Camera animation techniques

Offset movement: R2D2 is likely to use this when moving. This may subtle in the first scene and simply hint he has about to turn round the corner by first turning his head then the rest of his body. This may be an issue as it may go unnoticed and hence is likely to be more obvious if used when he looks at the ship he must go to repair.


Vertical movement: As the Snowspeeder takes off, it is likely to employ this technique. It's movement will slowly get faster and speed up right at the end. This will be important as unlike something like a rocket, there are no jets at the bottom to indicate is taking off vertically in a realistic manner. The relatively low ceiling may be an issue in giving it enough space to show off this technique, however the shot will not be too long


Anticipation: Having the tow cable suddenly appear in this most important shot will not create the desired effect. This needs to be suggested to the viewer that it's about to happen. Moving from an over the shoulder shot of the tow cable gun into a POV track of the cable attaching to the ATAT leg will allow this as maybe the gun could shake or expand.

Exaggeration: For comical relief, the scene towards the start where R2D2 repairs the idle snowspeeder will have him electrocuted and thrown back. While this wouldn't necessarily happen in reality, I feel this is an appropriate time to use exaggeration while maintaining realism within the rest of the scene. Coupled with the famous robotic Wilhelm scream I feel this will be an effective shot.



The following are the main camera angles and movement I aim to use

Low angle: This shot will mainly be used for the ATAT. Even next to a power generator this vehicle is massive and that impression is added to by seeing it from a low angle looking up. It allows the audience to see it's size from the heroes perspective but also invoke a similar feeling of dread and belittlement

High angle: Interestingly, the reverse of the previous shot is to be used when the tow cable successfully attaches to the foot of the ATAT. This is to suggest the weak spot they have found is small and give the impression that the heroes have triumphed, that they are now the bigger and dominating side. This will hopefully be an effective contrast compared to the previous
Close up: This type of shot will mainly be used to help the audience see any specific action better. For example, R2D2's repairing of the snowspeeder will require this. This will also add to the surprise and comical effect of him being suddenly knocked back as is not being anticipated by a wider shot. To see this however might require zooming out or a pan to left depending on the position of the camera 

Birds eye:  This slightly more abstract type of angle will be important to capture the action of the tow cable wrapping around the ATAT. This will be the best angle to see the whole motion of it wrapping round the legs but may go unnoticed if the body is much wider than the legs. A different type of shot may be necessary but I intend to experiment with this one I first intended to use



Pan: I aim to use this to show the immobilised AT-AT. This will allow me to cover all the action and detail I need to do on the ground, as well as still suggest the huge size of the model


For the Birds

Offset movement has been used here to suggest the bird's intentions of carefully landing on the wire. He hovers above the wire looking down at in anticipation. Though this all happens very quickly it makes the movement more realistic and suggests what is about to happen.

Anticipation is used here to suggest something is happen off screen. The birds who were bust playfully bumping into one another suddenly all look to the right even though the audience can't tell why. It suggests the birds have noticed something and prepares the audience rather than abruptly cutting to it which would suggest the birds hadn't noticed it.

Exaggeration is used when the large blue bird sits on the wire to suggest it is much heavier than the others. While comical in itself, it also sets up the use of exaggeration later in which the birds go flying and lose all their feathers.

In a similar way to before, the eyes are an important part of employing anticipation. If it wasn't already clear, the face of dread on each bird suggests something bad is about to happen.

A subtle use of vertical movement can be seen in the screenshot below where they jump around in panic. Realistic movement is achieved by speeding up toward the pinnacle of their jump movement.