Shot Sizes
Big Close-up (BCU) is a head or a part of the head. It's used to show emotion and detail. This shot is reserved for passion or conflict. Mid Shot (MS) is shot to the waist. This shot provides information on the body language and clothes of the character. Wide Shot (WS) is also known as the master or establishing shot. It establishes location often used at the beginning of a scene and again at the end. It helps make clear the physical geography of the space and sets up at atmosphere. Point Of View (POV) provides perspective from a particular character's point of view. The directer manipulates whoever eyes the audience experiences the story from. Close-Up (CU) reveals the head and shoulders. It also reveals the characters personality. It's intimate and powerful, useful for dramatic scenes or revealing moments of truth/crisis. Close-up shots work to increase audience identification with a character. Medium-Long Shot (MLS) includes the knees. This provides more physical information than the mid shot, but less close-up detail. Over The Shoulder (O/S) helps create a dynamic shot between the character and what they are seeing. It can also be used to suggest someone is being followed or indeed watched by an unseen presence. High Angle means that the camera points down from above the eyeline, looking down on someone. It also can indicate low status or vulnerability. Medium Close Up (MCU) shows the head and shoulders to the top pocket. This is a useful all-round shot. Long Shot (LS) reveals the full figure. It contextualises the character in their location. It is also often used to distance the audience from events or suggest loneliness, isolation etc. Two Shot, Three Shot (2/S, 3/S) Etc is shot by framing two or more characters in the same frame. From this, a sense of how they can relate to each other is created. The opposite of this is to keep characters in separate frames which suggests a lack of common group or interaction. Low Angle means that the camera points up from below the eyeline. It can indicate high status (someone powerful or intimidating).
Editing And Film Language
Editing is the framework upon which the whole film language is built. It comprises of 3 key factors:
- Shot choice.
- Order of shots.
- Pace.
Within this, editing controls time (fast or slow). It also controls what we see and when we see it. It enables the audience to make sense of events so the plot fit's together correctly and the events take place at the right time. It also controls what information is shown/represented and directs us (the audience) in how we are meant to think/feel. Editing involves the section of the right diegetic and non-diegetic sounds to create meaning.
- Diegetic sound exists within the world of film to enhance realism and maintain the audience involvement.
- Non-diegetic sound exists outside the world of film. E.g film soundtracks to create mood and tone.
180 Degree Rule helps to maintain continuity and ensures a action within a sequence. 30 Degree Rule is also known as a jump cut. If you have a cut and move the camera more than 30 degree's it creates an awkward movement. Continuerty Editing is the most common form of editing, it uses 180 degree rule, establishing and shot-reverse-shot. Eyeline Match means that 2 shots are linked by action. The shots can be matched by dialogue and cutting mid sentence. Shot-reverse-shot is when the camera cuts from one subject to another. Montage is a series of short shots edited into the film to speed up the story. Kuleshov Effect combines montage and the effect film editing has on a viewer. The way the images are cut together producing a feeling. Cross-Cutting involves crossing back and forth between different locations. This helps convey two or more things happening within the film. Split Screen is a way of seeing information. It is often split into segments.
