Effective TV Production, 3rd Edition

 

 

Changing Shot — Moving Performer

It is all too easy to devise presentations that consist of little more than intercut ‘pot-shots’ from static viewpoints. But for interest and visual appeal, movement and change are essential.

Performer movement

A long series of static shots can be a bore. Try to introduce some movement of the camera or subject, however slight. Even having someone pointing out details is better than still pictures. When the camera pans as it follows someone around, we get a sense of participation, of anticipation. The picture becomes dynamic. We react to the location.

In longer shots, we are strongly influenced by the surroundings. In closer shots, the performer dominates the picture. So, by varying shot size and performer ...