insignificant and ant-like.
It's also an opportunity to show the entire scene from a good vantage point. Having a bird's eye view allows us to see everything that's going on, well, unless the characters are hiding under something, like a table or an umbrella.


The use of a high-angled shot is similar to the bird's eye, just not as extreme. It can be used to put a character in a position of weakness. As we look down upon them, they appear small, therefore making the audience feel bigger.
Similarly, a low-angled shot can put a person in the position of power. this is because we are looking up at them, making them appear bigger and more threatening.
To the left is an example of both high and low angled shots being used in "Scrubs", a very popular American sitcom. Although here it's being used in a comedic fashion, almost making a mockery of the shots, it can still be used more subtly and effectively.
At the start of the clip, there's a quick example of using a shot which is eye-level. This more neutral shot type brings us down to the same level as the characters. It's almost like we're observing the scene as another person in the room. This shot is very good when you want to show how all the character in shot are at the same level of importance. It brings the audience to the character's level.

Speaking of taking the audience down to the character's level, POV (point of view) shots are pretty swanky. Because this shot makes us see exactly what the character sees we can perhaps sympathise with them. We see as the character sees, so we feel as the character feels, hopefully.
To the right is a music video called The Stampede by Biting Elbows. This video only uses POV shots from one character, putting the audience in the character's situation. It takes us on this crazy journey, but I'm not explaining it, the video's right there so I don't have to. Anyway, this video is a grand example of the effectiveness of a POV shot. The use of a wide-angle lens is radical too.

The Dutch, Oblique or Canted angle, whatever you want to call it, is when the camera is slightly off-sett, rotated and not horizontal to the floor, making everything slightly disorientating. It's because of this disorientating sensation that makes this shot not feel right, bad almost. This angle can be used to imply corruption, instability and even foreshadowing something bad to come. If a character is evil or to be untrusted, this angle will help imply this.

-BW