The document discusses various shot types used in filmmaking, including wide shots, medium shots, close-ups, point-of-view shots, and two-shots. It provides examples of how each shot type is used in different films and documentaries to convey specific information to the audience and advance the story or message. Wide shots show the overall context and surroundings, while close-ups focus on intense reactions or details. Shot composition like the rule of thirds and angle are also discussed as ways to frame subjects for desired emotional effects.
2. WIDE SHOT
A wide shot is where the person takes up the whole frame. For example their
feet would be almost a the bottom of the frame and the head almost at the top
of it. However they do not take up the whole width of the frame as this is the
close as they can get without losing any part of them. A medium shot is used
in the documentary The Working Man’s Death. This is seen when they are
slaughtering the goats and selling them. They have the locals in a wide shot
many times. I believe this has been done so the audience can see how poor
the people are by seeing them from head to toe. However by having them in
the wide shot you can also see the surroundings.
3. 2 SHOT
A two shot is a type of shot in which the frame encompasses a view of
two people, otherwise known as the subjects. The subjects do not have
to be next to each other, and there are many common two-shots which
have one subject in the foreground and the other subject in the
background. A two shot is constantly used in the one-off drama Coming
Down the Mountain. This is because there are two main characters and
are normally always in the same shot. Although they are in the same
shot the two boys normally don’t stand close together. This is done to
mirror their relationship. As it is highlighted throughout that they are not
close with each other.
4. EXTREME CLOSE UP
Extreme Close Up gets right in and shows extreme detail. You would
normally need a specific reason to get this close. It is too close to show
general reactions or emotion except in very dramatic scenes. An
extreme close up is used in the documentary The Working Man’s
Death. This is seen in the slaughtering of the lambs scene. There are a
few times when the camera is zoomed right into the eyes of the goat as
it is dying. I believe that it is done to show the life going out in the goat.
This also matches the name of the drama.
5. POINT OF VIEW SHOT
A point of view shot is a shot that shows what a character is looking at.
It is normally established by being positioned between a shot of a
character looking at something, and a shot showing their reaction. This
is normally done so that the audience feel like they are part of the
scene. This is seen in the Back to the Future. In the one scene the main
character Marty is looking at a picture of his family. Instead of having a
shot of him looking down at it, there is a tilted shot of his hand holding
the photograph. This is effective as it makes us feel like we are in the
scene, and makes it easier for us to feel sorry for the situation he is in.
6. RULE OF THIRDS
The rule of thirds is applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their
intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing
linear features in the image to flow from section to section. This is used
effectively in the film Silence of the Lambs where there are two characters
used. In the shot Hannibal Lecter takes up two thirds of the grid, where as
Clarice is only in one third of it. Therefore by having Hannibal take up most of
the shot it makes him look a lot bigger, whilst at the same time making Clarice
look smaller. This is effective as it reinforces the feeling that he is the
dominant one in this scene.
7. OVER THE SHOULDER
This is a shot of someone or something taken from the perspective or
camera angle from the shoulder of another person. The back of the
shoulder and head of this person is used to frame the image of
whatever the camera is pointing toward. This is seen in the one-off
drama Coming Down the Mountain. In the kitchen scene throughout the
conversation between the son and the father there are over the
shoulder shots. These are used so that we can see who is talking and
who they are talking to.
8. MEDIUM SHOT
The medium shot is a general, all-purpose shot. Medium shots are used for
dialogue sequences, and they allow the viewer to pick up on the character's
movements and gestures. Body language is important to conveying emotion,
and the medium shot remains close enough to capture that emotion. A
medium shot is used in the film Cyberbully. This is seen whilst the girl is sitting
on her laptop. In the shot we see her look surprised and she leans into her
laptop to read something. We are able to see clearly her expression and also
her body language. This lets the audience know that there is something
wrong before we see what the girl has saw.
9. S-R-S &180˚ RULE
The 180° rule is a cinematography guideline that states that two
characters in a scene should maintain the same left/right relationship to
one another . When the camera passes over the invisible axis
connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line and the shot
becomes what is called a reverse angle. This is seen in the one-off
drama Coming Down the Mountain. It is used in the scene when they
are standing outside college. In this scene there are many different
shots used however they never break the 180˚ rule.