Facecam
AKA the Bodymount Cam or Snorri Cam: The camera is mounted on the actor's body and aimed at the face, so as the actor moves, his or her face remains steady and in focus while the background bounces and moves. Similar to the Head Cam, but the footage is looking in the opposite direction.
Its use is normally for when the subject is moving quickly but one wants to keep a strong emphasis on the actor's facial expressions. Since it gives a continued shot of his face while in a slightly surreal manner the world starts to slide and shift, it can be particularly effective when the subject is in a state of confusion, shock or disgust, as we get to keep a good look at his face at a point when he is erratically stumbling around and we get to experience the discomforting and unsettling movements of the world around him.
Often used with a Dizzy Cam and POV Cam during a double twirl in two-person dance scenes to put us between the dancers, giving a greater sense of intimacy and excitement.
Film
- Seen in the the TV movie Charlie's Angels the Unauthorized Story when the network assistant has ripped the Nielsen ratings numbers off the teletype and is carrying them to the head of the network.
- The famous Nostril Shot from The Blair Witch Project serves to mimic this as cheaply as possible.
- Bound.
- Frequently used when a character is wearing a space suit or similar, although typically that character will be seen in profile in such a shot to reveal the background through his or her helmet visor. For example, Alien.
- Used in the 2003 version of Freaky Friday when Mom wakes up in her daughter's body.
- The Lovely Bones features Mr. Harvey chasing Lindsey Salmon inside his house.
- Mean Streets, where the lead character (played by Harvey Keitel) can be seen moving through a crowded bar and passing out drunk in the back.
- Used to good effect in Pi and Requiem for a Dream: it's considered Darren Aronofsky's trademark.
- Used in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels to express a character's devastation after losing a high-stakes card game.
- In RocknRolla, Guy Ritchie uses it in a fantastic railway yard chase scene.
- Airplane!!. Elaine and Ted Striker during the dance scene in the bar.
- Itself probably (as with many other parts of the dance) a parody of Saturday Night Fever and its use of the twirling partners.
- Titanic with Jack and Kate's dance
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Tom Servo: Everybody do the Centrifuge! |
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- Used extensively in Touching The Void when the protagonist is walking down a mountain on a broken leg.
- The Hangover as Stu is stumbling about in his hungover stupor.
- Bad Santa as Billy Bob Thornton is about to pass out from his drunken stupor.
Live-Action TV
- Murder in Small Town X does it when offing a contestant (since a forward-facing cam would have given away the game).
- Scariest Places On Earth
- Used to great effect in the "Sir Digby Chicken Caesar" sequences of That Mitchell and Webb Look. The title character is a tramp who imagines himself as a Sherlock Holmes figure, and his internal monologue and chase scenes are presented from this viewpoint. As he hums his own music.
- Scrubs often uses this to show nervousness, but one standout example was for when the Janitor changed his uniform and everybody started to act pleased around him, to his displeasure. One shot has him walking into the hospital with "Come on, get happy" playing while we have a POV shot showing everybody smiling and greeting him, contrasted with a Body Mount Cam shot of his bewildered and upset face grimacing at them all.
- Similar to the helmet-cam used on Fear Factor, during high-altitude stunts.
- Used rather Narmfully on Being Human (UK) - the very silly werewolf teeth rather detract from the intended horror at the prospect of a lycanthropic rampage in a public place. The whole sequence is a very good demonstration of why Nothing Is Scarier in low-budget horror. Not to mention it looked just like a certain sketch from That Mitchell and Webb Look.
- Canadian comedy-newsman Rick Mercer always uses these for his rants, and has lampshaded it several times.
- Les Stroud frequently used an improvised face cam while making the Survivorman series.
- Being Erica used this in the season finale for season 1, when Erica finds out that Leo has died in the "alternate future"
Music
- If those examples don't help, then maybe you'll recall The Smashing Pumpkins' video for "1979".
- Used throughout the music video for Radiohead's "Jigsaw Falling into Place", co-directed by Adam Buxton (of Adam and Joe) and Garth Jennings (of Hammer & Tongs, of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie and "Coffee & TV", "Imitation of Life" and "Pumping on Your Stereo" music videos). It's rather disorientating.
Western Animation
- Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends Bloo dancing with Baby Taco in "Squeakerboxx"
- Also dancing, Phineas and Ferb with Perry and Dr. Doofenshmirtz in "It's About Time"