♕ Frames ♕
Extreme Close Up (ECU or XCU)
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Image: From Dawn of the Planet of the Apes via 20th Century Fox.
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The extreme close up is usually used in films in order to allow the viewer into the character's intimate space, introducing them to emotions and characteristics that would usually go unnoticed. The up-close view of a certain feature of the character intensifies on their reaction of the event happening. It creates a relationship between the viewer and the characters, allowing the audience to feel sympathy and build a connection with the film. Extreme Close Ups are often used in movies in order to emphasise the dramatic importance of certain scenes.
"An extreme close-up shows us objects and people differently than we see them. It calls attention to the subjects, making them more memorable visually" – Jennifer van Sijll, Cinematic Storytelling
Big Close Up (BCU)
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The term Big Close Up mostly appears in scripts, storyboards and shortlists. Even though it could refer to both people and objects, it is mostly used to portray people. A BCU on a person usually includes most of their face features (eyes, nose and mouth) without showing their head
Close Up (CU)
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In Close Up shots, we usually see a tightly framed image of a person (usually the face if not specified) or subject. It helps the audience locate the main focus of the narrative, while establishing a connection with whatever is introduced to them. Close-ups display the most detail, but they do not include the broader scene
Mid Shot (MS)
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Margot Robbie in the new "Suicide Squad" trailer as Harley Quinn.
Courtesy of YouTube.
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Mid Shot usually shows a person/object in some detail, while still managing to fit some of the background in order to show the subject's relation to it's surroundings. It simulates the way we see someone when having a face to face interaction, as we don't usually pay attention to their lower body. In movies, mid shots are used to introduce characters, helping the viewer get an impression of them, without getting closer than necessary. Mid Shots could portray a character speaking without too much
emotion or intense concentration, or delivering information (which is why it is frequently used by television news presenters). The mid shot allows room for hand gestures and a bit of movement, as well as creating a neutral setting.
Mid Long Shot (MLS)
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Mid Long Shot, also known as the three - quarters shot frames the subject from the knees up, just in the middle between a medium shot and a long shot. Similar to the Mid Shot, it shows the relations of the subject with its surrounding, but on a bigger scale. It's often used in action movies, introducing an important character, or showing a fight scene. Mid Long Shots often can fit up to 3 people in one frame, helping the audience focus on their relationship or interaction.
Long Shot (LS)
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Long Shots do the job of showing the image as approximately life size, corresponding to the real distance between the audience and the screen in the cinema. In long shots, the viewer gets a good view of the characters in the shot, as well as the emerging background detail. It is often used in movies as an establishing shot to introduce a new setting. It is called a long shot because the camera is placed far away to capture a large area of view.
Extreme Long Shot (ELS)
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Extreme Long Shot, or also known as Extreme Wide Shot (EWS), covers big areas giving a context to scenes. In the extreme long shot the screen space is filled primarily with the surroundings. Directors usually use ELS, because foregrounds an environment a central character finds themselves in.
Point-Of-View Shot (POV)
In Point-of-View shots, the camera is positioned so that you see what the character would be seeing from their perspective. However, the shot might be of a part of the character (over a shoulder). POV shot gives the audience the illusion that they are the character in the scene and not just looking at it from an exterior view. Through this shot, the audience gets to see everything going on in the scene, as well as experiencing a certain character's emotions. Horror movie often use POV shots in order to build anxiety and tension.
Worm's-Eye View
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Worm's-eye View shot portrays the subject from below (as thought the observer was a worm). It is often used for third perspective, with vanishing points on top, left and right. It presents the subject as tall, strong, and mighty.
Bird's Eye View
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Aerial Shot
Aerial shot is a shot taken from an airborne device, generally while moving. It is often used in the beginning of a film, establishing setting and movement. It is a variation of the crane shot, however it provides flexibility in movement of the camera and has a bigger overall reach.
Crane Shot
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Crane shots are often called "dolly-shots-in-the-air". They are taken using a crane/jib (a heavy piece of equipment), which is moved up and down, left and right and diagonally, making it easier to move the camera around during intense fight scenes and establishing shots.
High Angle Shot
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| The Avengers via Marvel Studios |
Not as extreme as bird's eye view shots, in high angle shots the camera is lifted slightly above the subject/action with a crane, giving a general overview. High Angle shots often have the tendency to make the subject photographed look smaller and less significant, by being swallowed up by its surroundings.
Low Angle Shot
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