A point-of-view shot, also called a POV shot, first-person shot, or subjective camera, is a film method where the camera shows what a character sees from their eyes. Traditional shots, such as establishing shots, wide shots, medium shots, and close-ups, show the scene from an outside view. In contrast, a POV shot shows the scene from the character's own viewpoint, helping viewers see what they see.
Methods
A point-of-view (POV) shot does not always show the exact perspective of one character in a film. Sometimes, the camera is positioned over the shoulder of a character, allowing the audience to see both the character and their view of the scene. In other cases, a POV shot may show the perspectives of two or more characters at the same time.
To help the audience recognize a POV shot, filmmakers use clues such as the order of shots (like a shot followed by a reverse shot), sound effects, visual effects, and the way actors perform. Often, the next scene shows the character’s reaction to what they saw, which helps express their emotions.
Some movies use this technique throughout the entire film. For example, the 1947 film Lady in the Lake uses only the perspective of the main character, mimicking the first-person storytelling style of the novel it is based on.
Technology
Point-of-view (POV) footage has been used since the earliest cameras were placed in airplanes and cars. This technique allows viewers to experience events as if they were part of the action, helping them understand what someone else is feeling or going through. Over time, cameras were used in more challenging situations.
Dick Barrymore, an early filmmaker similar to Warren Miller, tested cameras attached to a helmet using counterweights. This setup let Barrymore ski without holding the camera while recording scenes and other skiers. Although the device was heavy, it was considered hands-free and functioned well.
Many companies have created successful POV systems. These include medical tools used inside the body, high-tech cameras mounted on jets, and helmet-based systems used by filmmakers. These designs are often expensive and require custom or homemade solutions. Some systems are made by camera companies, but they usually need professional training and experience to use.
Before the 2010s, consumer-level hands-free POV cameras faced challenges. Early models had problems with usability, as lenses, microphones, batteries, and recording units were connected by messy cables. These cables made the devices hard to use, even though the final videos were high quality. Since then, improvements in smartphone cameras and action cameras from companies like GoPro, DJI, and Insta360 have provided better stabilization and high-quality video from small, compact cameras.
Notable examples
In 1927, the film Napoléon, directed by Abel Gance, is seen as the first film to use the POV technique. The camera was covered with soft padding and attached to a chest plate worn by the main cameraman, Jules Krugerg. Gance wrote in the technical plan that the camera "defends itself as if it were Bonaparte himself… as if it were human. A punch in the lens. Arms at the side of the camera as if the camera itself had arms. [Krugerg] falls on the ground, struggles, gets up."
Alfred Hitchcock used many POV shots in his films to help the audience feel like they are looking through the main character's eyes. His film Rear Window (1954) is famous for using this technique to place the audience in the position of the main character, who watches a crime from his window.
In Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931), director Rouben Mamoulian used a beginning POV shot.
The long-running British sitcom Peep Show is filmed entirely using POV shots. At a 2015 preview of the final series, David Mitchell joked: "Filming things from a POV is a difficult way to film. It is harder than the usual way. After many years, I now understand why no other show uses this method."
The film Friday the 13th often shows events from the killer's perspective, and the killer is not revealed until the end. Showing the killer's point of view is a common method in horror and thriller films.
The film The Silence of the Lambs (1991) uses the killer's POV technique. It also includes many shots from the perspective of the main character, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), which adds suspense.
The early US television series The Plainclothesman showed the story from the main character's point of view.
The film Enter the Void (2009), directed by Gaspar Noé, is shot from the first-person viewpoint. However, most of the movie shows an experience outside the body, which is unusual.
The action film Hardcore Henry (2015) is made entirely of POV shots, showing events from the perspective of the main character, similar to a first-person shooter video game.
Nearly the entire film Maniac is shot from the murderer's point of view. His face is only seen in reflections or from a distance.
The season 5 premiere of Broad City, titled "Stories," is almost entirely filmed using a POV style. It is similar to a social media story recorded on iPhones.
The documentary I Didn't See You There (2022) is shot from the physical perspective of director Reid Davenport, mostly from his electric wheelchair. The film expands the use of POV cinema to include a disabled perspective based on Davenport's experience.
The Australian films Australian Rules (2002), Romulus, My Father (2007), and True History of the Kelly Gang (2019) each use a POV shot to show the viewpoint of a young boy main character.