Film Language Learning about Shots

Extreme Wide Shot – Sets the Scene In film language shots are used to give the audience information, different shot sizes will give different information about the film. An Extreme Wide Shot is also called an Establishing Shot – What information would this kind of shot give to the audience?- Establishes the setting of the film or a particular scene, it can include a main character or characters. So that setting might be a graveyard, a city, a forest etc. A framing in which the scale of the object shown is very small; a building, landscape, or crowd of people will fill the screen. Usually the first or last shots of a sequence, that can also function as establishing shots. Where would this shot be used in a film sequence? – It usually placed at the beginning or end of a sequence Can you think of any examples of an establishing shot? – Examples of Coronation St., Emmerdale and Eastenders. Note the abbreviations for storyboard notes.

Wide Shot

Long Shot (LS) – Length of Body The frame of the long shot includes the full length of the object or character – almost the height of the screen. A framing in which the scale of the object shown is small; a standing human figure would appear nearly the height of the screen. It makes for a relatively stable shot that can accommodate movement without reframing. What would you use this shot for? - Because the frame also includes some of the setting in the background and can be used to place a character in their surroundings. It is also wide enough to accommodate movement. A character can walk from the background to the foreground without having to re-frame the shot.

Medium Shot (MS) – Waist to head Medium Shot –The object or figure is shown fairly large from roughly above the waist up What is happening in this shot? – A conversation – used to get closer to the character/s, to depict interaction.

Close Up – Head, Hands, feet The Close Up frames a shot in which the scale of the object shown is relatively large. Usually this is the close up of a persons face – What other objects can be used in a close up shot? – Hands. feet., part of clothing What would you use a close up shot for? – Shows details that are important to the story. Conveys emotion from characters face.

Extreme Close Up (ECU) - Emotion Extreme Close Up - A framing in which the scale of the object shown is very large, to show part of the body or very small details. This shot is very close and personal. What type of film or programme would use this shot? – Usually drama, not usually appropriate for documentaries or interviews – invading a persons/characters space.

Angles of Camera What does the Point of View shot convey to the audience? – The audience sees through the eyes of a character, can be used to portray fear or anxiety with sudden movements of the camera. Can also be used to portray a conversation. Can you think of any film genres in which this shot is often used? Horror movies. What level would the camera be positioned? – It would depend on the character – Are they standing or sitting? Are they tall or are they a small child? Where would you position the camera for view of a small child? – from low down, tilted upwards.

Over the Shoulder - Conversation Over The Shoulder shot –A framing in which the frame is shot from behind and above a character’s shoulder. Mostly used to portray a conversation with the shot moving from behind one character to another. Why is it used? – You can see the reaction of a person to a question or statement, it is not necessary to always have the person who is speaking facing the camera. The ‘shoulder’ needs to be just that and only part of the head, too much of the persons back will be distracting. How would you film this on the day of shooting? – Have two different camera set-ups. You would film the conversation or interview over one shoulder and then change camera position and repeat the conversation or interview, filming over the other persons shoulder. The editor would then cut between the two pieces of footage. **USE STUDENTS TO DEMONSTRATE THIS

Medium Long Shot (MS) – Waist & Knees A Medium Long Shot includes most of the figure from mid thigh up. Framing such than an object four or five feet high would fill most of the screen vertically. Also called plain américain, given its recurrence in the Western genre, where it was important to keep a cowboy's weapon in the image Why do you think this shot would be used? – Audience get a good look at the characters physical appearance and their costume – these aspects all convey important information about the character – e.g. thin, muscular, wearing a uniform, neatly dressed etc.