Shot Types and Camera Angles & Movements

Shot Types

• Extreme Long Shot / Establishing Shot - often an exterior shot to establish time and location, and any characters in the scene are often only just visible. This shot provides the audience with information about the setting for the storyline (establishes the scene)
• Long Shot - this could follow up the establishing shot- this shot involves seeing the character from head to toe. The shot can help build a relationship between the character and their environment.
• Mid Shot - A shot of the character from the waist up. This shot enables the audience to become more familiar with the character as we can see their expressions and body langauge in more detial.
• Two Shot - This shot involves having two characters in the frame to show the relationship between the chracters and their interactions. Typically this is seen in TV shows, for example. Variations inlcude a Three Shot, Four Shot or Group Shot.
• Close-up - This shows the characters head and shoulders, with very little background space. The shot focuses the attention on the characters expression but could also be used to focus on objects of significance.
• Point of View - This puts the audience in the place of the character and let's them see what the character can see. It is used to engage the audience with the character's motives.
• Extreme Close-Up - This "unnatural" shot often focuses on characters eyes, and helps the audience feel the emotion that the character is feeling. Similarly to a close-up, it can be used to focus on objects of significance.

Camera Angles & Movements

As well as the aforementioned High Angle and Low Angle shots detailed in a previous post, there is also the "Over The Shoulder" shot, where the audience views the action or object of significance over the shoulder of the character. It is often used in scenes with dialogue/conversation, such as in TV soaps, and can show the interaction between characters. If the shot then alternates so it is over the shoulder of the other character, it is known as a "Shot Reverse Shot".

Movements:

• Tracking Shot - a backwards/forwards way of capturing the action using a dolly or track and dolly. If the shot moves in it can signal the start of the action, and vice versa if it moves out it can signal the end of action.
• Sideways Tracking Shot - otherwise known as a "Crab Shot", this shot follow the movement of a character or object horizontally.
• Tilt Shot - The simple movement of a camera up and down. Like with a Low Angle shot, a tilt up creates height and power with point of view.
• Zoom - an alternative to tracking, this is where the focal lenght of the camera is adjusted to move into or away from the character.
• Arc Shot - A full circle or semi-circle shot around a character or object.
• Crane Shot - the camera is attached to a crane to follow the action in a vertical direction.
• Panning Shot - this is where the camera moves from left to right or vice versa on a tripod. It could be used with point of view when a character is, say, searching a room.