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.

Handheld This can produce a jerky, unsteady image which may create a sense of emergency or chaos (as in Blair Witch and Cloverfield).

Movement

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?