1. Plots, Shots, and Angles

2. Story / Plot Lines
Plot: the series of related events that take place and work out of the major conflict.
What was a/the general plot line in The Princess Bride?
Note: The Princess Bride has two separate plot lines!

3. Primary Secondary

4. Who’s Involved?
Protagonist: the one who is FOR something. (often good guy)
(why DO we like them?) -young, handsome, in love, dealt with loss, LIKE US!
Antagonist: person or force in conflict with protagonist (against)
(why don’t we like them? evil minds, dishonest, ugly looks or attitudes
Who were they in The Princess Bride?

5. Conflict. . .
Conflict between protagonist and antagonist must create suspense

6. Conflict May Be . . . Man vs. Man
What was some of the man vs. man conflict in The Princess Bride?

7. Conflict can be . . . Man vs. him/herself
What was some of the man vs. him/herself conflict in The Princess Bride?

8. Conflict Can Be . . . Man vs. A Force Nature, the Dark Side, etc. . .
What was a Force that created conflict in the Princess Bride?

9. Conflict may be . . .
Physical (Face Off, Rambo, Cast Away, Alien, The Passion; action movies)
Emotional: (Pretty Woman, What Dreams May Come, Riding in Cars with Boys Chick Flicks)
Mental (Search for Bobby Fischer, Dogma, Beautiful Mind, Seven)
What was some Physical, Emotional, Mental Conflict in The Princess Bride?

10. Plot Structure
Your story needs 6 key points for maximum audience interest. 4
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE

11. Plot Structure . . . 1. Preliminary Situation
Clearly defined explanation of events leading up to this point BEFORE action begins.
Creates EMPATHY for characters
“feeling with” a character (sympathy is “feeling for”)
for the audience to feel involved, they must have empathy for one of the characters
*MUST establish why we like the protagonist
Why do we like Wesley and Buttercup? 1
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE

12. Plot Structure . . . 2. Initial Incident:
an event that sets the plot moving.
What’s our initial incident in The Princess Bride? 2
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE

13. Plot Structure . . . 3. Rising action
A series of events that follow the initial incident
Develops from conflict between protagonist and antagonist
LIFTS ACTION TO HIGHER LEVEL of interest/suspense! (stakes go up, time gets shorter . . .)
What lifts the suspense/interest in The Princess Bride? 3
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE

14. Plot Structure . . . 4. Climax The MOST intense, exciting moment
Turning point of the rising action
Outcome of conflict is determined
What is/are the climax(es) of The Princess Bride? 4
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE

15. Plot Structure . . . 5. Falling Action
Series of events following the climax
Ties up all loose ends (or leaves one or two hanging for a sequal!)
Usually pretty short
What loose ends are tied up in The Princess Bride? 5
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE

16. Plot Structure . . . Conclusion/Resolution
Logical Outcome of all that has occurred before
Comedy: brings all characters together (Dumb and Dumber; Scooby Doo; Inigo, Fezzig, Wesley, Buttercup; etc.)
Drama/Tragedy: Characters live on with the result of their actions (Saving Private Ryan; Humperdink, Vicini)
Can also be a combination of the two As in The Princess Bride 6
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE

17. The Shots
A series of consecutive frames recorded in one uninterrupted “take”
Defined by the amount of subject matter within the frame of the screen.
But can vary from director to director
Extreme Long Shot
Long Shot
Full Shot(s)
Medium Shot(s)
Close Up
Extreme Close-up
Cutaway
Over-the-shoulder
More . . .

18. Shots . . .
We’re usually not conscious of shots in isolation (comic books)
We experience their combined effect in sequences
But each shot should be thought through by the director independently.

19. Extreme Long Shot Reveals the Locale
*Often referred to as ESTABLISHING SHOTS
Taken from a great distance (¼ mile or so)
Almost always an exterior shot

20. Extreme Long Shot The Cliffs of Insanity

21. Extreme Long Shot On the Boat

22. Extreme Long Shot Humperdink’s Castle

23. Long Shot
Corresponds to the distance of an audience to a stage production . . .
Action and Subject important, but locale plays an important part in this shot!
Useful for
showing a character as he/she relates to the locale
Similar to a Full shot

24. Long Shot

25. Long Shot

26. Full Shot Includes the human body in full (barely)
The “closest” Long Shot
Head near the top of the frame, feet near the bottom
Subject becoming more important than locale

27. Full Shot

28. Full Shot

29. Medium Shot Contains a figure(s) from the knees or waist up.
Includes ISOs, 2-shots, 3-shots, and OTS’
Subject now more important than locale
Useful for
Carrying movement
Exposition scenes
Dialogue

30. Medium Shot (ISO) a one person medium shot

31. Medium Shot (ISO)

32. Medium Shot (2 Shot)

33. Two Shot
A medium shot containing two figures from the waist/knees up.

34. Two Shot

35. Two Shot

36. Two Shot

37. Three Shot A medium shot containing three figures from the waist up.
*More than 3 figures typically becomes a full or long shot.

38. 3 Shot

39. 3 Shot

40. Over The Shoulder Shot (OTS)
Typically contains 2 figures
One character faces the camera, the second character has part of his/her back to the camera.
Shows relationship to each other in the frame.

41. Over the Shoulder. . .

42. Over the Shoulder. . .

43. Over the Shoulder. . .

44. Close-up Concentrates on a relatively small object
Tends to elevate the importance of an object
Saying “Look at this!” or “This will be important later!”
Reveal private information
Could also create symbolism
Shares emotion
A character’s face is most common
Can do close-ups of inanimate objects called CUT-AWAYS
Shows very little locale, if any

45. Close Up

46. Close Up

47. Extreme Close-up A variation of the close-up.
A tighter shot, intensifies focus
Perhaps showing portions of a character’s face
Eyes, mouth . . .
The ring in The Lord of the Rings

48. Extreme Close-up

49. Extreme Close-up

50. Extreme Close-up

51. Extreme Close-up

52. Camera Angles Determined by where the camera is placed
Can provide a subtle or obvious commentary on the meaning of an image.
A person photographed from a high angle suggests a completely opposite interpretation of a person photographed from a low angle (the SAME PERSON doing the SAME THING)

53. Birds-Eye View Shot from directly overhead
Image can seem abstract, unrecognizable
Audience can feel “god-like”
Gives feeling of fate, higher powers . . .
Characters seem small, insignificant . . .
Often used for establishing shots or to give the idea of being watched from above. (Batman, City of Angels)

54. Birds Eye View

55. Bird’s Eye View

56. High Angle Shots Camera placed on a crane or other high location.
Subject seems harmless, insignificant, weak
SLOWS movement
Setting/Locale given more prominence
Provide audience a general overview.
With some sense of power

57. High Angle

58. High Angle

59. High Angle (POV)

60. High Angle (OTS)

61. Eye-Level Shots
Audience feels at same level and INVOLVED with the subject.
Audience allowed to make up their own mind about the subject.
Most shots are taken at or near eye level.

62. Eye-Level Shot

63. Eye-Level Shot

64. Eye-Level Shot

65. Low Angle Shots Camera placed below the subject
Increases height of subject
Heighten the importance of the subject
Inspires fear, awe, and respect
Increases movement/speed

66. Low Angle

67. Low Angle (POV)

68. Low Angle Green Mile

69. Low Angle Harry Potter

70. Oblique Angle Involves a lateral tilt of the camera (tilts view)
Often used for Point-of-View shots in which viewer is tipsy, confused, etc.
Suggests tension, uneasiness, anxiety . . .
Can be effective in violent scenes!

71. Oblique Angle

72. Note: Old Batman and Robin Episodes

73. Small Group SHOT Assignment (160pts)
Take shots in CHS; include a(n):
Extreme Long Shot (10 pts)
Long Shot (10 pt)
Full Shot (10 pts)
Medium ISO (10 pts)
2 Shot (10 pts) Shot (10 pts)
Over the shoulder (10 pts)
Close-up (10 pts)
Cutaway (10 pts)
Extreme Close-up (10 pts)
Birds-Eye View (10 pts)
High Angle (10 pts)
Low Angle (10 pts)
Eye Level (10 pts)
Create a display showing and labeling all shots (20 pts)
Total assignment worth 160 pts.
General Guidelines:
-BE QUIET IN THE HALLWAYS
-DO NOT INTERRUPT A
CLASS LECTURE.
-Be Careful and take care of the
cameras.
Each Photo can contain more than one element listed. Example: You may take a picture of two people from the waist up using a low angle. That would meet two of these requirements if labeled correctly!