WHAT IS 1ST POINT OF VIEW IN CINEMA?

“A point of view shot is a film angle that shows what a character is looking at in the first person. It is usually established by being positioned between a shot of a character looking at something, and a shot showing the character’s reaction.” (StudioBinder, 2019.)

KEYWORDS AND POINTS

As this project is about what I see, I wanted to produce that as much as I can, to make the audience feel like their me. This way 1st point of view cinema is the best way to interpret/research this idea for me.

EXAMPLES OF 1ST POINT OF VIEW IN CINEMA

There are many films where they either used this POV for the entire movie, or little snippets of the film. Either way, this is very effective and make the audience feel like they are that person. Below are some examples of films that used this POV –

Hardcore Henryis a tremendous first-person point of view, film example. The film took audiences into the actual centre of an action movie. 

“This action film took the entire idea of ‘First Person’ to the next level. It definitely took the POV Shot to the next level and exploited the frame as an interesting gimmick to build hype around the title.” (StudioBinder, 2019.)

Tom Hooper puts us right into the action in The King’s Speech. “He uses the POV to accentuate the actual fear of public speaking and give us a glimpse into what the world looks like from the eyes of the aristocracy.” (StudioBinder, 2019.) I would hate to be in that position, the number of eyes staring at you, make me nervous even looking at the snippet of the film.

In E.T., Spielberg has shot but with a much more congenial spin on the POV. As everyone has gone tricking or treating with a mask before it makes it relatable and exciting to watch.

“While POV Shots certainly existed since the dawn of cinema, the rise of digital filmmaking allowed directors and writers the opportunities to brainstorm new uses for point of view shots. It started small, with the breakout hit, The Blair Witch Project.” (StudioBinder, 2019.)

Using this POV in a film like this makes the suspends and scariness even more heightened. This is definitely a great idea, it really makes you feel that person in the woods.

Similar to Spielberg E.T., John Carpenter uses the point of view shot to put us in the Killer’s mindset for Halloween.

There is many more 1st POV scene within films, but from what I gather is that the idea is to make the audience feel that they are the person in the movie, and to feel what their perspective is like. I could do this by a different type of equipment I used, (24mm lens), to the position or angles of taking the images. Through this research, it has given me a lot of different ideas and concepts I could do for shoots.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mammadyarov, R. (2016). Some of Film’s Best (and Worst) First-Person Shots. [online] IndieWire. Available at: https://www.indiewire.com/2016/04/some-of-films-best-and-worst-first-person-shots-21751/ [Accessed 23 Dec. 2019].

StudioBinder. (2019). The Best POV Shots Filmmakers Need to Know. [online] Available at: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/point-of-view-shot-camera-movement-angles/ [Accessed 22 Dec. 2019].