planning cinematography - miss miller

Cinematography is the art or science of motion picture photography. The importance of cinematography in films is to both shoot and develop the film. Planning cinematography is required in order to produce excellent sequences, as different camera shots and angles can portray different feelings and emotions to the audience. For example: A low angle shot, would represent to the audience that the person in the shot is fierier and is of a matter of importance as they look bigger and dominate the shot. One simple shot can tell this to the audience and can create a relationship between what is on screen and who is watching it.

firstly, we use our first camera shot when the girls get on the train. as the girls get on the train there is an over shoulder shot, this decision was made so that we could give the antagonists point of view and give the the impression that the killer is behind them, this shot will also show the audience who's point of view the story is told from. this is conventional to the thriller genre as the over shoulder shot can create suspense as the audience can see how close the antagonist is, moreover we can not see the antagonist's appearance therefore is shows hidden identity and will create fear and will set the tone for the rest of the thriller.

secondly we have chosen to use a long shot of the train carriage once the girls have boarded the train, this camera angle is chosen so that the viewer can see the setting as a whole and can also see the content of the carriage and the setting. our setting is one of the key features of our thriller therefore it is important to show the whole setting. furthermore the long shot will also show where the antagonist is and whether he got on the train or not. this will also help the audience familiar with the setting so than they can establish the scene.

Thirdly a high angle shot is used from the bridge of the station looking down at the girls on the platform. We have made this decision in order to show who is fierier and who is inferior. This angle makes the girls look smaller, highlighting and emphasising the fact they are the victims, and as it is from the killers point of view it appears him as high up and therefore, in a higher more fierier position than them. This is conventional to a thriller as the killer is always more powerful and has more capability than the victim as the victim is normally (and is this case) stereotypically, blond, female and less at an advantage.

When the victim is attacked we use a close up. We have made this decision in order to show the audience her reaction of to which has happened. We hope from this shot that the audience will sympathise with the victim as they will see her int ital reaction immediately when it happens. This is conventional to a thriller film as, it creates a relationship between the audience and the victim which, then makes whatever happens to them thus more effective. By using this shot, we will be highlighting this relationship that the audience should make.


To conclude by using cinematography my sequence will be more effective in terms of creating certain emotions/reactions and displaying them to the audience well. By using selective cinematography we can fall into the conventions of a thriller genre for example: using high angles to make characters look inferior, long shots to establish scary settings and show where the characters are present,