CAMERA SHOT TYPES2ND QUARTER – TLE10(Animation) – SIR JERVIE ANICETE

Shots Indicating Subject Size

Extreme Long Shot (aka Extreme Wide Shot)Used to show the subjectfrom a distance, or the area inwhich the scene is takingplace. This type of shot isparticularly useful forestablishing a scene (seeEstablishing Shot later in thearticle) in terms of time andplace, as well as a character’sphysical or emotionalrelationship to theenvironment and elementswithin it. The characterdoesn’t necessarily have tobe viewable in this shot.

Long Shot (aka Wide Shot)Shows the subject from top tobottom; for a person, thiswould be head to toes, thoughnot necessarily filling theframe. The characterbecomes more of a focusthan an Extreme Long Shot,but the shot tends to still bedominated by the scenery.This shot often sets the sceneand our character’s place in it.This can also serve as anEstablishing Shot, in lieu of anExtreme Long Shot.

Full ShotFrames character fromhead to toes, with thesubject roughly filling theframe. The emphasis tendsto be more on action andmovement rather than acharacter’s emotional state.

Medium Long Shot (aka 3/4 Shot)Intermediate between FullShot and Medium Shot.Shows subject from theknees up.

Cowboy Shot (aka American Shot)A variation of a MediumShot, this gets its namefrom Western films from the1930s and 1940s, whichwould frame the subjectfrom mid-thighs up to fit thecharacter’s gun holstersinto the shot

Medium ShotShows part of the subject inmore detail. For a person, amedium shot typicallyframes them from aboutwaist up. This is one of themost common shots seenin films, as it focuses on acharacter (or characters) ina scene while still showingsome environment.

Medium Close-UpFalls between a MediumShot and a Close-Up,generally framing thesubject from chest orshoulder up.

Close-UpFills the screen with part ofthe subject, such as aperson’s head/face.Framed this tightly, theemotions and reaction of acharacter dominate thescene.

ChokerA variant of a Close-Up,this shot frames thesubject’s face from abovethe eyebrows to below themouth

Extreme Close UpEmphasizes a small areaor detail of the subject,such as the eye(s) ormouth. An Extreme CloseUp of just the eyes issometimes called an ItalianShot, getting its name fromSergio Leone’s Italian-Western films thatpopularized it.

Shots Indicating Camera Angle/Placement

Eye Level Shot taken with the cameraapproximately at humaneye level, resulting in aneutral effect on theaudience.

High AngleSubject is photographedfrom above eye level. Thiscan have the effect ofmaking the subject seemvulnerable, weak, orfrightened.

Low AngleSubject is photographedfrom below eye level. Thiscan have the effect ofmaking the subject lookpowerful, heroic, ordangerous.

Dutch Angle/TiltShot in which the camera isset at an angle on its rollaxis so that the horizon lineis not level. It is often usedto show a disoriented oruneasy psychological state.

Over-the-Shoulder ShotA popular shot where asubject is shot from behindthe shoulder of another,framing the subject anywherefrom a Medium to Close-Up.The shoulder, neck, and/orback of the head of thesubject facing away from thecamera remains viewable,making the shot useful forshowing reactions duringconversations. It tends toplace more of an emphasis onthe connection between twospeakers rather than thedetachment or isolation thatresults from single shots.

Bird’s-Eye View (aka Top Shot)A high-angle shot that’staken from directlyoverhead and from adistance. The shot givesthe audience a wider viewand is useful for showingdirection and that thesubject is moving, tohighlight special relations,or reveal to the audienceelements outside theboundaries of thecharacter’s awareness. Theshot is often taken from ona crane or helicopter.

Other Common Shot Types

Cut-InSimilar to a Cutaway, butshows a Close-Up shot ofsomething visible in themain scene.

CutawayA shot of something other than the subject and away from the mainscene. It is usually followed by a cut back to the first shot and isuseful for avoiding a jump cut when editing down a section ofdialogue, or editing together two separate takes.

Establishing ShotUsually the first shot of ascene, this is used toestablish the location andenvironment. It can also beused to establish mood andgive the audience visualclues regarding the time(night/day, year) and thegeneral situation. Becausethey need to provide agreat deal of information,Establishing Shots areusually Extreme LongShots or Long Shots.

Master Shot

Term given to a single, uninterrupted shot of a scene. This shot can be the only shot used by a director to cover a scene, or edited together with additional shots. While it’s commonly a Long or Full Shot, a Master Shot can be a closer shot, or consist of multiple shot types if the camera is moving throughout the scene.

Point of View Shot (POV)Shot intended to mimicwhat a particular characterin a scene is seeing. Thisputs the audience directlyinto the head of thecharacter, letting themexperience their emotionalstate. Common examplesare of a character wakingup, drifting intounconsciousness, orlooking through a scope orbinoculars.

Reaction ShotShows a character’sreaction to the shot thathas preceded it.

Reverse Angle Shot A shot taken from an angleroughly 180 degreesopposite of the previousshot. The term is commonlyused during conversation,indicating a reverse Over-the-Shoulder Shot, forexample.

Two ShotA shot in which twosubjects appear in theframe.

CHARACTER SKETCHING2ND QUARTER – TLE10(Animation) – SIR JERVIE ANICETE

Character Sketching