Definitions


Camera Shots


Extreme close up - can show the expression/emotion of the character.


Close up - where the subject fills the frame. Shows face.

Medium close up - chest upwards - more of their physique/costume.


Medium shot - waist upwards - see their costume and some emotions.

Medium long shot - where the subject and setting are in equal proportion. Normally knee upwards.

Long shot - see whole person and some setting.

Establishing shot - setting fills the frame - usually used to set the scene.

High angle shot - shows power of person.

Low angle shot - person is vulnerable - looking up at someone.

Aerial shot - birds eye view - usually a helicopter.

Crane shot - camera positioned on a crane - gives a sweeping movement to the shot.

Point of view shot - through subjects eyes.

Wide shot - show a subject within an environment.

Two shot - shot that shows two people within a proximity.

Pans - camera moving left to right or right to left.

Tilts - camera moving floor to sky or sky to floor.


Hand held - camera work gives a sense of uneasiness.

Forward tracking - moving forward

Reverse tracking - moving backwards




180 degree rule - this is a guideline used in film making that states two characters in the same scene shoulds always have the same right/left relationship to each other. An imaginery axis is drawn between the two characters that shouldn't be crossed.


Match on action - a technique used that is a cut that connects two different views of the same action at the same moment in the movement. By carefully matching the movement across the two shots, it seems that the motion continues uninterrupted. For a real match on action, the action should begin in the first shot and end in the second shot.