Pull Back & Diminish

The pull back is a simple motion that diminishes it's subject as the camera pulls away. It is often used to imply a characters weakness and isolation within a scene.

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THE EFFECT

The camera is the audiences vantage point from which they observe the story. Wherever the camera moves, we the audience are subjugated to its p.o.v. In the case of a pull back, we find ourselves moving away from the subject as though we are leaving the character behind. As we pull away, they begin to recede into the distance, diminishing within their surroundings. 

This can create several emotional effects depending on the context of the scene. For example:

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*  Abandonment     The character reaches out for help, but the camera pulls away as though deserting them                                 in a time of need. This makes the subject look wretched and somewhat sympathetic. 

*  Diminishment     A person of stature is made to look weak and inferior as the camera pulls away. They                                     literally shrink within the frame, no longer prominent in their surroundings.

*  Isolation             The character rests quietly in open setting. As the camera pulls away, the frame opens                                 and expands, swallowing the subject who recedes into a blank, open space. This move                                 highlights their loneliness and seclusion.

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EXECUTION.

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The pull back is typically performed on a track. The opening shot should be quite close to the subject, anything from a close up to a medium shot will suffice. As the drama plays out, wait for a beat where the character suddenly feels deflated or alone. At that point, begin to pull back gradually until you establish a wide angle perspective. The further back you go, the more diminished the character will appear. (Note well, the pull back should be performed slowly to get the best effect).

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EXAMPLES

The Wire, Season 3: In this scene, the drug dealer Stringer Bell has just found out he has been swindled by some corrupt politicians. He has lost half a million in the deal, and worse, he has lost face as both a gangster and as a businessman. Ashamed and belittled, he sinks onto a bench as the camera pulls away. This once great crime-lord is now nothing more than a poor thief, with very few friends in his nefarious circle.  

Bad Santa: In the opening of this black comedy, we are introduced to Willie, an alcoholic, bit time thief who suffers from self loathing. As he casts a glance to his side, we see a group of friends celebrating - as we cut back to Willie, the camera pulls back, isolating the lonesome crook against an empty room where he has no friends or loved ones.

The Wire, Season 3: In this scene, Detective Roland is in shock after accidentally killing a police man while on shift. His whole career is crumbling before his eyes as he stands in his office, crippled with guilt. As the camera pulls away, he slumps onto his desk. He sits isolated and alone, abandoned by his peers.

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Motion Reveal

A Motion Reveal is a camera movement that discloses a secret image to the audience. It could be a character in hiding, a concealed weapon or a vital clue. The reveal adds context to a scene, raising audience awareness and heightening the emotional experience.

EXECUTION

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A pan, tilt, jib or track can all be employed to reveal a hidden subject. Start your shot with the undisclosed image out of frame. As the scene plays out, a beat will present itself. At this moment adjust the camera position to bring the concealed image into frame. For example:

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THE EFFECT

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A motion reveal acts as an aside to the audience, offering them a private insight. The reveal can be used in one of two ways. If the audience are aware of the image but the characters aren't, suspense is created as the audience begin to fret over what may happen to the unwitting protagonist. However, if the characters are aware of the image, but we the audience are ignorant, then the reveal induces surprise when disclosed to us.

EXAMPLE SCENES

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The Ninth Gate   (Suspense: The characters are unaware of a hidden image)

Two book dealers (Dean and Bernie) are studying a demonic text in the basement of their shop. As they discuss the thrill of such a rare tome, the camera drifts to the right revealing someone spying upon them through a window. This clandestine p.o.v. is for the audience eyes only, letting us in on a possible threat Dean and Bernie are in. This 'reveal' helps to provoke both intrigue and suspense. 

Cabaret   (Surprise: The audience are unaware of a concealed image)

Two friends (Brian and Max) hear the voice of a young man singing in a German garden. They watch as the boy strikes passion and pride in the hearts of his listeners. We the audience are also caught by this fervent song which is sung with great devotion. Then the motion reveal takes effect; the camera slowly jibs down to reveal a Nazi emblem on the uniform of this Nazi youth. 

If we were shown the swatchka first, we would have formed a prejudgment on the situation. Instead, we were momentarily duped into an innocent p.o.v. allowing us to invest more into the boys patriotic song (much as the German people would have). In this example, the clever use of the motion reveal offers us an insight into how persuasive Nazi propaganda was (from a non judgmental viewpoint).

OTHER EXAMPLES

Kill Bill - Vol 1: In this scene, O-Ren Ishii sends her bodyguard to investigate a suspicious noise from outside. The Bride (Uma Thurman), who was literally just behind the door, now seems to have completely disappeared. As the bodyguard scans the room, the camera jibs down and tilts up revealing an unexpected view of the Bride hanging from the rafters. Immediately a sense of shock and suspense is evoked from the audience.

Forest Gump: In the end of this clip there is a surprise reveal which adds a humorous context to the scene. What we thought was a private moment between Jenny and Forest turns out to have been a shared one. The characters knew there was someone else in the room the whole time. We, the audience, only become aware of it when the camera jibs down to reveal a horrified room mate whose bathrobe has been 'soiled'.

Die Hard:  John McClane confronts Hand Gruber in this climactic showdown. Beaten and out-gunned, he is forced to drop his weapon. To all appearances it looks as though McClane has no way out. Then, with a slight jib down, we are let into McClanes little secret - he has strapped a pistol to his back. This added context fills the audience with excitement and anticipation. 

Sink Down (Slow Jib)

The Sink Down maneuver  is similar to a 'drop down', accept it descends more slowly. Where as a sudden drop implies a strong emotional reaction, the sink down suggests a more subtle response.

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EXAMPLE SCENE

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Amelie: In this scene, Amelie (a romantic introvert) plucks up the courage to phone a man whom she has a crush on. However she is perplexed when an older man answers the phone and starts to ask her explicit questions. She quickly realises this is not the man of her dreams. The sink down manoeuvre is used to express her disappointment.

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 EXECUTION

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To perform a sinking motion you'll need a jib arm (lever based or pneumatic). Start the shot at a high angle, and when an emotional beat presents itself, slowly drop the camera to a low angle position. This motion is indicative of a subtle feeling such as disappointment, discouragement or a sense of foreboding. These mild emotional beats are best illustrated with slow, gentle movements.

THE EFFECT

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When the camera drifts from a high to a low angle, it creates a subdued effect. This manoeuvre is useful when conveying a sense of gloom or passivity. In any given scene there may be a period where the character encounters a saddening or sobering event which causes them to feel weakened. During this emotional beat you can decline the camera to capture their sense of submission or desolation. 

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This effect can also take on a variety of different meanings depending on the context of the scene. Here are some variations of a 'sink down' manoeuvre that can be used to convey different emotional effects:

*  Depression       Upon hearing some bad news, the camera sinks down to depict the subject's 

                           emotional state as they become more and more disheartened.

*  Calm                After a stressful event, a character finds shelter to rest and recuperate. At this

                           moment the camera subsides to signify their 'calming down' from a traumatic situation.

*  Insecurity          A character is caught up in an overwhelming event that they feel is out of their control. 

                           At this moment, the camera jibs down to embody their loss of courage. 

EXAMPLE 2 (Recognition)

In another scene of 'Amelie', Amelie tries to match-make two dysfunctional lovers by getting them to believe they fancy one another. She approaches the man first and convinces him that he has a secret admirer. At first he seems confused, but when he see's Georgette by the counter he slowly comes to his senses. 

The 'sink down' effect takes place at then end of the scene. In this case the camera move embodies his thought process, as 'the penny drops', so too does the camera. It literally captures the moment he 'realises' Georgette fancies him.

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Drop Down (Fast Jib)

The Drop Down maneuver  is similar to a 'punch in', accept it works on a different axis. Instead of 'punching in' horizontally - the camera, instead, drops on a vertical plane.

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EXAMPLE SCENE

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Die Hard: While trying to maintain control of a formidable heist, the terrorist Hand Gruber finds his actions undermined by a rogue cop who keeps tampering with his plans. In this scene a pitch down maneuver is used when Hans gets a surprise call from John McClane.

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EXECUTION

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To drop the camera downwards you'll need a jib arm (lever based or pneumatic). Start the shot at a high angle, and when a stressful moment presents itself, drop at speed to a low angle position.

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THE EFFECT

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When the camera drops from a high to a low angle (at speed), it creates a sense of collapse. This maneuver is useful when conveying a characters shock and dismay. In any given scene there will typically be a beat where the character encounters a shocking event that instantly demoralises them. At this moment the camera can drop suddenly to mimic a sensation of crumpling or deflation.

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This effect can also take on a variety of different meanings depending on the context of the scene. Here are some variations that can be used with a drop down to convey an emotional effect:

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*  Empowered:      The sudden drop from a high to low angle serves to creates the illusion that the subject 
                             has grown in stature.  This is a useful tool to employ when you want to suggest that 
                             someones situation has changed from weak to strong. 

*  Insight:              If the camera is shooting from behind the artist at a high angle, you will see their p.o.v. 
                             of the lower horizon. By pitching down suddenly, the horizon drops emphasising the 
                             skyline. This can be used as a sudden reveal of something in the air (perhaps a UFO) or 
                             as a way of suggesting the characters shift in perspective.

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Wipe Track

A wipe track is used as an alternative to the standard cut. Instead of using an edit between two locations, a wipe track hides the cut through a single motion, creating a smooth, continuous transition between scenes.


EXAMPLE SCENE
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V for Vendetta uses  a wipe track between V's underground base and Evey's bedroom. This is achieved by the camera moving from a shot of V's room past a dark edge within the foreground - wiping the image to black. This shot is then reversed in Evey's room (i.e. from a black edge to an open shot of Evey by a mirror). The dark edges of both shots can then be used as a cut away. When edited together, the camera appears to track from one room to the other without a visible edit (see clip below). 

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EXECUTION 
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A wipe track requires two locations, a dolly, some track and a dark edge for the camera to wipe past.   
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* Please note, in the above example I've used the set wall as an edge to make a wipe cut. However, you can use anything dark for a wipe track such as the back of a TV, a cupboard, tree trunk or building wall. The most important point is that you use a dark edge in the foreground to wipe the screen to black.
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THE EFFECT
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The wipe track creates a fluid passage between scenes making it feel more polished and uninterrupted. Where as a cut acts like a full stop between two scenes, the wipe track acts like a comma (creating a more subtle blend). Its most common use is to keep the visual energy moving from one scene to the next. 

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It also helps to merge a number of scenes together into a more cohesive form (known as a sequence). The wipe track makes it feel as though the scenes are interconnected as part of a greater whole (known as synergy). This interconnection of scenes, when combined, produces a dramatic effect that is greater than the sum of its parts. Below are two examples of this synergy:

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Dramatic Energy        A series of scenes are moving toward a dramatic conclusion. To maintain the 
                                  emotional build-up, wipe tracks are used to transition from one scene to the next. 
                                  This helps to overlap the emotional energy, building it toward a dramatic climax.
Rising Tension           As the pressure begins to rise over a number of scenes, it can be detrimental to use
                                  a cut as it inhibits the rising tension. In these moments the wipe track serves as a
                                  continuous drive of energy, helping to build the tension without a respite.

EXAMPLE 2

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In another scene of 'V for Vendetta', we see V making an impassioned speech to the British public. His dialogue takes place over a number of scenes - every shot moving from left to right creating a sense of purpose and direction. This singular motion helps to visually bolster V's speech as he insists to his audience that they be single minded in their resolve and make a stand and for their freedom'.

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His dialogue underpins the whole sequence, joining the scenes together as a single statement. In this case the directors has chosen to punctuate this synergy by using a mixture of match cuts and wipe tracks to maintain a graphic continuity. In effect, the dramatic energy builds and builds in what appears as one smooth, uninterrupted plea that strikes the heart of his audience. 

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* A match cut is an edit made between two different objects, spaces, or compositions in which the object in the two shots graphically match, often helping to establish a strong continuity of action.

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Dolly Zoom (Track Out - Zoom In)

The Dolly Zoom creates a surreal 'in camera' effect that distorts the background perspective while keeping the foreground largely unaffected. It's surreal quality often give rise to a tension between the foreground characters and the world they inhabit.

THE EFFECT 
During this shot the subject remains the same size within the frame while the background begins to swell and expand - dominating the subject.  Seeing a perspective shift without a size change is highly startling and surreal. This technique can create several emotional effects depending on the context of the scene (and the speed with which it is executed). Here are a few examples:

                               SLOW EXECUTION:
*  Disorientation:      The swelling of the background reflects the characters delirium; the shifting space
                                captures a sense of someone who is dazed and confused or faint and giddy
*  Claustrophobia:   The backdrop enlarges, dominating the subject. It appears as though they are boxed 
                                into a small, cramped space - the walls literally closing in around them
*  Paranoia:              The surreal shifting of perspective creates an hallucinogenic effect. The swelling of the 
                                backdrop suggests the character is experiencing a distorted sense of reality - making 
                                them appear delusional and unhinged.

                                FAST  EXECUTION: 
*  Oppression:          The background comes rushing toward the foreground, imposing itself upon the subject.
                                This sudden jolt appears menacing and unnatural, as though a sinister force approaches
*  Shock:                  The dramatic expansion of the background creates a sudden grounding as the   
                                character is brought back down to earth with a nauseating thump!
*  Boldness:               The subject appears as a small feature in a broad landscape, then it suddenly 
                                 collapses, accentuating the foreground character in a single, bold manoeuvre. This 
                                 sudden shift amplifies the subject, making them appear more bold and commanding


THE SCENE 
In this scene I'll be using Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas to demonstrate the reverse dolly-zoom. Henry (Ray Liotta) has come to a restaurant to see his 'friend' James (De Niro). He is paranoid that James want's him dead so he discusses his current dilemma in a public place to gauge whether he and his family are in danger. 
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EXECUTION 

Other Examples

In the Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo senses the approach of a ring wraith. Although we do not see it, his POV begins to distort as the treeline in the background comes rushing toward him as though some sixth sense is warning him of an impeding threat.




In La Haine, We see the city backdrop slowly expanding upon the yobs in the foreground. It is as though the city walls are hemming them in. We literally see a wide cityscape shrinking and confining the characters within the a small frame. This can be taken as a metaphor of the city acting as a prison

Dolly Zoom (Track in - Zoom out)

The Dolly Zoom creates a surreal 'in camera' effect that distorts the background perspective while keeping the foreground largely unaffected. It's surreal quality often give rise to a tension between the foreground characters and the world they inhabit.


THE EFFECT 
During this shot the subject in the foreground remains the same size within the frame while the background begins to open out and recede. Seeing a perspective shift without a size change is highly startling and surreal. This technique can create several emotional effects depending on the context of the scene (and the speed with which it is executed). Here are a few examples:


SLOW EXECUTION:

Attentive:      As the background diminishes, the character in the foreground remains focused on something. 
                      It is as though everything else drifts from his attention as he listens intently 
Isolated:        As the background pulls away, the character in the foreground begins to look more 
                      isolated from his/her environment. In one single motion they appear more alone in the world
Bold:             As the background converges with the horizon, the character in the foreground seems to be 
                     magnified, as though they are gaining in strength and confidence
                      * Tip: Jib down while executing this shot to make the foreground character look more dominant
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FAST EXECUTION: 
Surprised:    The sudden collapsing of the background punctuates the foreground character. It      
                    is as though their whole world has fallen away in a single moment of shock and awe.
Vertigo:        As the background drops away, it literally creates a sense of falling-away-from-oneself, 
                    revealing the characters nausea and disorientation
Fear:            The falling away of the background mimics the falling away of courage as the character 
                    witnesses a horrifying event. It singles them out making them appear exposed and vulnerable


EXAMPLE

In the film The Black Monk (1988), Andrey (a Russian scholar) is walking in a garden to settle his nerves. However, he begins to sense a strange presence haunting the grounds which only serves to further affect his already disturbed mind. 

The visual distortion is unnatural to the human eye and helps to provoke an unnerving effect. As Andrey becomes disconnected from his surroundings, he also draws further into his psychosis and isolation. 

EXECUTION 

In this example I use a 30 ft track, but it can be anywhere from 15 to 80 ft depending on the size of the zoom lens and how fast you wish to track.

Other Examples

In Hitchcock's Vertigo, John Ferguson (James Stewart) is chasing Judy (Kim Novak) up a bell tower to force a confession out of her. However, the higher he climbs the stairwell, the more giddy he feels from his vertigo. The effect in this sequence creates a sense of disorientation and dizziness.

In The Wire (series two), Sobotka talks to his nephew about a family crisis. As they argue the high rise buildings slowly recede into the distance. Sobotka's family is lost, and they have nowhere to turn to for escape. This shot highlights how isolated they both are.

In Jaws the dolly zoom captures the sense of shock and horror that Chief Brody experiences when he sees a shark attack. As the background sweeps away from him, it is as though his concentration shoots forward with a sickening realisation.