You’ve likely used the “panorama” setting on your smartphone camera to capture a nice, wide image (you know, the one that turns people into a Cronenbergian monster if you move too fast). In film, the pan shot essentially works the same on a much larger scale. Below, we’ll dive into this movie-making technique and analyze a few films that have used it to great effect.
This shot does, in fact, get its name from the term “panorama,” or an uninterrupted view of an entire landscape. The camera remains in a fixed position, and the operator rotates it horizontally to capture more of the setting and action. To be more specific, it’s only a pan shot if the camera moves left or right. If it moves vertically, that’s a tilt. You can, of course, use both techniques in tandem.
Pan shot examples
“It Follows” (2014)
The opening sequence of David Robert Mitchell’s “It Follows” is a great example of a pan shot that adds suspense. When it begins, we’re looking at a quiet neighborhood that seems perfectly safe. Then, a young woman runs out of a front door and flees, panicked, into the street, invading our smooth, comfortable pan.
There’s something sinister lurking within suburbia, and the camera movement forces the audience to try and find what could be frightening this girl. We’ll soon learn it’s a monster that can take the form of anyone, making future wide and panning shots all the more unnerving. The entity could be anywhere, and the audience is invited to analyze the environment even when nothing is actively scary.
“Whiplash” (2014)
It should come as no surprise that a movie called “Whiplash” makes extensive use of “whip pans,” which is when the camera moves so quickly it creates a blurring effect. In this clip, we rapidly move back and forth between music instructor Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) conducting Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) on the drums. By using a whip pan—as opposed to simply cutting back and forth—director Damien Chazelle illustrates how in sync the characters have become while also making the scene feel as frenetic as jazz.
“Vertigo” (1958)
Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” uses a pan shot in its opening sequence, which sees Detective John “Scottie” Ferguson (James Stewart) pursue a criminal across rooftops overlooking San Francisco. The pan follows the chase, giving us a bird’s-eye view of the city and emphasizing just how high up the characters are.
The result is the same sense of vertigo that will come to afflict Scottie. Combined with the sound of gunshots, the audience is immediately thrown off balance, just as Hitchcock intended.
When and why to use a pan shot
Showcase the environment: Characters don’t exist in a vacuum. Panning can reveal dire circumstances (like a pan across an empty stretch of woods) or just a bit of character through set design (like a pan across a bedroom). If you’re filming on location, you can showcase the grandeur around the action. If you’re in a tight spot, you can add a sense of claustrophobia by highlighting the fact that there’s no escape at any angle.
Surprising reveals: Pan shots are a great way to gradually give the audience information without cutting. This works with any genre. In a horror movie, you might pan from a character wearing headphones to the person sneaking through their home, unnoticed. In a comedy, you could pan from a character talking awkwardly about someone to reveal that person has been sitting next to them the entire time.
Follow the characters: People move around. They pace, switch positions, pause, and rearrange objects. The pan shot allows you to capture a dynamically blocked sequence beginning to end without cutting. This can be a simple conversation or a full-on fight scene. Either way, you’re adding to the audience’s suspension of disbelief because there’s no cut to break up the action.
How to Make a Shot List: An Essential Filmmaking Tool How to make sure your pan shot goes smoothly
For a true pan shot, keep the base of the camera fixed and swivel it using the pan arm. You can also take it off the stand and go with a handheld approach for a more naturalistic effect. Once you have the setup in place, keep these tips in mind:
Practice, practice, practice. When incorporating any camera movement, it’s good to run it through a few times to ensure everyone knows what to do. The person operating the camera should know the exact distance and speed, and your actors should intimately understand the choreography and blocking.
Know your start and finish. How much information do you want to get across? You’ll know where the shot begins, but you should also set a fixed point for the end. This will ensure everything in the background is where you want it and your actors can hit their marks.
Get several shots for safety. With a pan shot, there’s going to be a lot happening in the frame. While it might seem like everything went well, you may notice something amiss during postproduction. Give yourself a few takes. If possible, capture a wide shot and a few key inserts—this will allow you to cut away from the pan in the edit if it’s absolutely necessary. It’s better to spend a little extra time now than attempt to fix a glaring problem later. Ensure you have the capacity in the schedule with a carefully constructed shot list.
