How to shoot people walking
Although at first it may appear that a shot of a character walking is one of most irrelevant, and perhaps pointless sequences within a film, it could be argued that it is one of the most iconic and relevant character establishing shots. This is because the camera can manipulate the audience to not just show a character walking, but to portray a character in a certain way. This can be done by using a variety of different camera shots, which keep the audience interested in what is happening within the sequence, and by focusing in on significant aspects of a character, it helps build a distinct impression of that character.
When shooting people walking, to keep the audience interested it is important to make the scene iconic and distinctive from the other shots in the film. One way of doing this is by using a close up of somebody's feet whilst they are walking. This is usually used in introductory scenes as it builds suspense and creates an Enigma code to keep the audience interested in what or who the character is, and what they are doing.
However, some directors feel that by doing the reverse of this and revealing everything to the audience in a long shot, until gradually cropping the shot, can have an equally dramatic effect upon the audience.
This is because by using a long shot with the subject of the shot at the center of the camera, it gives the audience an opportunity to observe the surroundings. An example of this is used in the film 'Easy A' by which the first shot is a wide long shot of the central character who is placed at the focus of the shot, the audience have a chance to take in and absorb what is going on within the shot. Also, by enabling the shot to show other characters reactions to one character, it can help exaggerate the effect of the character on the audience and show what the audience should think of a character.
For example, in this shot, the other characters are looking shocked, impressed, and disgusted. This makes it clear to the audience that she is different and stands out to everybody else, and that she is seen as an idol and subject of dispute amongst her peers which consequently makes the audience feel beneath, and indeed, pushed aside by the protagonist, resulting in the central character appearing more powerful and threatening to an audience.
When shooting somebody walking, it is also quite common to shoot them walking in slow motion, as it slows the pace of the scene down so that the shot has time to have an effect upon the audience. This also means that any dialogue or background noise is absent from the shot, focusing purely on the action within the shot. However to have no sound whilst having a walking scene in a film is extremely uncommon, as it has been found that by adding a backing track which is relevant to the mood, this can create a rhythm and a beat, which added to the dramatic slow motion walk, has a more pronounced effect upon the audience.
It is also common when shooting people walking to use a tracking shot, which is easier to shoot a longer walking scene as it means the sequence can continue until the characters have reached their destination rather than when the characters have reached the camera. By doing this, the audience are also put in the position of the camera and therefore by moving backwards it feels like the audience is moving along with the character making them again feel more involved in the shot.
Sometimes, this aspect of making the audience feel a part of the shot is accentuated by using a handheld shot so that the camera moves with the movement of the walk as if the audience are an observer of the walker, or indeed the walker themselves.
This although is not as smooth as a dolly or a track shot, it gives a more real, less rigid and restricted camera shot.
However, sometimes like the shot used in the example 'Easy A', the camera is stationary so that the audience have no freedom or power to move, which makes the character of importance appear more threatening as they advance towards the camera, again highlighting the fact that they are in control and powerful.
A pan shot is also commonly used when shooting a walking scene as it slowly draws the audiences attention to the crucial parts of a character that the directors do not want the audience to miss.
For example, a pan shot is normally used to show what a character is wearing, their body language and then their facial expression which all helps to create that characters image.
A pan shot is commonly used in films to change the shot from a mid body shot up to a shot of a characters facial expression. This is usually one of the last shots of the scene when the audience feel like they have finally understood enough about that character to be 'introduced' and build a relationship with the protagonist.
Although changing shot types is important, it is equally as important to change the camera movement to keep the audience interested.
Here is another 'Easy A' example of a crabbing shot, by which the camera follows alongside the person, consequently meaning that the character is not making eye contact with the audience but ignoring them. It is effective in making a character appear headstrong and determined, and is a much less personal shot than one where the character is focusing on the camera.
Although it is important to try and change the camera angles and movement to make the shot appear interesting, it is important to consider the 'crossing the line' rule, as to not confuse the audience. This rule was a guideline set out to mean that the audience are not confused by the apparent change of direction of the subjects. However some choose to ignore this rule to add to the disorientation of the audience.
Although at first it may appear that a shot of a character walking is one of most irrelevant, and perhaps pointless sequences within a film, it could be argued that it is one of the most iconic and relevant character establishing shots. This is because the camera can manipulate the audience to not just show a character walking, but to portray a character in a certain way. This can be done by using a variety of different camera shots, which keep the audience interested in what is happening within the sequence, and by focusing in on significant aspects of a character, it helps build a distinct impression of that character.
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| Easy A Long Shot establishing scene |
However, some directors feel that by doing the reverse of this and revealing everything to the audience in a long shot, until gradually cropping the shot, can have an equally dramatic effect upon the audience.
This is because by using a long shot with the subject of the shot at the center of the camera, it gives the audience an opportunity to observe the surroundings. An example of this is used in the film 'Easy A' by which the first shot is a wide long shot of the central character who is placed at the focus of the shot, the audience have a chance to take in and absorb what is going on within the shot. Also, by enabling the shot to show other characters reactions to one character, it can help exaggerate the effect of the character on the audience and show what the audience should think of a character.
For example, in this shot, the other characters are looking shocked, impressed, and disgusted. This makes it clear to the audience that she is different and stands out to everybody else, and that she is seen as an idol and subject of dispute amongst her peers which consequently makes the audience feel beneath, and indeed, pushed aside by the protagonist, resulting in the central character appearing more powerful and threatening to an audience.
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| Easy A mid shot |
It is also common when shooting people walking to use a tracking shot, which is easier to shoot a longer walking scene as it means the sequence can continue until the characters have reached their destination rather than when the characters have reached the camera. By doing this, the audience are also put in the position of the camera and therefore by moving backwards it feels like the audience is moving along with the character making them again feel more involved in the shot.
Sometimes, this aspect of making the audience feel a part of the shot is accentuated by using a handheld shot so that the camera moves with the movement of the walk as if the audience are an observer of the walker, or indeed the walker themselves.
This although is not as smooth as a dolly or a track shot, it gives a more real, less rigid and restricted camera shot.
However, sometimes like the shot used in the example 'Easy A', the camera is stationary so that the audience have no freedom or power to move, which makes the character of importance appear more threatening as they advance towards the camera, again highlighting the fact that they are in control and powerful.
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| Easy A close up |
For example, a pan shot is normally used to show what a character is wearing, their body language and then their facial expression which all helps to create that characters image.
A pan shot is commonly used in films to change the shot from a mid body shot up to a shot of a characters facial expression. This is usually one of the last shots of the scene when the audience feel like they have finally understood enough about that character to be 'introduced' and build a relationship with the protagonist.
Although changing shot types is important, it is equally as important to change the camera movement to keep the audience interested.Here is another 'Easy A' example of a crabbing shot, by which the camera follows alongside the person, consequently meaning that the character is not making eye contact with the audience but ignoring them. It is effective in making a character appear headstrong and determined, and is a much less personal shot than one where the character is focusing on the camera.
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| Crossing the Line Rule |
