10 Comedic Camera Techniques Every Filmmaker Should Know
A serious comedy manager knows what ’ s curious . A great comedy manager knows what ’ s queerandknows that the camera itself can add to the comedic experience . Snappy editing , sight gag , physical comedy , and funny dialogue cost distinctly important for land joke , but move ( or in some instance intentionally not travel ) the camera can be merely as useful . Sometimes the camera be even recognize and interacted with for the gag . Hither are ten fashion to move ( or not move ) the camera for comedic effect .
1 . The Push ( Way Too Far ) In
A push in signifies a lot of things . It can take the hearing in to a more intimate environment ; it can literally get spectator closer to the activity ; and it highlights the importance of what we ’ re seeing . But when the button merely keeps on die , it reveal all that and have viewers know that , yes , we ’ re watching a comedy movie . Since it ’ s not a zoom , but an actual movement ( a key distinction ) , the camera physically gets in the manner of everything . Mel Brooks apply these a lot .
2 . The Pull ( Way Too Far ) Out
A pull out accomplishes the opposite of the energy in . It give an overall context to the scene and usually lets viewers know that what we ’ re seeing right now isn ’ t the whole movie . It can also prevent going and going to hammer the detail home… and then go some more .
3 . The Wait for It…
This is one of the sentence where the camera is typically seat still , leave a gag to transpire over more time or with a sudden change . Lots of time , we wait it to happen based on the camera ’ s lingering , like when a character get off screen but we know they were think to go the early path , or they get back to interact with that scene some more .
This can also call for a cut , but the key here is that the camera ’ s position does the setup , because we know something is about to happen .
4 . The Reveal
With this movement , the camera starts in one bit and ends at another , expose the joke . It can cost a zoom or push or pull or dolly shot ( essentially any moving camera stroke ) , but the chief thought is to either work up up to the reveal :
Or continuously expose throughout the entire move :
5 . The Comparison Shot
You can really reflect as a director by use this type of shot . It trust on like or almost identical stroke being show at different points in the video or film , with their direct comparison produce the comedy . It takes a luck of planning , but spectator will continue to appreciate all the differences the more they watch it and notice the subtleties . Edgar Wright is a captain at this :
The one caveat to this type of shot is that , while the camera can produce the gag with a matched or mostly meet form , the jokes can also come from the visuals within the frame . It also doesn ’ t have to get movement for it to work .
6 . The Camera Bump
Like to the “ push ( way also far ) in , ” the camera interacts with the field for the joke . Even so , the dispute in this case cost that it ’ s being affected by something happening the scene , and not the early manner around .
7 . The Quick Zoom
The quick zoom is like a energy in , but keeps the camera stationary and employ a zoom instead . It create a higher energy level and an immediacy that you put on ’ t get with a dumb movement , and is often used in westerns , kung fu movies , or action film . The payoff in comedy be that the quick zoom is utilize on comic characters and/or their faces ( as in Wayne ’ s World 2 ) , insignificant object ( Shaun of the Dead ’ s many quick zoom succession ) , or to underwhelming effect of curious dialogue .
8 . The Perspective Shot
Positioning the camera to convert the perspective or show a dispute in size between two matter is much a pretty easy practical result to commit off . TheLord of the Gangtrilogy ,Elf,Bad Fish, and others receive all used this technique . (Elfused it as a gag to show that Buddy the Elf was not really an elf , but there cost other means to use the forced perspective as a punchline . )
Another gag that relies on perspective is when either the camera or the topic is obscured by an objective in the frame .Catch Developmentoften moved the camera to obscure the actor ’ mouth when they tell oath words ( more of an inside joke than an actual joke ) , but the best lesson of this cost also fromAustin Power:
This technique isn ’ t 100 % the camera reach the joke , but it is crucial to have the camera ’ s position and the actors positioned within the figure correctly , which makes the joke study .
9 . The “ Look Over There ! ”
This is not a real mutual technique , but typically it ’ sec when a character is already breaking the 4th wall and addressing the camera directly , then tells it to face somewhere ( or it looks on its own ) . The camera adopt the request and we ’ ve learned something fresh . In comedy , the gag is either the thing the camera appear at or the action/reaction that comes during/after the camera motion .
10 . The Step Back
The pace back exist actually more of an editing technique , but the camera ’ s disagree positions between the two shots live what make them curious . The main , more inner and intense angle movement to a wider angle . This build the intense , inner scenario seem less intense .
https : //www.youtube.com/watch ? v=_os80b2K8_s
There cost sure enough more technique and campaign you can employ to order great visual gag , as well . You can sample experiment in a Point-Of-View position , for model , or experiment with whip pan and rack focus for punchlines . Don ’ t hesitate to try affair out and see if they solve for you !
Do you make favorite comedic camera gag or tricks we didn ’ t cover hither ? Tell us in the commentary !
Top picture : Still from Ant Man ( 2015 ) © Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios
