banner

back

Framing shots
 

Creating the size of each shot and deciding what you include in each shot is called framing the shot.

Tips for framing shots

  • Think about where it might work to use a high angle or low angle for a shot.
  • Don’t frame a shot too tightly or you may cut out important parts of the action. However, if you want to focus on a small part of an action then a tight shot may work very well.
  • If you frame a shot too loosely, the audience won’t know what they are supposed to be looking at.
  • Each shot in a film should give the audience some information about your story.

When framing shots think about which of these shot types are most appropriate

    pic


    Eye-level
    The most common angle in film is the eye-level angle. This is angle helps the audience identify with the subject.
    pic
    		 Low angle
    When the camera is filming from a low angle it can emphasize size which may make the character or subject appear more threatening or emphasize the speed of moving things.
    pic
    		  High angle
    This angle is also called an aerial perspective or a ‘birds eye view’. Using a high angle can give the audience a feeling of power or control.
    pic
    		 Long shot (LS) or Wide shot (WS)
    A long shot is used to show where the scene is taking place. This can also be called an establishing shot. It gives the audience some context about where the film is taking place.
    pic
    		 Mid-shot (MS)
    A mid-shot usually shows the subject from above the head to the waist.
    pic
    		 Close-up (CU)
    A close-up shot usually shows the subjects face or details. It is used to emphasize the emotions of the character.
    pic
    		 Extreme close-up (ECU)
    An extreme close-up shows the subject up very close.