Framing and naming the shots
- 1. Shots, framing and meaning Camera basics 16:9 aspect ratio 9 16
- 2. neutral camera height subjective Extreme long shot (XLS/WA) subject very small in frame. Male or female? used to open a sequence - where are we?
- 3. neutral camera height subjective Very long shot (VLS) subject is about 3rd screen space used to introduce a person but not identify them
- 4. neutral camera height subjective long shot (LS) subject fills the frame used to introduce a someone often in motion
- 5. neutral camera height subjective medium long shot (MLS) subject is cut by the frame above/below knees we recognise but lack detail esp. eyes
- 6. neutral camera height subjective medium shot (MS) frame cuts subject below waist & elbow Direction of gaze draws attention
- 7. neutral camera height subjective medium close up (MCU) frame cuts subject below arm joint facial expressions emphasised - not intrusive
- 8. neutral camera height subjective close up (CU) frame cuts subject above arm joint - not neck! emphasises intimacy, secrecy etc
- 9. neutral camera height subjective big close up (BCU) frame cuts subject above brow, above chin extreme emotion
- 10. neutral camera height subjective extreme close up (ECU) frame features just eyes or eyes and nose intrusive and powerful
- 11. neutral camera height camera left camera right objective interviews MCU - headroom subject rotated slightly and not looking to camera 3/4 profile
- 12. neutral camera height camera left camera right objective interviews - looking room definite ‘eyeline’, framed camera left or right 3/4 profile
- 13. neutral camera height objective eyeline eyeline interviews - matching MCUs these shots need to balance each other
- 14. More reading ‘The Grammar of the shot’. Roy Thompson