Shot 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 action Reveal information – moving plot forward Change 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/oblique Makes 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.