The Language of Films 1 - Low Angle Shot

"For every face you see on the screen, there are hundreds that work behind it. And those are more stable professions." 

Films are not just a source of entertainment and time-pass, they allow us to escape from the real world even if for some time, they provide us knowledge and information, make us nostalgic, help in companionship and conversation building, and release tension. Films have their own language, film making is an art, but a film is also a result of hard work, planning, and sweat and blood.

To make a film, one should understand the Language of Film. As film makers, we use a language that not only tells a story, but we also create a product which could have a profound impact on the audiences. We tell our stories in a language that the audience may not understand, but certainly FEEL. 

Let's consider the Low Angle Shot. The dictionary(dictionary.com) meaning is as follows:

low-angle shot[ loh-ang-guh l ]

noun (in motion pictures or photography)

a shot taken with the camera placed in a position below and pointing upward at the subject.

So how does this affect the audience? Remember the scene in the Hindi film Dabangg? When Salman Khan kicks in the door of the warehouse and walks inside, remember how the camera is placed? The camera tracks BACKWARDS Salman walking (more about camera movement in a later blog post), and is lower near the ground. The name of the film is Dabangg, right? So shouldn't Salman look like one? So he appears larger then life, and has the Dabangg effect on the audience. What an entry!

If you are a Star Wars fan, remember how Darth Vader is mostly shown in low angle shots. Christopher Nolan has used low angel shots for the 'Joker' in The Dark Knight a powerful image.

Can you remember more such shots? Do comment...