Glossary

Camera Shots

Definition Is often like a long shot, showing the same amount of the scene as a long shot. Shows the entire scene and the characters within it.

Possible Effect This shot allows the viewer to see and recognise a large area of the setting and everything around it.

Example

Establishing Shot

Master Shot

This shot shows all the characters and puts them into context.

Close-Up

Shows all of a characters face, or detail closer up on an object.

Allows detail and characters faces to be put into context.

Mid-Shot

Like a long-shot, however it is slightly closer to whats being focussed on and shows less of the scene than a long-shot. Shows a large area of a scene.

This shot allows more of a scene to be shown closer up than a longshot, therefore showing more detail.

Long-Shot

Long shot allows a vast area to be in shot, showing setting or a lot of people.

Wide Shot

A wide shot, is like a long shots, but shows a larger area, width ways

Allows a wider area to be seen in context, if the is a wide scene, a wide-shot is used.

Two-Shot

A two shot shows Allows a conversation just two to be filmed effectively. characters.

Aerial Shot

Shows an area from an extreme height, a crane is normally used

Allows a scene to be set from an alternative and interesting area.

Point Of View Is a shot where Shot the camera is filming from the viewing area of a character.

Allows the audience to see what the character is seeing.

Over The Shoulders Shot

The camera shot films something over a characters shoulder, seeing the shoulder as well.

Has the same sort of effect as the point of view but allows the characters shoulder to be seen too.

Camera Angle High Angle

Description The is a shot taken from above the characters or scene.

Possible Effect This allows the viewer to look down on a character, often makes the character look vulnerable.

Example

Low Angle

Canted Angle

A shot taken from the ground, or slightly higher than the ground of either a character or setting. This is a shot where the camera isnt at a level angle, but is tilted

This allows the camera to emphasise or exaggerate somethings/ someones size. Can make it seem scarier or more superior.

This can be used to put the viewer off centre and make everything askew. Has the effect something has happened to make the camera at that angle.

Camera Movement Pan

Description The pan movement is when the camera stays levels, and moves horizontally along a line.

Tilt

Crane

Possible Effects This can be used to show an area that is too wide to be taken in one shot. It can also go along a group of people in a line. This is when the camera This can be used to look at a stays at the same height, but character then up to the sky tilts up, or down. or down to the ground, this shows emotion, for example guilt. This is when the camera This can have the same stays at the same level and effect, but the shot isnt angle, but moves up or down distorted by the angle of the in a smooth movement. camera changing.

Steadicam

Track

This is when the camera is either stationary or moving smoothly attached to something that moves smoothly. The track follows the character as he/she moves. This is when the camera is attached to a cat for extremely smooth movements. This is when the camera is not on a tripod, but is held by the camera man. This makes the camera shake and unsteady. This is when the camera moves towards something.

This creates a sense of smoothness. Makes the scene smooth and steady.

Dolly

This gives the audience a sense that they are following the character. Used for fast paced shots, where fast and smooth movements is used. This can be used when the characters are running or in times of high action and suspense. Could be used as an introduction scene, zooming in on the main character, shows the object/person in more context. Could be used in an ending scene, moving away from something thats happened.

Handheld

Zoom

Reverse Zoom

The opposite of zoom, the camera in this movement moves away from something.