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Why is Canted Framing in Film Used?

Why is Canted Framing in Film Used?

In filmmaking, a variety of camera movements and positions are used in order to create the desired composition on screen. Sometimes, the camera will be positioned so that it is balanced and forward facing without any real tilting or movement while other times, a camera might be angled in such a way that it produces a distinct sense of spatial imbalance or disruption. For instance, canted framing in film is sometimes incorporated into a shot in order to produce a composition in which the camera appears to tilt laterally such that the subject or environment being filmed will not be level with the horizon.

What is Canted Framing in Film?

Canted shots are essentially created by tilting the camera laterally to one side so that the vertical lines of the setting run diagonally across the frame rather than horizontally the way they normally would.  The resulting shot is incredibly powerful in terms of expression and in delivering a sense of dysphoria, psychological tension and unease. 

When the cinematographer chooses to incorporate canted framing into a film they are displaying to the audience that the character involved in the scene may be struggling psychologically. By tilting the camera on its horizontal axis such that it aligns more vertically with the horizon, a dramatic effect that causes the subject or environment to appear disoriented, desperate, intoxicated or otherwise frantic occurs. 

Canted framing occurs when the camera framing is not level and tilts either left or right. Generally, one side is going to be lower than the other when canted framing occurs and this is going to cause objects and scenes to appear slanted. Think of it as if you were looking at someone and you were to question what they had to say so you titled your head to one side. The view that you see is similar to what you can expect when a cameraman produces a canted framing technique.

Why is Canted Framing in Film Used?

Canted framing in film is used for a variety of purposes. Most frequently, cinematographers will choose to incorporate canted shots into their sequences in order to catch the attention of the audience and show them that the character they’re seeing is struggling in some capacity, generally psychologically.  

Cinematographers choose canted framing in film to create a sense of instability. Because the shot is created by using an angle on the roll axis of the camera to capture the vertical lines of the viewable space at an angle that sits to the side of the frame, the resulting image can be something similar to what you would see if you were to look into a funhouse mirror. Just think of how uneasy you feel when you enter a funhouse and walk up to that first mirror – this is how canted framing in film is used and why cinematographers find it an ideal representation of psychological unease among a character. 

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