FILMSHOT TYPES

Starter• What does this shot type show and what is

the effect?

Camera shots and angles

• In this course it is very important that you learn to analyse how shots have been composed in film or print media.

Media Language: Camera Shots

• Extreme Long Shot (ELS)• Scene setting,

establishing location and scale

• Establishing shot (ES)

Media Language: Camera Shots

• Long Shot (LS) Establish where a scene is happening or whole body actions

Media Language: Camera Shots

• Shows actions in a straight forward way

Medium or Mid Shot (MS)

Media Language: Camera Shots

• Involves audience in emotion or detail

Close-Up (CU)

Media Language: Camera Shots

• Shows high emotion or focus on detail

Extreme Close-up (ECU)

Media Language: Camera Shots

• High angle• Can make people look less powerful

Media Language: Camera Shots

• Low angle• Can make people look more powerful

Media Language: Camera Shots

• Straight angle• Helps us identify with the character – neutral power

Media Language: Camera Shots

• Dutch angle/oblique angle• Makes us feel uneasy

Media Language: Camera Shots• Point of view• Identifies us with the character/experience more intensely

Media Language: Camera Shots

• Over-the-shoulder shot

Media Language: Camera Shots

• Establishing shot• Tells us where we are

Not only is the shot an important tool in telling the film’s story, but the movement contributes a lot to our understanding too.

Camera movement is used to:

Follow the actionReveal information – moving plot forwardChange the emotional mood of the scene (e.g. making someone appear more or less powerful, frightened etc.)

Media Language: Camera Shots• Zooming• Camera is stationary but zooms in• Draws us in, adds emphasis. Fairly cheesy if done badly.

Media Language: Camera Shots• Panning• Camera is stationary. Follows the action, adds anticipation

Media Language: Camera Shots

• Tilting – moving dutch angle/obliqueMakes us feel uneasy

Media Language: Camera Shots• Tracking – camera moves with subject, hand held• Builds anticipation, makes us feel like we are there.

Media Language: Camera Shots• Dolly in/out - Camera moves along a track towards or away from the subject• Brings us closer to the action/emotion. Builds importance of subject or can pull

back and reveal

Media Language: Camera Shots• Dolly – tracking• Camera moves along a track alongside the subject.• We follow the action, anticipation building.