Camera
Shots
Close up (CU) – Usually shows the audience the
character’s face and their emotions. It also shows the audience important
information/details.
Cut away (CA) – This shot is usually used to
help the editing process but can also be used to make the audience feel
suspense during a tense part of the action.
Cut-In – Gives the audience another part of the
subject so the audience can see the important movements or details that the
shot is trying to show/draw attention too.
Extreme Close up (ECU) – Draws the audience’s
attention to a specific detail or idea the director had or thought was
important.
Extreme Long Shot (ELS) – Usually used as an
‘establishing shot’ to give the audience a sense of where the scene is or where
the action is taking place. It also gives the audience a sense of the
characters surroundings.
Extreme Wide Shot (EWS) – This shot is usually
used as an ‘establishing shot’ to give the audience a sense of where the scene
is, where the action is taking place or gives the audience a sense of the
characters surroundings.
Long Shot (LS) – This shot can be used to give
the audience information about the characters in their environment.
Medium Close up (MCU) – This shot is used to
show the audience the character’s face more clearly to show emotion or some
other important detail without getting too close and making the audience feel
uncomfortable.
Mid Shot (MS) – Gives the audience a feel of
the characters emotions in the scene and the body language the character is
giving off.
Noddy Shot – This shot is used to show someone
listening or reacting to something that was said. It is common in the
interviews and is edited in to the interview later so the program runs
smoothly.
Over-the-shoulder Shot (OSS) – The audience
gets to establish the position of each person or this shot can be used to
create tension and suspense in the audience as they don’t know who the person
is. This shot can be used to create a mysterious atmosphere during the scene.
Point-of-view Shot (POV) – This shot is used so
the audience feel like they are looking through the eyes of the character whose
point of view the shot is in.
Two-Shot – Shows the audience the relationship
between the characters and shows who is more important in this relationship or
shows them they are equal. It can also be used to make sure the audience
doesn’t get distracted or confused with the surroundings while two characters
are interacting
Very Wide Shot (WWS) – This shot is used to
give the audience an idea of the characters environment.
Weather Shot – Shows the audience the weather
to usually create an atmosphere. It can also be used to show the background or
graphics.
Wide Shot (WS) - This shot can be used to give
the audience information about the characters in their environment.
Composition
Rule of Thirds – This shows the audience where
the objects of interest are. This is where you imagine a grid drawn over the
shot. The interest points are where the lines meet.
The Golden Mean – Another way to show the
audience were points of interest are. This is where the points of interest are
along an imaginary diagonal line across the shot.
Framing
Headroom/Looking Room/Noseroom/Leading Room-
The amount of space you have left in the shot above the head.
Angles
Bird’s Eye – This can be used to show the
audience a dramatic shot or can be used to show a spatial perspective.
Eye-level – This shows the character as the
audience expects to see them in.
High Angle – Makes the audience see that the
character is in a position of helplessness, inferiority and has a lack of power
while the viewer is in a position of power and authority.
Low Angle - Gives the audience a feeling of
helplessness and inferiority while looking up at a character. Looking up at the
character gives them a feeling of power, authority and a sense of size.
Slanted/Dutch Tilt – Gives the audience a sense
of insanity and chaos. It can also give a sense of being out of the ordinary.
