kingston university journalism: visual grammar
TRANSCRIPT
VISUAL GRAMMAR
The language of TV and video
VISUAL GRAMMAR
The language of TV and video
Shot sizesFramingShooting for impactSequences
Shot sizes
WIDE SHOT (WS)
Camera zoomed far out
Captures most things in scene
Gives viewer an idea of layout of scene
Establishing shot
If you're filming a person, we can see all of their body.
Always get a wide shot.
Shot sizes
MEDIUM SHOT (MS)
If shooting a person, reveals their head and their hips.
Use sparingly (they're boring)
Shot sizes
MEDIUM CLOSE UP (MCU)
The classic shot for interviews.
We can see their head and shoulders
Close enough to read expression on their face
But not in their face.
This should be your standard framing for interviews.
Shot sizes
CLOSE UP (CU)
More intimate.
Re-frame for emotional, dramatic, or important moments in
interview.
Shoot lots and lots of close ups of everything!
Close ups get you out of editing jams.
If your piece will be on the web, shoot in close up more often.
Always use a tripod.
Shot sizes
FROM MCU...
...TO CU
Shot sizes
EXTREME CLOSE UP (ECU)
Use for a particular effect: zooming in close on subjects eyes, hands.
Look for telling details.
Always use a tripod.
Shot sizes
WIDE SHOT (WS)
MEDIUM SHOT (MS)
MEDIUM CLOSE UP (MCU)
CLOSE UP (CU)
EXTREME CLOSE UP (ECU)
Framing
The rule of thirds...
Framing
The rule of thirds...
Framing
The rule of thirds...
Framing
Looking room...
Give your subject
LOOKINGROOM
Sequences
If there's one thing you learn, make sure it's this:
SHOOT IN SEQUENCES!!
Sequences
What is a sequence?
A sequence is a series of shots that break down what's happening into its constituent parts and gives the impression of continuous action.Vin Ray Television News Handbook
A sequence is a visual paragraph, a group of shots recording an event...a shot to a sequence is like a sentence to a paragraph.
Harris Watts Directing on Camera
Sequences
Or...
We see an action happening on screen, over the course of 2 or more different shots.
Someone getting into a car...Someone making a cup of coffee...Someone turning on a computer...
Sequences
Action: someone having dental surgery
Sequences
Action: someone having dental surgery
Sequences
Action: someone having dental surgery
Sequences
Action: someone having dental surgery
Sequences
Why have sequences?
Sequences are at the heart of good television...sequences heighten the viewers' sense of involvment and show the event much as they would see it if they were there.
Vin Ray Television News Handbook
Sequences
2 ways to shoot sequences
#1: Fake them
You tell your subject to recreate an action.
You get them to do it at least twice...
...and film it from different angles.
#2: Capture them live
You can't interrupt the action
So you watch for sequences...
...and capture them quickly.
> shoot lots of close ups> look for repeated actions> change shots quickly