~ Point Of View Shot ~

                          

                           All about the point of view shot.

        A point of view shot, also known as a POV. Is a camera angle that shows the viewers what the character is seeing through their eyes, by representation of the camera. Seeing that the character sees and experiences from their point of view. This creates the effect that the audience is immersed into the action. Seeing the scene from the characters eyes, the audience gets a feel from how the character themselves is seeing the action take place in the scene and their actions from their eyes and other characters. Making the audience feel like they are taking part in the movie themselves. It gives the audience a more deeper feel into the movie, instead of an outer angle like a long shot or establishing shot that is placed outside of the events and just viewing what is going on in the scene, not viewing it as if your in the scene or event occurring

       The point of view shots are usually followed up with a close up shot of the character, to show there reaction to what they or the audience have seen. Making the audience know how they feel or react to what they have seen or witnessed through the POV shot.

        The point of view shot has been used since the early years of cinema. The earliest example of a POV shot being used in a film was Lady in the Lake; released in 1947. In fact, this was the first ever film to be completely filmed in first person perspective. Using only the POV shot throughout the film. The film decided to take the audience on a journey through this mystery classic. The audience seeing the events happening through a detective. The audience was took on a roller coater as they saw the film through the detective eyes, going through a journey like they were in the mystery themselves. This film fully immerses the audience into the film which engages them to keep watching.

 

           As the years went by, the POV shot was being used more frequently in horror films. More and more horror films were being produced entirely of point of view shots. The audience seeing what its like being the scared victim character, who is seeing all these horrors like ghosts and monsters taking place. It makes the audience feel like they are in the film, making them feel more thrilled and scared like they are seeing these ghosts and monsters in reality. Making them dive straight into the film which makes it more thrilling and scary for the audience to watch engaging them to the film.

         An example of this is the horror film REC; released in 2007. Following the POV of the main character recording events as there crew and fireman go and have a look into a rumoured infected flat. It grips the audience into watching and makes them feel like  there the ones going into this haunted place. It makes it gripping to watch by the audience, seeing what it is like to be scared or seeing monsters in their point of view.



      The purpose of using a point of view shot is to engage the viewer. By making it seem like the audience in the film and viewing the narrative going on in the film themselves, it makes them feel fully connected to the film and immersed into the world the film is located. Making them engaged to the film seeing it from what it looks like in their point of view. The purpose can also be development of drama. Seeing a POV of a character and seeing an event through their eyes, or something serious going on like a fight or a murder scene, can create drama to the viewer, seeing it like there that character. Which creates more drama to the film by seeing it personally in a POV shot. Making the audience feel that there apart of the film and drama, creating more drama seeing it from a perspective of a character watching what is going on.