Cinematography

Shot Types

ELS: This type of shot is often used to introduce setting (setting the scene as an establishing shot) or to indicate the overwhelming nature of that setting

LS: These shots are often used to show the relationship between a character, or group of characters, to a particular setting.

MS: Perhaps the most widely used shot distance in film is the medium shot. Characters are usually shown from the knees/waist up enabling viewers to read the body language of a character.

CU: Close-ups frame the entire head, hand or foot of a character or part of an object. They can be used to draw the viewer’s attention to a significant facial expression or to an object that might have significance within the narrative

Over the shoulder: Usually follows a shot reverse shot pattern to show the reactions of 2 characters during a conversation.

Low angle shots involve the camera being positioned low down so it looks up at the character or setting. This can have a number of effects, making a character look menacing or dominant as they loom large in the frame, making a building look daunting or towering, making a hero look powerful, brave or statuesque.

High Angle Shots look down on a character, place or object. This shot usually suggests weakness, vulnerability or loss of power.

• Furthermore framing can be open or closed.

• In an open frame the character will be surrounded by a lot of open space, possibly suggesting that the character is free, whilst if the frame is closed the character will be boxed in, prompting feelings of entrapment.

Closed framing – character appears boxed into the frame. Trapped and imprisoned.

Open framing – it’s easy to imagine what is beyond the frame. They may appear free and carefree.

The Rule of Thirds

The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts. As follows.

Eyeline can help to convey the emotions of a character and their psychological state of mind, their status and power and finally their relationship with the viewer (encouraging or discouraging identification and empathy)

Depth of Field• DOF is how sharp images are within a frame.

The frame for this purpose can be divided into the foreground, middle ground and background.

FG MG BG

Standard focus as the flowers in the BG are slightly out of focus.

Shallow focus making the flowers the main focal point and ensuring that the viewers attention is focussed on them

Activity 1Moving Image:

1. Choose a film opening from your genre and identify the different cinematographic techniques that have been used and suggest why. Provide screen shots to support your points.

2. Is there a range of techniques used? What impact will this have on your own film opening?

Activity 1Print:

1. Choose a front cover, contents page and double page spread from a magazine in your chosen genre. Identify the different cinematographic techniques that have been used and suggest why. Provide screen shots to support your points.

2. Is there a range of techniques used? What impact will this have on your own magazine pages?