FramingFraming

Looking at what is in the shotLooking at what is in the shot

What is a shot?What is a shot?

Shots are defined by the subject matter Shots are defined by the subject matter that is included within the frame of the that is included within the frame of the screen.screen.

When discussing shots and framing, we When discussing shots and framing, we look at where the objects are placed and look at where the objects are placed and how much is includedhow much is included

In general, shots are determined by how In general, shots are determined by how much of a human figure is in view.much of a human figure is in view.

1. Extreme Long Shot1. Extreme Long Shot

Taken from a great distanceTaken from a great distance

Almost always exterior and Almost always exterior and shows much of the locationshows much of the location

People appear tiny and People appear tiny and insignificantinsignificant

Often used in Epic films, where Often used in Epic films, where location is important: westerns, location is important: westerns, war films, samurai films, and war films, samurai films, and historical movieshistorical movies

Also used as an “establishing Also used as an “establishing shot” to establish the setting of a shot” to establish the setting of a scenescene

ELS, exampleELS, example

Okaeri (Japan, 1995)Okaeri (Japan, 1995)The setting dominates most of this shot. The people are dwarfed, The setting dominates most of this shot. The people are dwarfed, making the appear insignificant. They are nearly swallowed up by making the appear insignificant. They are nearly swallowed up by the setting, which further creates a feeling of starkness and the setting, which further creates a feeling of starkness and vulnerability.vulnerability.

Long ShotLong Shot

Least specific, most commonly used shot. Least specific, most commonly used shot.

Like eye-level camera angle, the full shot Like eye-level camera angle, the full shot is neutral.is neutral.

Sometimes called “Full Shot,” barely Sometimes called “Full Shot,” barely includes the whole human body.includes the whole human body.

Long shot establishes actors within their Long shot establishes actors within their settings.settings.

LS, exampleLS, example

Clockwork Orange (England, 1971)Clockwork Orange (England, 1971)We notice that the man in the middle, with the most We notice that the man in the middle, with the most prominent weapon. As our eye is drawn to him, we feel prominent weapon. As our eye is drawn to him, we feel that he is most in charge (or, possibly, most threatening)that he is most in charge (or, possibly, most threatening)

Medium ShotMedium Shot

Shows the figure from Shows the figure from the knees or waist up. the knees or waist up.

Draws attention to the Draws attention to the character, especially character, especially during dialogue or during dialogue or carrying movement.carrying movement.

Types of MSTypes of MS

These variations on the Medium shot are These variations on the Medium shot are often used for dialog:often used for dialog:– Two shot – shows two people in the frameTwo shot – shows two people in the frame– Three shot – shows three peopleThree shot – shows three people– Over-the-Shoulder shot – contains two Over-the-Shoulder shot – contains two

figures, one with back to the camera, one figures, one with back to the camera, one facing the camerafacing the camera

Two Shot (note the Two Shot (note the feeling of intimacy feeling of intimacy created by proximity created by proximity of figures and of figures and cropping of cropping of background)background)

Over-the-Shoulder Over-the-Shoulder (this shot gives (this shot gives feeling of back-and-feeling of back-and-forth nature of forth nature of conversation)conversation)

Close UpClose Up

Shows very little, if any locale and Shows very little, if any locale and concentrates on one object (often the concentrates on one object (often the face).face).

Since close ups magnifies the size of an Since close ups magnifies the size of an object, it tends to suggest importance.object, it tends to suggest importance.

Often used to show emotion on the face of Often used to show emotion on the face of characters.characters.

CU, exampleCU, example

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (USA, 1992)With Me (USA, 1992)

Extreme Close UpExtreme Close Up

The most extreme variation of a close up.The most extreme variation of a close up.

Instead of a whole face, the shot might only Instead of a whole face, the shot might only show an eye or mouthshow an eye or mouth

ECU, exampleECU, example

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (USA, 1974)Texas Chainsaw Massacre (USA, 1974)

Establishing ShotEstablishing Shot

Establishes the location of a certain scene Establishes the location of a certain scene or film. Often found at the beginning of a or film. Often found at the beginning of a sequence.sequence.

Freeze FrameFreeze Frame

One shot of movement in One shot of movement in order to make an order to make an

interesting illusion of a still interesting illusion of a still photograph.photograph.

Freeze FrameFreeze Frame

Over the ShoulderOver the ShoulderThis shot is framed from behind a person who is looking at the subject. This shot is framed from behind a person who is looking at the subject. The person facing the subject should usually occupy about 1/3 of the The person facing the subject should usually occupy about 1/3 of the frame.frame.

This shot helps to establish the position of each person, and get the feel This shot helps to establish the position of each person, and get the feel of looking at one person from the other's point of view.of looking at one person from the other's point of view.

It's common to cut between these shots during a conversation, It's common to cut between these shots during a conversation, alternating the view between the different speakers (Shot Reverse Shot).alternating the view between the different speakers (Shot Reverse Shot).

Reaction ShotReaction Shot

Catches the viewers reaction to an event.Catches the viewers reaction to an event.

Rule of ThirdsRule of Thirds

An image is divided into nine equal parts. An image is divided into nine equal parts. The main subject is placed along these The main subject is placed along these lines or their intersections.lines or their intersections.

ReviewReview

Camera MovementCamera Movement

Horizontal and vertical camera movements Horizontal and vertical camera movements include:include:

PanPan

Swish PanSwish Pan

TiltTilt

Camera Movement in Three Camera Movement in Three DimensionsDimensions

Tracking ShotsTracking Shots

Crane ShotsCrane Shots

Aerial ShotsAerial Shots

Handheld ShotsHandheld Shots

Steadicam ShotsSteadicam Shots

Lenses and Filters:Lenses and Filters:The Frame in DepthThe Frame in Depth

Depth of FieldDepth of Field: “the range of acceptable : “the range of acceptable sharpness before and behind the plane of focus” sharpness before and behind the plane of focus” (American Cinematographers Manual)(American Cinematographers Manual)

A shallow depth of field means very little is in A shallow depth of field means very little is in focus in front of or behind the subject focus in front of or behind the subject (character). This may contribute to the sense (character). This may contribute to the sense that the subject is separated from the that the subject is separated from the environment, not a part of it.environment, not a part of it.

Lenses and the Perception of Lenses and the Perception of DepthDepth

Lenses have differing Lenses have differing focal lengths focal lengths (distance from lens to film surface), which (distance from lens to film surface), which give rise to different visual properties.give rise to different visual properties.

The most common types of lenses are The most common types of lenses are normal, wide-anglenormal, wide-angle, and , and telephoto telephoto lenses.lenses.

Properties of Normal LensesProperties of Normal Lenses

Film shot with a normal lens will not have Film shot with a normal lens will not have any noticeable distortions of space any noticeable distortions of space because these lenses capture the relation because these lenses capture the relation of foreground to background and to of foreground to background and to objects the way the human eye sees those objects the way the human eye sees those relationships. relationships.

Properties of wide-angle lensesProperties of wide-angle lenses

These lenses offer a These lenses offer a wider angle of viewwider angle of view than normal lenses (or the human eye). than normal lenses (or the human eye). They also provide the illusion of They also provide the illusion of greater greater depthdepth. With these lenses, the distance . With these lenses, the distance between foreground and background between foreground and background appears greater than it actually is.appears greater than it actually is.

Extreme wide-angle lensesExtreme wide-angle lenses

They distort the spatial characteristics of They distort the spatial characteristics of the image (relative to the normal lens or the image (relative to the normal lens or human eye) so that straight lines appear to human eye) so that straight lines appear to be curved.be curved.

Properties of telephoto lensesProperties of telephoto lenses

These lenses magnify the image, allowing These lenses magnify the image, allowing cinematographers to shoot the subject from a great cinematographers to shoot the subject from a great distance (they are used by paparazzi, for example).distance (they are used by paparazzi, for example).

With telephoto lenses, the distance between foreground With telephoto lenses, the distance between foreground and background appears less than it actually is, and background appears less than it actually is, compressing the viewer’s sense of on-screen space.compressing the viewer’s sense of on-screen space.

If the background details of a shot do not appear to be in If the background details of a shot do not appear to be in focus, this is probably because a telephoto lens has focus, this is probably because a telephoto lens has been used.been used.

Zooms and Trombone shotsZooms and Trombone shots

Zoom lensesZoom lenses have a variable focal length, have a variable focal length, which allows directors to shift from wide-angle to which allows directors to shift from wide-angle to telephoto perspectives in a single shot, called a telephoto perspectives in a single shot, called a zoom.zoom.

Trombone shotsTrombone shots combine movement of the combine movement of the camera (toward or away from the subject) and a camera (toward or away from the subject) and a zoom lens (moving from wide-angle to telephoto zoom lens (moving from wide-angle to telephoto or vice versa) to destabilize space.or vice versa) to destabilize space.