Film school:Narrative Dialog Editing:Story of Penny and Eggbert:Camera Setup

An example for the course on Narrative Film Editing

The camera setups for this scene

Next we must decide is how to film this scene.
We need to film this scene from different angles so we can edit the footage together in the best possible way.
Below, we have nine camera angles to choose from. Take a look!


1. Wide-angle two shot

2. Telephoto two shot

3. Distant telephoto

4. Over-the-shoulder shot

5. Over-the-shoulder shot

6. Close-up Shot

7. Over-the-shoulder shot

8. Over-the-shoulder shot

9. Close-up Shot


The story of Penny and Eggbert
Intro: Penny & Egg Introduction
Page #1: The story and script
Page #2: The camera setups
Pop Quiz: Penny & Egg Pop Quiz #1
Page #3: The dailies
Page #4: The rough edit
Page #5: "L-Cuts"
Page #6: Creating "L-Cuts #1"
Page #7: Creating "L-Cuts" #2
Pop Quiz: Penny & Egg Pop Quiz #2
Page #8: Planning the film score
Page #9: How to insert narrative music
Homework #1: Create the film score
Homework #2: Editing the scene


Note: Penny and Eggbert are 3D Poser models created by 3D Universe. For this lesson, these characters were posed and rendered with the free DAZ Studio.
A pictorial overview

All the possible camera angles

Here is all the possible camera angles.
Actually, there are thousands of possible camera angles but I am limiting you to just these nine camera angles.
Possible camera setup #1

The wide angle shot

Here is one possible angle. This shows both of our actors at the same time.
Note: The audience can see the mouths of both actors. This fact will be important later on.
Possible camera setup #2

An over-the-shoulder shot

Here is another possible angle. This shows Eggbert over the shoulder of Penny.
Note: The audience can see the mouths of both actors. Even though Penny's back is to the audience, we can still see when her mouth is moving. This fact will be important later on.
Possible camera setup #3

An over-the-shoulder shot

Here is another possible angle. This shows Eggbert over the shoulder of Penny.
Note: The audience can see only the mouth of Eggbert. Therefore, the audience will never know if Penny is talking or not by looking at the picture. That fact will be important later on.
Possible camera setup #4

An over-the-shoulder shot

Here is another possible angle. This shows Penny over the shoulder of Eggbert.
Note: The audience can see the mouths of both actors. Even though Eggbert's back is to the audience, we can still see when her mouth is moving. This fact will be important later on.
Possible camera setup #5

An over-the-shoulder shot

Here is another possible angle. This shows Penny over the shoulder of Eggbert.
Note: The audience can see only the mouth of Penny. Therefore, the audience will never know if Eggbert is talking or not by looking at the picture. This fact will be important later on.
Possible camera setup #6

A close-up shot

Here is another possible angle. This shows Eggbert.
Note: The audience can see only the mouth of Eggbert. Therefore, the audience will never know if Penny is talking or not by looking at the picture. This fact will be important later on.
Possible camera setup #7

Another close-up shot

Here is another possible angle. This shows Penny.
Note: The audience can see only the mouth of Penny. Therefore, the audience will never know if Eggbert is talking or not by looking at the picture. This fact will be important later on.
Possible camera setup #8

A telephoto two shot

Here is another possible angle. This shows both Eggbert and Penny as an establishing shot using a strong telephoto lens.
Note: The audience can see the mouths of both actors. This fact will be important later on.
Possible camera setup #9

Another telephoto two shot

Here is another possible angle. This shows both Eggbert and Penny as an establishing shot from a distance using a strong telephoto lens.
Note: the audience can see the mouths of both actors. Therefore, the audio must be in perfect sync. (That fact will be important later on.)
Which camera setups are the best? (Pop quiz)

The next page

Now you must tell me which camera angles you prefer. Click here to go to the pop quiz to answer that question.

If you have any questions

Your instructor for filmmaking classes is Robert Elliott.
If you have any question, click here to email me.