film terms using abbreviations for taking notes. notes taken from a short guide to writing about...

Film TermsFilm Terms

Using Abbreviations for Taking NotesUsing Abbreviations for Taking Notes

Notes taken from A Short Guide to Writing Notes taken from A Short Guide to Writing About Film, Carrigan, Chapter 3About Film, Carrigan, Chapter 3

Close-up (cu)Close-up (cu)

Focuses on a character’s face Focuses on a character’s face or an objector an object

In the case of a face, most of In the case of a face, most of the face is shown the face is shown

Helps convey character’s Helps convey character’s reaction to a situationreaction to a situation


Extreme close-up (ecu)Extreme close-up (ecu)

Shows a detail close-up, such Shows a detail close-up, such as a tear in an eye as a tear in an eye

Makes the object or facial very Makes the object or facial very obviousobvious


Medium shot (ms)Medium shot (ms)

Between a close-up and a full Between a close-up and a full shot, showing most but not all of shot, showing most but not all of a figure or several objects in a figure or several objects in close proximityclose proximity

Can show part of a person’s Can show part of a person’s body against a backdrop, body against a backdrop, showing some props in the showing some props in the frame with the characterframe with the character


Full or long shot (fs)Full or long shot (fs)

Reveals a character’s entire body in Reveals a character’s entire body in the framethe frame

Can show more than one characterCan show more than one character Will show some background behind Will show some background behind

the characterthe character Could be a shot without characters if Could be a shot without characters if

just part of a setting is shown in just part of a setting is shown in closer range than in an extreme long closer range than in an extreme long shot would showshot would show


Three-quarter shot (3/4s)Three-quarter shot (3/4s)

Shows only about three-quarters Shows only about three-quarters of the characters’ bodiesof the characters’ bodies

Is somewhere between a full Is somewhere between a full shot and a medium shotshot and a medium shot


Pan shot (ps)Pan shot (ps)

The point of view pivots from the left The point of view pivots from the left to the right, or vice versa, but without to the right, or vice versa, but without changing its vertical axischanging its vertical axis

The shot continues without a cut to The shot continues without a cut to show additional people or objects in show additional people or objects in the scene with the camera pivoting the scene with the camera pivoting to capture additional detailsto capture additional details

The camera is usually affixed to a The camera is usually affixed to a tripod and pivots to show more of the tripod and pivots to show more of the actionaction


Shot/reverse shot pattern Shot/reverse shot pattern (r/rs)(r/rs)

S/rs gives both characters’ S/rs gives both characters’ views in conversation scenesviews in conversation scenes

The camera shows the face of The camera shows the face of one person talking and then one person talking and then shifts to show the face of the shifts to show the face of the other person when he or she other person when he or she starts talkingstarts talking


Cut (ct)Cut (ct)

The film changes from one The film changes from one image to anotherimage to another

In most contemporary films, a In most contemporary films, a straight cut is used straight cut is used

““Editing continuity” makes Editing continuity” makes consecutive cuts seem consecutive cuts seem seamless so viewers do not seamless so viewers do not notice a changenotice a change


Long take (lt)Long take (lt)

The camera stays on one action The camera stays on one action without cutting for an unusually without cutting for an unusually long timelong time


Crane shot (crs)Crane shot (crs)

The point of view is from above, The point of view is from above, often of an outdoor scene often of an outdoor scene shown from high aboveshown from high above

The camera is mounted on a The camera is mounted on a crane above the scene to crane above the scene to capture the expansecapture the expanse


Tracking shot (ts)Tracking shot (ts)

The entire point of view moves, The entire point of view moves, on tracks or a dolly, following, on tracks or a dolly, following, for instance, a walking figurefor instance, a walking figure

The direction that the camera The direction that the camera tracks can be indicated by using tracks can be indicated by using an arrowan arrow


Low angle (la)Low angle (la)

The point of view is low, tilted The point of view is low, tilted upwardupward

The exact angle can be made The exact angle can be made clear by using arrows when clear by using arrows when taking notestaking notes

There are numerous reasons for There are numerous reasons for using a la, including trying to using a la, including trying to make a character look powerful make a character look powerful or domineeringor domineering


High angle (ha)High angle (ha)

The point of view is above, tilted The point of view is above, tilted downwarddownward

The exact angle can be made The exact angle can be made clear by using arrows when clear by using arrows when taking notestaking notes

A ha can make a character look A ha can make a character look small and inferiorsmall and inferior

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