A level research: Camera Angles/Shot Types for Video

I took my research a little bit further on the technical part of the documentary I’m making. The specialist’s recommendations on how to shoot the documentary require that one should always have 6 essential shot types which are the following.

1. Establishing Shots - a wide shot of the critical action. This shot makes it obvious where the scene is taking place.

Do several takes from different angles. You’ll be surprised in the editing room when you pick one shot over another just because it gives you a slightly different feel for the situation your character is in.

2. Critical Action Shots - wide, medium and closeup shots of the critical action. Remember to shoot long takes to take in all the visual information possible.

3. Reaction Shots - these are most often closeup shots of reactions seen from different characters. Make sure you’re filming only the reactions that correspond to your critical action.

4. Secondary Establishing Shots - these are wide and medium shots of your location that may or may not include the critical action. Diverse establishing shots can be edited together as lead-ins when you are trying to connect scenes. 

5. Segue/Lead-In Shots - these are tertiary actions that happen around your critical action. In other words, they're not the focus but they're still interesting. A few examples of segue shots are people doing their daily routines, talking to neighbors, walking etc. These shots are the pieces of the picture that don’t necessarily require attention, but nonetheless contribute to the story.

6. Detail Shots - these are primarily closeup shots of objects that are in the scene. They tell your audience what kind of space it is. Is it safe? Quirky? Sad? Look for the visual cues.

Unlike with a fiction shoot, you may never reference your shot list during the filming of your documentary. That's ok!

The important thing is to respond to the story in front of you. However, visualizing the footage you'd like to capture will give you an advantage when the action starts to happen very fast.

For each scene you plan on shooting, first brainstorm on paper what you THINK might happen. For example, let’s say you are planning on shooting a scene at a sporting event. What do you think you might see in the...

- Establishing Shot? (ex. Probably a building, the entrance to a stadium/ In my case that probably will be the forest road leading to the bear sanctuary and the entrance of the main building.)

- Central Action? (ex. The sport/match. / In my case that probably will be the footage showing the rescued bears in different activities.)

- Reaction Shot? (ex. Suspense, victory in fans' faces. / In my case that probably will be the caretakers’ reactions on the bear’s activities.)