Angles, Movement, and Lenses
Direct attention by pairing a single angle, one camera move, and a clear optical note. Keep the viewpoint readable and intentional by stacking just one move and one optical cue.
Shot stack
Angle → movement → lens / focus → action beat → transition or cut.
One move + one optical note per clip.
Angle tips
Lead with the viewpoint.
- Lead with the shot type before style notes.
- Pair angle with intent: low-angle for power, high-angle for fragility.
- Stick to one primary angle per short clip.
Movement tips
Decide the energy.
- Pick one movement per short clip; too many motions feel chaotic.
- Match motion to mood: handheld for urgency, dolly for cinematic reveals.
- Combine with action: call the move where the beat happens.
Optics tips
Set focus and depth.
- Use one optical note per prompt to avoid conflicts.
- Pair optics with angle: e.g., low-angle + wide lens for grand scale.
- State focus targets: what is sharp vs. what should blur.
Angle options
- Eye-level: neutral, human perspective.
- Low-angle: power and scale (hero shots).
- High-angle: vulnerability or pattern reveal.
- Bird's-eye / top-down: map-like overview of a space.
- Worm's-eye: towering, dramatic height.
- Dutch angle: tension or disorientation with a tilted horizon.
- Close-up / extreme close-up: isolate emotion or detail.
- Over-the-shoulder: conversational framing.
- POV: show the world through the subject's eyes.
Movement options
- Static: locked-off shot for calm moments.
- Pan / tilt: reveal space horizontally or vertically.
- Dolly / truck: move toward/away or sideways for immersion.
- Pedestal: vertical lift to reveal height.
- Zoom: change focal length without moving the camera.
- Arc shot: circle around a subject for drama.
- Whip pan: fast transition with motion blur.
- Handheld: add realism and urgency.
Optical options
- Wide-angle: broaden view, exaggerate foreground scale.
- Telephoto: compress distance, isolate subjects.
- Shallow depth of field: subject sharp, background bokeh.
- Deep focus: foreground to background all sharp.
- Lens flare: dramatic light streaks for cinematic feel.
- Rack focus: shift focus between foreground and background.
- Fisheye: ultra-wide, curved perspective for stylized looks.
- Vertigo (dolly zoom): keep subject size, warp background for tension.
Do / Avoid
✅ Do
- State the angle first, then the move.
- Mark what is sharp vs. blurred (rack focus, shallow DOF).
- Align motion with the story beat (push-in on reveal).
❌ Avoid
- Combining multiple camera moves in one short clip.
- Conflicting lens cues (wide + telephoto simultaneously).
- Unstated focus targets that cause soft subjects.
Example prompts
Top-down scale
Bird's-eye view of a vast hedge maze, one figure in a red coat weaving through the green paths below, emphasizing scale from above.
Zoom reveal
Slow, dramatic zoom in on an ancient compass resting on a dusty map beside a flickering candle; the frame tightens until the glowing symbols fill the view.
Shallow focus portrait
Cinematic close-up of a woman in a cafe at night with very shallow depth of field; her face is sharp while city lights outside blur into soft bokeh circles.
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