This document defines and describes various shot types and conventions used for filming interviews. It explains extreme wide shots, very wide shots, wide shots, mid shots, medium close ups, close ups, and extreme close ups, and how each shot frames and focuses on the subject. It also discusses cut ins, cut aways, over-the-shoulder shots, and the importance of mise en scene in establishing the credibility and context of the interview subject and environment.

1. Shot Types and Codes
and Conventions of
Interviews

2. Extreme Wide Shot
In an extreme wide shot, the
view is so far from the
subject that they aren't even
visible to the audience. The
point of this shot is to show
the surroundings the
subject's in. The EWS is
often used as an
"establishing shot" - the first
shot of a new scene,
designed to show the
audience where the action is
taking place. In an interview,
a shot like this would be used
as a cutaway if someone is
talking about the place being
shown.

3. Very Wide Shot
A very wide shot is a lot
closer to the subject than in
a extreme wide shot, but still
much further away than a
wide shot. The subject is
visible here but only just..
The emphasis is very much
on placing him in the
environment and making the
environment visible and
stand out.

4. Wide Shot
In a wide shot, the subject
takes up the full frame. The
subjects feet are at the
bottom of the shot and the
subjects head is at the top of
the shot. The small amount
of room above and below
the subject can be thought of
as safety room — you don't
want to be cutting the top of
the head off. A shot like this
would be used if the
narration was talking about
this subject.

5. Mid Shot
A mid shot shows some part
of the subject in more detail,
as its a closer shot, whilst
still showing enough for the
audience to feel as if they
were looking at the whole
subject. This is how much
you would see a person "in
the flesh if you were having
a casual conversation. A mid
shot allows room for hand
gestures and a bit of
movement. This is the
typical shot used for
voxpops and interviews.

6. Medium Close Up
A medium close up is half
way between a mid shot and
a close up. This shot shows
the face more clearly,
without making the subject
feel uncomfortable with the
closeness. This shot is also
used in interviews, with the
background suited to the
person and the topic in
discussion.

7. Close Up
In a close up shot, a certain
part of the subject takes up
most of the frame, which is
usually the face of a person.
Close-ups are obviously
useful for showing detail and
emotion. A close up
exaggerates a facial
expression. The viewer is
drawn into the subject's
personal space and shares
their feelings.

8. Extreme Close Up
An extreme close up shows
extreme detail. It is usually a
close up of a specific feature
on someone's face. You
would normally need a
specific reason to get this
close, it must imply or back
up something.

9. Cut In
A cut in is like a cut away but
specifically refers to showing
some part of the subject in
detail. It can be used purely
as an edit point, or to
emphasise the emotion the
subjects feeling or the
emotion they want the
audience to feel.

10. Cut Away
A cut away is a shot that's of
something other than the
current thing being spoke
about. It could be a different
subject but it has to be
related to the same topic.
The cutaway is used to help
the editing process. This
would be used when
interviewing someone, the
cut away would be
something linking in with
what the interviewee is
speaking about.

11. Over-the-Shoulder Shot
This shot is taken from
behind a person who is
looking at the subject. The
person facing the subject
should usually take up about
1/3 of the frame. This helps
the audience get a feel of
looking at one person from
the other's point of view. It's
common to cut between
these shots during a
conversation (interviews in
documentaries) to make the
interview a bit more
interesting for the audience.

12. Mise en scene
What the interviewee is wearing, their make up, props around
them, the lighting and the setting is all important in an interview for
a documentary. For example, we plan to interview a college
counsellor called Julie Maitland for out documentary, therefore we
plan for her to wear casual clothes like her everyday look, shuttle
make up, and for her to be sat in her office, in her natural setting
where she works. This then makes the interview look professional
and not fake. Therefore making the audience more drawn to what
the interviewee is saying as they trust them more as it
professional.