1. Shot Composition: How to Frame a Shot
A/V Production
Shot Composition:
How to Frame a Shot

2. Shots? Angles? Movements?
Why does it matter what they are called?
Accurate communication and desired results
A frame represents what the audience sees on a television or movie screen.
IVCP: Shot Composition

3. The 5 Basic Shots Extreme Long Shot (ELS)
A shot that includes the talent and the surroundings
Generally used to help set the scene for the audience
Also known as an
Establishing Shot
IVCP: Shot Composition

4. The 5 Basic Shots Long Shot (LS)
A shot that includes the talent from head to toe
IVCP: Shot Composition

5. The 5 Basic Shots Medium Shot (MS)
A shot that includes the talent from around the waist to the top of the head.
News reporters are often seen reporting from an accident or crime scene with a medium shot.
Normally used in
dialogue scenes,
or to show some
detail of action
IVCP: Shot Composition

6. The 5 Basic Shots Close Up (CU)
A shot that includes just the head and shoulders of the talent
Notice in comedy shows that close ups are used to capture the expressions of the comedians and accentuate their craziness.
Magnifies the object and
shows the importance
IVCP: Shot Composition

7. The 5 Basic Shots Extreme Close Up (ECU) Full face or closer
An example of this would be in movies when they show only a person’s mouth while they are talking
IVCP: Shot Composition

8. Other Shots Designations
Two Shot –includes two people
Three Shot – includes three people
Over the Shoulder Shot ( OTS )
A shot in which the camera looks over a person’s shoulder at another person or an object
IVCP: Shot Composition

9. Shot Composition Background Mergers Should not distract the audience
Can add to depth, feeling, interest
Mergers
Background objects
that appear to be joined
to the people or a person
in the shot
IVCP: Shot Composition

10. Shot Composition Rule of Thirds (tic-tac-toe)
Divide the screen vertically and horizontally into 3 equal parts.
Put the subjects on four intersections for emphasis
IVCP: Shot Composition

11. Shot Composition
Rule of Thirds
IVCP: Shot Composition

12. Shot Composition
Rule of Thirds
IVCP: Shot Composition

13. Shot Composition
Leadroom- The space left in front of a person looking toward the edge of the screen
IVCP: Shot Composition

14. Shot Composition
Leadroom- The space left in front of a person looking toward the edge of the screen
IVCP: Shot Composition

15. Shot Composition Headroom
The space left between the top of the head and the upper screen edge
IVCP: Shot Composition

16. Shot Composition- Angles
High Angle
Camera looks down.
Make the object photographed seem smaller, and less significant
IVCP: Shot Composition

17. Shot Composition- Angles
Eye Level - Neutral shot
camera is positioned as though it is a human actually observing a scene, so that the actors' heads are on a level with the focus.
IVCP: Shot Composition

18. Shot Composition- Angles
Low Angle
Camera looks up.
Gives viewer sense of powerlessness
Object on screen is dominating
and helps to inspire
insecurity in the viewer.
IVCP: Shot Composition

19. Shot Composition Bird’s Eye View
directly overhead; higher than a high angle view
This shot can put the
audience in a godlike
position, looking down
on the action.
IVCP: Shot Composition

20. Camera Movements Good camera movement doesn’t draw attention to itself
Movements should be smooth
Movement should be motivated
Camera movement simulate eye or head movement of audience
IVCP: Camera Movements

21. Pan Horizontal (side to side) movement of the camera
The camera turns, the mount (tripod) does not move
Pan left - camera points to the left
Pan right - camera points further to the right
Pan left
Pan right
IVCP: Camera Movements

22. Tilt camera points up or down Tilt up - camera lens slowly points up
Tilt down – camera lens slowly points down
Emphasize height/size with slow tilt
Tilt up
Tilt down
IVCP: Camera Movements

23. Truck Move the camera and the mount to the side
Truck left - camera and mount moves to the left with the camera pointing forward
Truck right - camera and mount moves to the right with the camera pointing forward
Keep up with or travel with subject
Truck left
Truck right
IVCP: Camera Movements

24. Pedestal (Ped) To move a camera up or down Camera points forward
Ped up - raise the camera
Ped down - lower the camera
Ped Up
Ped Down
IVCP: Camera Movements

25. Dolly Both camera and mount move toward or away from subject
Dolly in - toward the subject
Dolly out - away from subject
Audience feels near subject
Can be used to
follow the subject
Dolly in
Dolly out
IVCP: Camera Movements

26. ZOOM OUT ZOOM IN Zoom A lens movement, NOT a camera movement
Changing the focal length of the lens
Zoom in - the subject appears to get closer
Zoom out - the subject appears to get farther away
ZOOM OUT
ZOOM IN
IVCP: Camera Movements