Monday, October 8, 2007
Interesting Use of Camera Angles
This post is all about camera angles on today’s show, Monday October 8. From our Mass Comm lecture recently we learned how in American movies, the camera angles can be used to make characters or scenes seem more important. There were only 2 guests on today’s show, a divorced couple in need of some counseling. Instead of cutting from one guest to the other as much as they usually do, they used angles that captured both of their faces in the shot. They also showed the audiences’ expressions as well as Dr. Phil’s more than usual. I laughed a lot at this episode because Dr. Phil looked bewildered half the time because he couldn’t get a word in with the 2 guests talking over each other. Near the end of the show, there were more close-ups as Dr. Phil was counseling them and saying things that could have hit some emotional strings. I noticed that while the camera’s shot was stationary on the audience and guests, it moved with Dr. Phil’s body movements.
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4 comments:
In our lecture we learned about camera angles. When placing the divorced couple together in one frame gives the audience an idea of what it was like when they were married. They see the way they react to one another. Also by going to the live audience you get to see their reactions to the guests on the show. Also, since the two guests were in one shot together and they spent half the time bickering you wouldn't have to go back and forth between the two if you had two different shots, one for each of them. Also you are panning from guests, to audience, to Dr. Phil, helping to tell the story. That's the main point of camera angles, you're trying to get the emotion of the story to come through, and treat it as though the people who are watching it are actually there experiencing it. Having the camera stay stationary on the audience is good, there shouldn't be much movement with them, all you really need from them is their faces or laughter. But, since the camera followed Dr. Phil around and moved with his body movements also contributes to the story telling aspect of camera angles.
I agree, it was nice being able to see the couple in the same shot, instead of having the camera cut back and forth really quick. Jerry Springer's cameras seem to go crazy like that. Thanks for your input! :)
Sure, camera angles are used in movies, television, and just mass media in general to put an emphasis on certain things or people. I have never really watched the Dr. Phil show in full, but I definitely can see how it would be more interesting if the audience at home could see all of the things that are happening and the people's expressions and reactions. I believe that doing this allows the audience to have a better perspective on the discussion and how the people feel. It is more effective in general.
I think it's really great how you were able to take the class lecture and encorporate it into the blog analysis. [I have a more in depth response on another post :) ]
-jennifer allmond
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