Shot types

The type of shot used can have a profound effect upon the audience.

The following are the types of shots that we learnt about in class:

Wide:
This shot is taken from a long distance and aims to capture both surroundings and action. It is often used as an establishing shot at the start of a film but also be used to show loneliness/isolation. Here is an example from 'Cowboys and Aliens' of a wide shot.

Long:
This shot is taken from a long distance capturing the whole setting or character. It is used to show the relation between the character and the setting. This is an example of a long shot from the film 'from the front row'.

Mid:
A mid shot is taken closer in than a long shot, only capturing half a character or setting. This is to focus on the image in frame and is related to the narrative. Below is an example from '17 again'.

Medium close-up
A medium close up shot captures a quarter of a person or setting. This is so the audience focuses on a certain aspect of what is in shot. An example of a film this is used in is 'Indiana Jones- raiders of the lost ark'.

Close Up
A close up shot is taken to capture just the head of a character. This let the audience see the characters emotion and empathise with them. Here is an example from 'Thor'.

Extreme Close Up
An extreme close up is of just the eyes and top of head, or of an equivalent body part. This build suspense as it shows the extreme emotions of a character. Here is an example from 'The grey'.

Over the shoulder
An over the shoulder shot is taken to capture one person over another's shoulder usually used during dialogue or to watch one persons reaction. Here is an example from 'The hangover'.

 

 

Point of view

This is a shot from a persons point of view, so what that person sees. This is used so that the audience feels/sees something from the characters perspective and so can empathise with them.

 

 

Two shot

This is a shot taken to capture two people in the frame together. This allows the audience to see both the people in the same room at the same time.

 

Weather



A shot taken to capture the weather outside to set atmosphere and mood.

 

 

By using a range of these shots in a film the audience can relate to it and it can build a range of emotions. It also helps to make the narrative easier to follow. These have an large affect on the audience.

 

We used some of these shots in all of the practical work that we have done so far. For example in our 'Pulp Fiction' recreation we used an over the shoulder shot and a couple of mid shots.