Basic Camera shots, Terms and Angles The following are basic shots, terms and angles most commonly used in film. The explanations are general and do not necessarily explain every specific shot in every film. SHOT/ANGLE EXAMPLE WHY IS IT USED? SETTING WA / ES / To set the scene (let us know where we are). Contains a lot of landscape and helps establish ELS location and likely atmosphere/context. Often used at WIDE the beginning of a film or scene. Landscape when shown like this becomes symbolic or thematic. ACTION LS This shot contains a fair amount of background, however figures are slightly more recognisable. This LONG SHOT shot is often used for action. It allows us to see a big picture and mass movement. ACTION This shot does not contain the whole height of any FS figure in the frame (if it contains two figures it’s called FULL SHOT a two-shot). Again this shot is primarily used for action and allows the audience to be more personally involved. Here it links the character to his/her physical setting/context. DIALOGUE MS The figures in this shot are seen from the waist up. Often characters talk in these shots as this what we MID SHOT would personally regard as a comfortable speaking distance. CHARACTER CU A close up gives us almost complete focus on an object or a person’s face. This shot enables CLOSE UP directors/actors to portray the emotions of characters and create atmosphere and feeling. SYMBOLS/DETAILS ECU This shot is often used to highlight important symbols/ideas in a film. If the focus is a character we EXTREME will see only part of the person e.g. their eyes or UP hands. This shot focusses on how a blind boy has done something remarkable. EXAMPLE WHY IS IT USED? DIALOGUE
Basic Camera shots, Terms and Angles The following are basic shots, terms and angles most commonly used in film. The explanations are general and do not necessarily explain every specific shot in every film. SHOT/ANGLE EXAMPLE WHY IS IT USED? WA / ES / ELS WIDE SETTING To set the scene (let us know where we are). Contains a lot of landscape and helps establish location and likely atmosphere/context. Often used at the beginning of a film or scene. Landscape when shown like this becomes symbolic or thematic. LS LONG SHOT ACTION This shot contains a fair amount of background, however figures are slightly more recognisable. This shot is often used for action. It allows us to see a big picture and mass movement. FS FULL SHOT ACTION This shot does not contain the whole height of any figure in the frame (if it contains two figures it’s called a two-shot). Again this shot is primarily used for action and allows the audience to be more personally involved. Here it links the character to his/her physical setting/context. MS MID SHOT DIALOGUE The figures in this shot are seen from the waist up. Often characters talk in these shots as this what we would personally regard as a comfortable speaking distance. CU CLOSE UP CHARACTER A close up gives us almost complete focus on an object or a person’s face. This shot enables directors/actors to portray the emotions of characters and create atmosphere and feeling. ECU EXTREME UP SYMBOLS/DETAILS This shot is often used to highlight important symbols/ideas in a film. If the focus is a character we will see only part of the person e.g. their eyes or hands. This shot focusses on how a blind boy has done something remarkable. EXAMPLE WHY IS IT USED? DIALOGUE
2016_student_unit_edward_scissorhands.docx