- Wide shot / establishing shot (WS/ES)
- Long shot (LS)
- Medium shot (MS)
- Medium close up (MCU)
- Over-the-shoulder shot (OTS)
- Close up (CU)
- Big close up / Extreme close up (BCU/XCU)
Camera angle:
- High angle: makes subject look small and weak.
- Low angle: makes subject look big and powerful.
- Unusual perspective: can be used to surprise the audience or show danger (e.g. looking down off a cliff)
Camera movement
Pan: horizontal turn left or right
Used to follow movement. A whip pan (very fast pan) can create a feeling of action or drama.
Track/Dolly: Camera moves on tracks/wheels
Tracks action smoothly – look for in chases or fast-moving sequences.
Handheld: camera held by hand, often shaky
Handheld camera can add urgency, realism, pace or unease to a scene.
Zoom: focal length of lens changed to make subject appear closer or further away
A zoom into a character’s face can show realisation or an emotional reaction.
Crane: Camera attached to crane – can pan, track or ‘swoop’ in or out as required
Crane shots are often high angle and show large, epic scenes of dramatic action.
Tilt: Camera tilts up or down from fixed point
The hero or villain can be made to look weak or powerful using a tilt (high/low angle).
Editing
You need to learn the following about editing:
- Transitions
- Pace
- Juxtaposition
Transitions
Cut (Straight cut, jump cut, match cut)
Shot changes from one to another – the most common cut.
Dissolve
Shot melts into another – often shows passing of time.
Pace
The speed at which the film cuts from one shot to the next makes a huge difference to the experience for the audience.
Generally, slow cuts build tension while fast cuts suggest action and excitement.
Juxtaposition
The word juxtaposition literally means ‘the act of placing together side by side’.
In film, two shots may be placed together to create meaning for the audience. E.g. A shot of the hero may be followed by a shot of his love interest to link these in the audience’s mind.
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