Technical Code
CAMERAWORK Includes:
i.
Shot size
ii.
Movement
iii.
Angle
iv.
Composition, framing & focus
The Shot The shot is the unit of visual language.
Shot Sizes
The majority of the shots used to make up a story will include people. Within the industry there is an accepted terminology for the various shot sizes used.
1. Extreme Long Shot (ELS)
Often used as an ESTABLISHING SHOT, the ELS gives the viewer "geography". There is no doubt where the people in these shots are.
2. Long Shot (LS)
The LS takes in the whole height of the person. It usually shows enough background to indicate the subject's location.
3. Medium Long Shot (MLS)
The MLS takes in the height of the person from around knee level.
4. Mid Shot (MS)
The MS cuts off at the waist. It is a good shot to introduce people to the character. You get a good image of the subject and their surroundings.
5. Medium Close Up (MCU)
The MCU is the standard news interview shot. It shows the chest to just above the head.
6. Close Up (CU)
The CU shows the shoulder to the top of the head (or anything in detail, for that matter.) It is commonly used to show emotion and when the audience needs to clearly hear the dialogue.
7. Extreme Close Up (ECU)
Very intimate shot. Great in dramatic moments when the actor is giving their all.
8. Two shot / wide shot
You can see two people in the shot. (This two shot is also a long shot.)
Over the Shoulder
Shows one person from behind the other person.
General Views (GV)
GV is the name given to all those shots taken from a variety of angles to illustrate a subject. These are typically, but not necessarily, wide shots.
Point of View - Subjective
When the camera acts like the character’s eyes, looking at the action from their point of view.
Point of View - Objective
When the audience are engaged merely as observers on the whole scene.
Movement Pan (panoramic) Move from left to right from a fixed position
Movement Tilt Movement up and down
Movement
Tracking & dolly Movement through the scene, using a track and dolly, helps the audience to feel more as if they are in the scene.
Movement
Zoom/Reverse Zoom Old fashioned technique used to direct the audience’s attention to the object being zoomed in on.
Movement
Crane A crane shot up and away at the end of a scene gives a feeling of finality – as if we are leaving that world.
Movement Handheld This can produce a jerky, unsteady image which may create a sense of emergency or chaos (as in Blair Witch and Cloverfield).
Movement
Steadicam produces a smoother version of a handheld shot using balance mechanisms.
Angle
The angle of the shot helps to determine power relations between the characters in the shot.
High Angle
Looking down on someone or something makes them look innocent, inferior, feeble, small, etc.
Low Angle Looking up at someone or something makes them look powerful, in control, domineering, etc.
Eye Level
The character is at eye level with the audience or the other actor.
Extreme High Angle
Also known as a bird’s eye view or an aerial shot, this is sometimes used as an establishing shot.
The Canted Angle
A wonky or tilted frame may be used to suggest disorientation or drunkeness.
Composition
How things are arranged in a shot to communicate meaning.
Framing The frame controls the audience’s view of the scene. Some elements are included whilst others are deliberately excluded. Usually framing happens on the horizontal axis.
Rule of Thirds
For an aesthetically pleasing placement of objects within the frame, consider the rule of thirds.
Focus
Pull focus – in the shot, the focus moves from one object to the other In focus – conventional focus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V1ve4WobPI&feature=related Pull focus demo on YouTube
Soft Focus
Soft focus – is used to make people look more attractive, younger, softer
Focus
Depth of Field – Long Everything is in focus
Focus
Depth of Field – Short Makes you focus on the part of the short which is in focus
What would you call this shot?
And this one?
And what about this one?
Putting it all together http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTAz7qFLeN0 Fake Video - Spooks - Series 8 Episode 1 Preview - BBC One
How many camera techniques can you spot in this clip?