ABSTRACT
In a pan shot, a stationary camera scans space horizontally, pivoting left or right while mounted on a tripod, a gimbal, or even handheld. Pan shots can also function to shift the view between multiple subjects, a technique sometimes used to cover scenes with dialogue; when used for this purpose, panning may be motivated by the dramatic interaction and beats of a scene rather than subject movement. A subject’s gaze can also motivate a pan shot, by showing a character looking at something off-screen and then panning the camera to show what they were looking at. Panning can replace editing when it is preferable to preserve the real-time continuity of a particularly meaningful performance, an interaction between characters, or a key dramatic moment in a story. The camera’s panning action should be performed smoothly and steadily unless camera shake is part of a film’s visual strategy.
