POV Shots

Point of view shots are incredibly crucial to scenes. They determine who the audience is going to identify with, and who they are focused on. Working alongside something such as framing, it determines also how much the audience interacts and how involved they become with the character on screen.

Stephen D. Katz said, "Point of View may be the most important aspect of a directors contribution but - apart from some familiar subjective techniques - the way in which camera placement, composition and editing shape the Narrative Stance of any scene is generally overlooked. This probably accounts for the fact that Point of View is handled indifferently in so many films'  and he is correct. Without the proper framing, and employment of other techniques, Narrative Stance simply becomes just another shot.

Most films are presenting in the POV of the 'ideal observer' it is not always the sole viewpoint but it is the best one that  the audience could have. POV shots give this a more personal feel and involve the audience further and more directly. It means that the audience may be 'truly omniscient' (perhaps also including narration or voice over so that we know what the character is thinking)

This also includes levels of identification.

• The most powerful 'cueing device' is the line of sight of the actor, especially in a closeup. This means more identification with the character. 
• SHOT 1 - Subject - Eyeline Established
• Transition with Spatial/Temportal Continutity
• SHOT 2 - Object from OR close to Subject Position/Eyeline

Generally speaking, the closer the line of sight of a player is to the camera in CU the greater the degree of viewer identification with them.