Camera work (shots, angles, movement, composition) to be used to focus on a character's psyche

In a combination of my past two analysis to the different types of genres and representation, i want to get more technical into what types of shots should be used to get the tone that i would want to achieve, not a biased and showing the raw-nature of the mental state of the protagonist, without getting graphic or triggering to anyone, but it should bring some uneasiness to the viewer, in a horror way. It may sound complicated to achieve this in only 2 minutes, since developing a character takes multiple scenes and story progression. However, I'm certain there would be techniques shared by filmmakers to use the camera work in favor of your premise and time. The following shots are the ones that I should rely on or use in a climatic moment to focus the audience:

The Point of Shot (POV) should be used when wanting to show how that character sees the world around them. It can change to see another character reaction or the same character the point of view is being filmed on. I can see this shot being used mostly straightforward, meaning the image would look the same if another character, from his point of view, were to see the same thing. However, i would like to use it similar to this immersive experience in the short film, "Party". 

 The character's point of view and 360 depth of field, it brings an added touch to the immersion, blurring the party as the character is having an overwhelming emotion and conflict inside themselves. It makes the audience understand what the person sees, without this scene, one would not understand their struggles or would consider their reaction "overdramatic". I would use this shot in special parts on my film, where my character is faced down to eat or in uncomfortable situations related to food, cutting then to how the other characters see it form the outside. 

Next step into creating the experience i would want, investigating the different types of angles are used in he genre. While the most common way to shot a film it is to use an eye-level shot, the camera in the same angle and level as the character. I will expect that including and changing the angles too many times would distract the audience from the premise and the characters, but it is important, for me, to bring that type of uncertainty into the film. In that way, the use of low angle shots from the point of view of the protagonist, when it is faced with

others confronting her for her issues, making the character feel vulnerable and not able to know how to respond, as well as connecting well with the different point of view. Changing into an overhead shot from the side, showing how both characters may seen as equal outside of the point of view shot, but the character feels secluded. The Dutch angle, an angle who breaks the vertical line rule of cinema, would also be included, since it plays with the uneasiness feeling of the disease and the mental breakdown of a character, could be combined with a far away and blurred depth of field.  

Base don the availability and having to adapt based on the equipment that i have accessible to me, some of the types of camera movement are out of consideration to be achieved, since many require cranes and dollies. Some can be achieved with some imagination and creativity, such as a moving car following the character to have a tracking shot. I have decided to use handheld shots, not only because I'm adapting, but it is the most useful for my short film, since it brings a sense of closer connection to the characters, shaky movements that feel more natural. It will help me in many scenes, shanking the camera to signify the overwhelming emotions of the protagonist, feeling intimacies of seeing someone from a camera and their innermost emotions, instead of a clear shot that would have felt artificial. Zooming and reverse zooming would be used to, to show the audience in what to concentrate on, as well as seeing what my protagonist is being anxious about, changing to the reverse zoom rapidly to show what other characters see. 

Depth of Field and camera composition in itself is a very extensive topic to discuss, now is going to be summarized to the information i would probably use in my short. The Shallow Depth of Field, with a shorter depth of field, when showing my protagonist, would be used since it has many connotations of loneliness and fear, following the character phased with foods. This depth of field can be achieved in my camera, with some proving shots that from people, made with the equipment that i have in hand.

Revisiting this ideas and concepts that i have had in mind helps me visualize what my story would look like, bringing more imagination to my mind and fleshing out my characters. Knowing what to use for my concept helps me feel more organized as well, not as overwhelmed and paralyzed of realizing my own short film. I hope to learn more of these technical actions, since i tend to be less technical and more comfortable with the creative side of writing, but i'm hopeful to start to be more used to them and now know how to put my ideas out, instead of pondering and imagining them in my head.

Citations:

“The Filmmaker's Handbook: How Are Low Angle Shots Used?: Watch: The Take.” The Filmmaker's Handbook: How Are Low Angle Shots Used? | Watch | The Take, 15 June 2020, the-take.com/watch/the-filmmakers-handbook-how-are-low-angle-shots-used.

girls, Windsor. “Camera Angles Used in Thrillers.” Windsor Girls School Media, 2017, windsorgirls.weebly.com/gemini-productions/camera-angles-types-in-thriller-films#:~:text=Close%20up%20shots%3A,is%20important%20in%20the%20film.

Higham, Russell. “10 Movies with The Best Uses of Point-of-View Shots.” Taste of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists, 25 Mar. 2016, www.tasteofcinema.com/2016/10-movies-with-the-best-uses-of-point-of-view-shots/.

Majumdar, Sumita, director. The Party: a Virtual Experience of Autism – 360 Film. Youtube, The Guardian, 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtwOz1GVkDg.

Martellaro, John. “How to Use Depth Control With IPhone XS/Max & XR Camera.” The Mac Observer, 25 Oct. 2018, www.macobserver.com/tips/how-to/depth-control-iphone/.