Shot Sizes

Shot Sizes

Today in Media we learnt all about Shot Sizes. These are different ways a scene can be filmed to portray emotion, time period, location etc.

Here they are:

                                                            
Extreme close-up (ECU)
                                                           
This is used to portray close up emotion
and to show the audience what the
character is feeling. Here, Will Smith 
demonstrates a look of obvious confusion and anger.

Close-up or close shot (CU)

This shot only reveals the actors head and 
 shoulders. This is used for revealing 
 important moments or increase audience
 identification with a character.     

Medium close-up (MCU)

This only show the head and shoulders until
the upper chest. This is useful to portray
all kinds of stories.

Mid Shot (MS)

This is a shot only to the waist. This can
be used to portray a sense of time period
through costume or body language.

Medium-long shot (MLS)

This includes everything from the knees
up. This provides more physical information
but less detail emotionally.

Long Shot (LS)

This is the whole body of the actor. This
contextualises the location of the film or
TV programme. This can be used to show 
loneliness through distance.

Wide Shot (WS)

This is an establishing shot which means
a location could be revealed and this is
normally used at the beginning and end 
of a scene. This can also be used to 
set up an atmosphere.

Over the shoulder (O/S)

This allows the audience to see what a
character is seeing. This can suggest 
someone is being watched by an invisible
presence.

Two shot, three shot (2/5, 3/5) etc

This means framing two or more characters
providing a relationship between them, usually
a good relationship or a family bond. If characters
are in separate frames, it normally means they 
don't get on.

Point of view (POV)

This shot provides perspective from a character's
point of view. This allows the audience to see
as one of the characters.

High Angle

This is a shot filmed from above and normally
depicts low status to the character it is
filming.

Low Angle

This is a shot filmed from below and normally
depicts a character with high status or
importance.