We have all been there. The subject is bland and beyond your own



ability to manipulate. Event coverage is the most common situation

for this but your creativity has two choices: One, it can shut down

and shoot the boring subject and become a boring video, or two, you

can maximize the potential by implementing the following four shots

that will keep your audience interested and prevent you from falling

asleep during the shoot.

POV: Point of View Shot

This means shooting the action from the point of view of the

subject itself. One of the most memorable POV shots I have ever

seen is during the film The Patriot when the cannon ball comes

right at the camera and then cuts to a soldier being hit by that same

cannon ball. It ignites interest and instantly forces the audience to

become part of the action. Utilize POV shots when there is a lot

of shots of the same action.

Rack Focus: Changing the focus between a close subject and a

distant subject.

These are cool because it puts the camera man in direct control of

the audience. By switching the camera focus manually between

subjects distant and close allows you to include two totally distinct

subjects without cutting or moving the camera. The audience is

forced to follow the focus since anything blurred cannot be easily

interpreted. It adds a professional look to any video.

Crooked Angle: Turn the camera to the side so that the ground is

no longer parallel with the square of the viewfinder.

I am consistently amazed at how interesting these shots can be. I

do not recommend a lot of movement during such a shot unless you

wish to see the audience get sick and vomit on your leather couches.

Very slight movement at crooked angles is an easy way to create

interest and cast your subjects in a new light.

Track Shot: Moving the camera in a definite path

I recently watched new music video where the camera zipped

around the band on a carefully built track. The band didn't do

much other than simply perform but the speed of the camera

flying around and cutting between the shots kept me interested

during the entire song. This effect can easily be imitated by

putting the camera on a wheelchair, skateboard, or even in your

hand as long as it keeps a steady path.

These four classic shots will exponentially increase the interest

of your productions and will leave your audience wanting more.