Ultimate Guide to Camera Shots: Every Shot Size Explained [The Shot List, Ep 1]

Summary

This video script from 'The Shot List' series explores the art of shot selection in filmmaking. It defines essential shot sizes, from establishing shots to extreme close-ups, and their impact on storytelling. The script guides viewers on how to use these shots to create rhythm, tone, and meaning, providing examples from iconic films. It also introduces a shot list in StudioBinder as a practical tool for filmmakers.

Takeaways

• 🎬 Films are constructed from sequences, scenes, and shots, each with its own storytelling value and characteristics.
• 📚 The video introduces essential shot sizes and their use in creating memorable moments on screen.
• 🔍 Shot choices are crucial for establishing the rhythm, tone, and meaning of a scene in filmmaking.
• 🏞 Establishing shots are used to set the scene's geography, time of day, and subject scale, often marking transitions or introducing new locations.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Master Shot captures the entire scene, showing character relationships and interactions, and provides a base for editing.
• 🌄 Wide Shots position subjects in relation to their environment, often used to convey a sense of scale or isolation.
• 🧍 Full Shots frame a subject from head to toe, highlighting physicality and character presence.
• 🤠 Medium Full Shots, sometimes called Cowboy Shots, are used to portray confidence, danger, or confrontation, especially in relation to weapons.
• 👤 Medium Shots are a neutral size, capturing subjects in a way that resembles natural human interaction, useful for character expression and detail.
• 🔎 Medium Close-Up Shots focus on the subject from mid-chest to just above the head, reducing distractions and emphasizing story and character details.
• 👀 Close-Up Shots are powerful for highlighting changes in emotion or dramatic beats, providing an intimate view of a character's thoughts and feelings.
• 👁 Extreme Close-Up Shots or Inserts isolate specific details, such as eyes or props, for emphasis and dramatic impact.

Q & A

What is the fundamental structure of a film according to the script?

A film is fundamentally structured into sequences, which are then composed of scenes, and scenes are made up of shots.

Why is understanding the characteristics and storytelling value of each shot important?

Understanding the characteristics and storytelling value of each shot is important because it helps to create memorable moments on screen and convey the intended rhythm, tone, and meaning of a scene.

What is the purpose of an Establishing Shot in filmmaking?

An Establishing Shot is used to set the scene by showing the location, time of day, and the scale of subjects in relation to their environment. It is crucial for introducing new locations or worlds, especially in genres like science fiction.

What is the difference between an Establishing Shot and a Master Shot?

While an Establishing Shot sets the location and environment, a Master Shot confirms the location and geography of the scene, clarifies which characters are present, and their spatial relationships to each other.

How does a Wide Shot contribute to a film's storytelling?

A Wide Shot positions subjects far from the camera, visually representing their relationship to their environment. It can be used to make subjects appear lost, lonely, or overwhelmed, or to comment on their relationship to the environment.

What is a Full Shot and when should it be used?

A Full Shot captures a subject from head to toe and is used when you need to make statements about a subject's physicality or present a character in all their glory.

What is the significance of the Medium Full Shot or Cowboy Shot?

The Medium Full Shot, sometimes called the Cowboy Shot, is arranged from the top of the subject's head to just below their waist. It is used to present a subject as confident, dangerous, or confrontational, especially when weapons might be involved.

Why is the Medium Shot the most popular shot size in cinema?

The Medium Shot is popular because it is a neutral shot size that captures the subject in a size similar to how we interact with people in real life, making it versatile for various storytelling needs without being overly dramatic or distancing.

What is the role of a Medium Close Up Shot (MCU) in filmmaking?

A Medium Close Up Shot frames a subject from mid-chest to just above their head, reducing distraction and prioritizing story and character details. It is used to get intimate with a subject without losing their physicality.

How does a Close Up (CU) enhance a film's emotional impact?

A Close Up is a powerful visual tool for highlighting changes in emotion or dramatic beats on screen. It allows the audience to get a front-row seat to a character's thoughts and feelings, promoting empathy and emotional connection.

What is an Extreme Close Up Shot (ECU) and its purpose in a film?

An Extreme Close Up Shot (ECU) frames a subject to isolate a specific area, typically the eyes, to emphasize a particular detail or emotion. It is the most intimate, dramatic, and potentially startling of all shot sizes.

What is the function of an Insert Shot in a film?

An Insert Shot is used to highlight and isolate something crucial to the narrative, such as a specific prop or an intimate detail, providing emphasis and clarity to the story.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Introduction to Shot Sizes in Filmmaking

This paragraph introduces the concept of shot sizes as fundamental to filmmaking, emphasizing their role in storytelling. It sets the stage for the video series 'The Shot List', which aims to define essential shot sizes and their strategic use in creating memorable cinematic moments. The paragraph discusses the importance of understanding shot characteristics and their value in establishing rhythm, tone, and meaning in a scene, highlighting the priority of shot selection for directors and directors of photography.

05:02

🏞 Establishing and Master Shots: Setting the Scene

The second paragraph delves into two crucial shot types: the Establishing Shot and the Master Shot. The Establishing Shot is described as a broad view that sets the scene's geography and time of day, often used for transitions and introducing new worlds, as exemplified by 'Blade Runner 2049'. The Master Shot, also known as 'The Master', confirms the scene's location and characters' positions relative to each other, as illustrated by a scene from 'The Godfather: Part II'. This shot size is used to emphasize relationships and can also visually separate characters for dramatic effect.

10:04

📐 Wide, Full, and Medium Full Shots: Framing Subjects and Environment

This paragraph discusses the Wide Shot, Full Shot, and Medium Full Shot, explaining how each shot size positions subjects in relation to their environment and conveys different narrative implications. The Wide Shot is used to make subjects appear small against their surroundings, suggesting loneliness or insignificance, as demonstrated in 'Phantom Thread'. The Full Shot captures the subject from head to toe, often used to emphasize physicality and character presence. The Medium Full Shot, also known as the Cowboy Shot, is taken from the height of gun holsters, presenting characters as confrontational or confident, especially when weapons are involved.

🎭 Medium Shot and Close-Ups: Capturing Emotion and Detail

The fourth paragraph focuses on the Medium Shot and the Close-Up, detailing their composition and narrative impact. The Medium Shot is a neutral shot size capturing subjects in a way that mimics natural human interaction, suitable for intimate moments without losing environmental context, as shown in 'Coco'. The Medium Close-Up Shot frames subjects from mid-chest to just above the head, reducing visual distraction and focusing on story and character details, such as in 'Avengers: Endgame'. These shots are used to create intimacy and emphasize physicality and emotional reactions.

👀 Close-Up and Extreme Close-Up: Highlighting Emotion and Details

The final paragraph explores the Close-Up and Extreme Close-Up shots, highlighting their power in emphasizing changes in emotion and dramatic moments. Close-Ups are arranged at eye level to create empathy and provide insight into a character's thoughts and feelings, as seen in various examples. The Extreme Close-Up, or ECU, isolates specific areas of a subject, typically the eyes, to create an intimate and dramatic effect, as in 'Kill Bill Vol. 1'. The paragraph also mentions the Insert Shot, used to emphasize crucial narrative details, and concludes with a reference to a shot list in StudioBinder and an invitation to subscribe for more content.

Keywords

💡Sequences

In filmmaking, 'sequences' are a series of connected scenes that together form a part of the narrative. They are crucial for structuring a film and ensuring the story flows logically. In the video, sequences are mentioned as the building blocks of films, which are then broken down into scenes and shots to convey the story effectively.

💡Scenes

A 'scene' is a unit of action within a film that typically takes place in a single location and time. It is a fundamental part of storytelling, advancing the plot and developing characters. The script discusses how scenes are composed of shots, emphasizing the importance of understanding each shot's role within the scene.

💡Shots

'Shots' are the individual images or frames captured by the camera during filmmaking. They can vary in size and angle, and each shot contributes to the visual storytelling. The video script focuses on the characteristics and storytelling value of different shot sizes, which are essential for creating memorable moments on screen.

💡Establishing Shot

An 'establishing shot' is a wide shot used at the beginning of a scene or film to set the location and provide context. It helps the audience understand the geography and time of day. The script cites 'Blade Runner 2049' as an example, where establishing shots introduce the near-future Earth setting.

💡Master Shot

A 'master shot', also known as 'The Master', captures the entire scene from a distance, showing all characters and their spatial relationships. It is used to provide a comprehensive view and can serve as a reference for later cuts. The script uses 'The Godfather: Part II' to illustrate how a master shot can emphasize family dynamics.

💡Wide Shot (WS)

A 'wide shot' positions subjects far from the camera, highlighting their relationship with the environment. It can convey a sense of scale and is used to make characters appear small or overwhelmed by their surroundings. The script mentions 'Phantom Thread' as an example, where a wide shot is used to show characters dwarfed by a ballroom.

💡Full Shot (FS)

A 'full shot' captures a subject's entire body from head to toe. It is used to tell a story with the character's body language and attire without losing the context of the environment. The script notes that a full shot can be centered or off-center, emphasizing the character's physicality.

💡Medium Full Shot / Cowboy

A 'medium full shot', sometimes called a 'Cowboy Shot', frames a subject from the top of the head to just below the waist. It can imply confidence or confrontation, especially in scenes involving weapons. The script refers to 'The Favorite' to demonstrate how this shot size can be used for strong character statements.

💡Medium Shot (MS)

A 'medium shot' is a neutral shot size that captures the subject from above the waist to just above the head. It is similar to how we perceive people in real life, making it versatile for various narrative purposes. The script provides an example from the animated film 'Coco', showing how a medium shot can capture both a character's reactions and the surrounding details.

💡Medium Close Up Shot (MCU)

A 'medium close-up' frames a subject from mid-chest to just above the head, focusing on the upper body and face. It reduces visual distractions and emphasizes story and character details. The script illustrates this with a scene from 'Avengers: Endgame', where Thanos's actions and reactions are captured, highlighting the dramatic impact of his decisions.

💡Close Up (CU)

A 'close up' is a powerful shot size that isolates the subject's face, often focusing on the eyes to convey intense emotions or dramatic moments. It creates a sense of empathy and intimacy with the character. The script describes how close-ups are used to provide a front-row seat to a character's thoughts and feelings.

💡Extreme Close Up Shot (ECU)

An 'extreme close up', or ECU, tightly frames a specific part of the subject, such as the eyes, to emphasize detail or emotion. It is the most intimate and dramatic shot size, often used for startling effects. The script cites 'Kill Bill Vol. 1' as an example, where the ECU is used to focus on the protagonist's frantic eyes amidst chaos.

💡Insert Shot

An 'insert shot' is used to highlight and isolate a specific object or detail that is crucial to the narrative. It provides emphasis and can be used to draw attention to props or intimate details. The script mentions that filmmakers often rely on insert shots when the function of a specific prop is necessary for the story.

Highlights

Films are composed of sequences, scenes, and shots, each with unique storytelling value.

Understanding shot characteristics is crucial for directors and directors of photography.

The video defines essential shot sizes and their use in creating memorable screen moments.

Shot sizes help establish rhythm, tone, and meaning in a scene.

An establishing shot sets the scene's geography, time of day, and subject scale.

The master shot confirms location and character relationships within a scene.

Wide shots represent subjects' relationships to their environment and can convey feelings of isolation.

Full shots capture a subject from head to toe, useful for storytelling with body language.

The medium full shot, or Cowboy shot, presents a subject as confident or confrontational.

Medium shots are neutral, capturing subjects in a size similar to natural human interaction.

Medium close-ups reduce distractions, focusing on story and character details.

Close-ups are powerful for highlighting emotional changes and dramatic beats.

Extreme close-ups (ECUs) isolate specific areas for emphasis, often focusing on the eyes.

Insert shots are used to highlight and isolate crucial narrative details or props.

The video provides a shot list in StudioBinder as a reference for future shot listing.

StudioBinder offers free shot listing software to automate the shot listing process.

The next episode will explore framing and composition in film.

Transcripts

Films are made up of sequences.

Sequences are made up of scenes.

And scenes are made up of shots.

But we must understand

the characteristics and storytelling value

of each shot.

"- Don't be a..."

In this video,

we will begin with the big picture

and work our way down.

We're going to define the essential shot sizes

in a filmmaker's toolbox.

And how to use the right shot

at the right time

to create memorable moments on screen.

This is episode 1 of "The Shot List".

Shot size.

Shot choices help establish the rhythm.

Tone.

And meaning of a scene.

Knowing which shot will be the most aesthetically

and dramatically valuable for a given scene

should be the highest priority

for both a director and a DP.

In this video,

we'll be examining essential shot sizes.

As we go, we'll populate a shot list in StudioBinder

as a sort of cheat sheet

the next time you need create one.

Now, let's get to the shots.

The most common visual element to open a scene

or even an entire film

is the Establishing Shot.

♪ ♪

It is typically wide enough to establish the geography.

Time of day.

Show the scale of subjects

in relation to their environment.

And is often used to transition between scenes.

With genres like science fiction.

Where entirely new world need to be introduced,

establishing shot is crucial.

"Blade Runner 2049"

opens with a series of establishing shots.

We get the first impressions of near-future Earth

with industrial and futuristic farms

outside the city.

So remember,

an establishing shot

is a crucial introductory component of any scene.

It can mark a transition to a new location.

Or introduce crucial details

about the location or world.

The establishing shot is often followed up

with a Master Shot.

Or simply The Master.

Like the establishing shot

a master shot confirms the location

and geography of the scene.

It also clarifies which characters are in the scene

and where they are in relationship to each other.

"- Go sit down.

Talk to each other.

Hey, Mr. Einstein..."

Here we see a master from "The Godfather: Part II"

framing the Corleone family around a dinner table.

"- Hey, Sally, get in here!"

The majority of this scene

is played in the master

to emphasize the family's close-knit relationship.

"- Country isn't your blood.

- I don't feel that way."

Until Michael drops some devastating news.

"- Oh, if you don't feel like that

why wouldn't you quit college and go join the army!

- I did.

I've enlisted in the Marines."

"- Micky, wow, why didn't you come to us.

- I mean, Pop had to put all the strings to get you a deferment.

- I didn't ask for it.

- I didn't ask for a deferment. I didn't want."

But it also helps make Michael split from the family visual.

From this...

...to this.

And we feel the emptiness around him

that much more.

Remember, the master captures the scene

playing out in its entirety

providing the editor with something to cut out to,

if necessary.

Moving on.

Wide Shot (WS)

"- Let me tell you about my book."

♪ ♪

The wide shot positions subjects far from the camera

to visually represent their relationship to their environment.

This is distinct from the establishing shot,

which is about location.

The wide shot is principally concerned

with the scale of the subject.

"- I'm finished."

It can be used when you need to make subjects appear lost.

Lonely or overwhelmed.

Or comment on a subject's relationship

to their environment.

In this wide-shot from "Phantom Thread"

we can see the characters, Alma and Reynolds

dwarfed by a messy ballroom.

Paul Thomas Anderson could have ended the scene

with close-ups to capture their character's emotions.

But by ending with a wide shot here,

we can consider Alma and Reynolds together

yet isolated from the world around them.

Use it when you need to establish

the spatial relationships of the subjects.

Make statements using distance, depth or size.

Our next subject.

Full Shot (FS)

When a subjects entire body

reaches from the top to the bottom edges of the frame

the shot is defined as full.

With a full shot,

it's not necessary to put the subject in the center of the frame,

but notice how often this is the case.

This example is effective

because it is tight enough to tell a story

with the character's face

but wide enough to further the story

by observing her entire body, posture, and wardrobe.

So remember a full is composed head to toe

and you can use them when you need to

make statements about a subject's physicality

and present a character in all their glory.

Moving on.

Medium Full Shot (FS) / Cowboy.

The medium full shot is arranged from the top of the subject's head

to just below their waist.

It is sometimes referred to as a Cowboy Shot

based on the height of gun holsters.

Here we can see complementary angles

from "The Favorite"

composed in medium fulls.

The cowboy angle on the character Lady Sarah

is particularly strong and confrontational.

This isn't a western

and features no holsters,

but it's hard not to think of cowboys

when firearms are deployed like this.

Use it when you need to present a subject

as confident, dangerous or confrontational.

Especially when weapons might be drawn.

Moving on.

Medium Shot (MS)

Perhaps the most popular shot size

in all of cinema

is the medium shot.

But why?

Because it's more of a neutral shot.

Neither dramatic like a close-up

or distancing like a wide shot.

It captures the subject

in a size similar

to how we interact with people.

"- Would you hold still?"

The typical composition of a medium shot

starts above the waist,

but below the chest

and ends just above the head.

Shot sizes deployed in animated films

function under the same compositional rules.

"- Oh. - Hello."

Let's look at an example to better illustrate this.

In this scene from "Coco"

Miguel watches a film starring his idol.

The medium shot composition

accommodates quite a bit.

The props from Miguel shrine.

The detail on the TV screen

and Miguel's reactions to it.

It's an intimate moment

as we observe Migel's joy.

Along with the object of his affection

in a single frame.

So remember, the typical composition of a medium shot

starts above the waist

but below the chest

and ends just above their head.

Use it when you need to

dig into a subject size

without losing their physicality or environment.

Or utilize a true middle-ground approach

that is neither jarring

nor especially dramatic.

Our next subject.

Medium Close Up Shot (MCU)

When a shot frames a subject from mid-chest

to just above their head,

it is referred to as a medium close-up.

Medium close-ups are about reducing distraction

and prioritizing story and character details.

"- Why don't you start right now and get the fuck out of here?"

Use it when you need to get intimate with a subject

without losing their physicality.

"- Perhaps I treated you too harshly."

Here the villainous Thanos

snaps his fingers

during the climatic moments of "Avengers: Endgame".

With this shot size

we have room for the infinity gauntlet.

And Thanos's look of cruel satisfaction

in thinking, he is one.

But when he fails,

this medium close-up

is designed to also capture his reaction.

Remember, a medium close-up

is roughly head to chest.

Are you ready for it?

It's the Close Up (CU)

Of course,

the most powerful visual weapon for highlighting a change in emotion

or dramatic beat on screen.

Close-ups are most often arranged at eye level

better to dig into the windows of the soul.

In this shot size,

we have a front-row seat

for a character's thoughts and feelings.

"- Who is it?"

"- Will you help me?

- Yes, anything."

The close-up is about empathy

and illustrates how dramatically effective it can be

in a time of decision or anxiety.

Our final category.

Extreme Close Up Shot (ECU)

An extreme close up

or ECU

frames a subject to isolate a specific area.

This could be lips, ears or nose,

But the eyes are typically the focus.

Like here in "Kill Bill Vol. 1".

As the Bride is swarmed by the Crazy 88,

we cut back and forth between their entry points

and her frantic eyes.

But when the function of a specific prop

or an intimate detail is necessary

filmmakers will often rely on the insert shot.

Inserts are most commonly used

to highlight and isolate something crucial to the narrative.

So remember, an extreme close-up

or an insert shot

is one of the greatest tools for emphasis.

It is the most intimate, dramatic and potentially startling

of all shot sizes.

So this is our shot list made in StudioBinder's so far.

It has all of the most common shot sizes you can reference

the next time you need to create a shot list.

You can find a link to the full shot list in the description.

If you're looking for shot listing software to automate the process

check the description for a link to StudioBinder.

It's free to get started.

In the next episode of this series,

we'll explore framing and composition.

Subscribe to our channel.

Click the bell to stay in the loop.

And happy shot listing.