shot types and meanings

1. Shot Types and Meanings
Shot Explanation Meaning
EXTREME WIDE SHOT An extreme wide shot (or
establishing shot) is so far
from the subject that he/
she isn't even visible.
Often used as an
establishing shot to set
the location of the video.
This shot is used to set
the location and the
mood of the video. It sets
the mood by showing the
location to the audience.
Depending on the lighting
and on the location, it can
connote very different
things. It is however used
to show the audience
where the action is taking
place.
EXTREME CLOSE UP An extreme close up is a
shot that focuses on one
small thing/ feature, for
example a tearrolling
down someone’s cheek.
The extreme close-up
shot is traditionally used
in film to allow the viewer
to enter the character’s
intimate space, revealing
certain characteristics and
emotions that would
otherwise go unnoticed
from afar. This
unnaturally close view
intensifies feelings that
the character is
experiencing and allows
us to feel sympathy for,
and establish a
connection with, the
character in question. At
such an extremeintimate
proximity, every subtle
expression, muscle
movement, facial
characteristic, reflection
and detail becomes that
much more apparent. In
this way, it emphasizes
the dramatic importance
of the scene, making it
stand out with respect to
the movie as a whole.
CLOSE UP A close up is a camera
shot taken at a very short
distance from the subject,
to permit a close and
detailed view of an object
or action.
A close-up of a person
emphasizes their
emotional state. Not as
powerful as an extreme
close up for capturing
emotion, it still allows the
viewer to enter the

2. character’sintimate
space, revealing certain
characteristics and
emotions that would
otherwise go unnoticed
from afar.
MEDIUM SHOT Medium shots (or mid
shots) typically frame
subjects from the waist
up. These shots help to
show people in the
context of the
background.
The MS is appropriate
when the subject is
speaking without too
much emotion or intense
concentration. It also
works well when the
intent is to deliver
information, which is why
it is frequently used by
television news
presenters. You will often
see a story begin with a
MS of the reporter
(providing information),
followed by closer shots
of interview subjects
(providing reactions and
emotion).
TWO SHOT Often medium or wide
shots, these areshots of
two or three people in
one scene. They are often
used in interviews and are
also good for establishing
a relationship between
subjects.
A two shot is used to
show the relationship
between two or three
people. It allows the
feeling and emotion to be
seen by the viewer,
allowing them emotional
access to the characters.
It also allows them to put
themselves in that
situation.
OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT These shots are filmed
from just behind a
person. They tend to
show the back of a
person’s head (often
cutting off the frame just
behind the ear) and
sometimes one shoulder.
The over the shoulder
shot allows you to feel
positioned behind a
character, creating the
feeling of being able to
feel what the character in
front can feel.

3. POINT OF VIEW SHOT Also called a subjective
shot. The camcorder
adopts the perspective of
a character. We see what
a character sees and
therefore identify with
him/her. The person
whose point of view it is
should never be seen in
the shot. These shots are
often used to add drama
in chase scenes.
This allows the audience
to first hand witness and
feel what the character
does by placing them in
the characters shoes. You
see everything the
character sees and feels
everything the character
sees.
LONG SHOT A long shot shows a great
deal of background, be it
the set, the landscape or
the venue. Long shots are
essential to establish the
scene for the viewer and
to put the rest of the film
into context. This is why
they arealso known as
establishing shots.
This shot is used to show
the location and the
mood of the video by
including the character. It
sets the mood by showing
the location to the
audience and by showing
what the character
means- often serious
business.