media studies

Camera shots

Extreme close up (ECU)
It is an extreme version of a close up, which mostly is used on a being's face to show the detail and expression of the face to the audience to intensify the emotion or feel of that scene.An extreme close up will cover the whole frame where you would just see the face or a segment of that face, and nothing else behind or beside that face. Using an extreme close up shot is to show to the audience the most important part of the scene or even the story as it tells the audience a lot about the character or story as it subliminally tells the audience those defining moments in which makes the scene special.

Close - up (CU)
A close up concentrates on the face of the being in which shows very little of the background. but the close up is not as powerful as an extreme close up. A close up is normally used to show the expression and the thoughts going through the characters head. this makes the scene either sentimental to the audience or for a different genre, show the disturbing side of the character. But a close up doesn't just have to be used to zoom in on the being's face, it sometimes can be used to show an inanimate object or the character's hand (if holding an object/ prop) if it is something significant.

Medium close up (MCU)
A medium close up emphasises the character which shows the character from the shoulders upwards.The shot shows little of the background but the background tends to be blurred, to emphasise the character, so the audience does not get drawn to the background or miss the vital part of this scene.
But apart form that, a medium close up has similar properties and purposes as a close up and an extreme close up but not as powerful.





















Mid - shot
A mid shot or medium shot shows the character or being's head down to the waist. it also shows some background but is slightly blurred so the audience does not lose attention and get distracted at the background instead, But it depends on the type of genre of the program or film. Some medium shots show subtle events, objects and even characters in the background and this is shown in some horror, comedies,thriller and even sci-fi. but most of the time, the background is normally blurred.over the shoulder shot is often used in mid shots.























Medium long shot (MLS)
A medium long shot shows the character or being's head down to their knees.The background can be seen and there is quite a lot of detail that is visible, in which the audience can see the environment that surrounds the character or being.It is used to make the audience feel like it is life like which subliminally connects with the audience to make out there is some realism between the film or programme with the audience.

Long shot 
A long shot is similar to a medium long but there is less emphasis on the character and a bit more emphasis on what is happening around the character. A long shot shows shows all of the character or being and shows lots of detailed background.




















Extreme long shot (ELS) also wide shot / establishing shot
An extreme long shot is similar to a long shot but is further zoomed out. an extreme long shot shows the entire being and the character is mostly centralised in the middle of the frame. An extreme long shot shows lots of detail of the background in which there is much more emphasis on the background and less emphasis on the character. This shows the audience the environment that surrounds the character which gives the audience some feel of the characters' environment and subliminally makes the audience feel like they are there.





















Two shot
A two shot shows two characters/beings in the same frame. Normally the background is blurred so that there is more emphasis on the characters.





















High angle shot
A high angle shot is used to show at that moment in the scene that the character or being is inferior or recessive. In action or horror, the high angle shot is used for dramatic purposes in which gives the audience excitement or making the audience tense in which this shot does very well.So the high angle shot is quite an emotional shot. The high angle shot is a shot that is positioned above the character or being in which is looking down at them.




















Over the shoulder shot
Over the shot shows two people talking or involved in a conversation. The background that surrounds the characters is blurred. the over the shoulder shot makes the audience feel like they are there and even makes them see it through the characters perspective of the conversation that they are involved in. in some sense, it makes the audience have some empathy with the character as it is like the character is talking to you.





















Low angle shot
A low angle shot is a shot that is positioned at a low level. A low angle shot emphasises the size of the character and is an illusion to the audience that the character is even bigger than they actually are, this shows that the character is superior, more dominant and more powerful.This subliminally tells the audience about the character and gives the illusion of the character's dominance.





















Tilted angle / canted angle
A tilted angle/ canted angle is simply the shot is tilted (not completely horizontal). This is used to create an imbalanced feel to the scene which is mostly often used in horror to create an uneasy feel to the audience, a sense of disturbance. It also influences the atmosphere as it creates a powerful, disturbing atmosphere.























Point of view shot (POV)
A point of view shot (POV) is basically, seeing what the character sees (first person). It is one of the most powerful shots.it is often used in horror films in which is hard to master as some audiences can suffer from motion sickness and are unable to enjoy the film. But if done well, it adds such powerful elements as it makes the audience feel like they are actually in the film and if it is a horror film, the audience will experience tension, fear and excitement. But overall, it is a shot which is rarely used due to the audience experiencing motion sickness and that the audience are unable to follow the narrative of the film, which this shot detracts from the narrative and focuses on that one particular characters point of view, whereas a film, the audience has to see the film as whole.Some films that have used the point of view shot are Cloverfield, REC films, Napoleon (1927), The Blair witch project, The Diving bell and the butterfly and many more.




















Editing

Wipe - Wipe is often used to show the new scene, which could be a different environment/location, new day or time. It is a sideways wipe across the screen.

Dissolve - Dissolving is a transition used in between two shots so that the shots do not suddenly change.Dissolve is the transition in which one shot fades out while the other shot fades in ,so this makes the two shots blend in with each other.

Straight cut - To show realism, which is normally used in conversational situations.

Montage - Giving information in compressed form

Transition - The process of cutting from one shot to another usually involves a simple straight cut.

Fade in / fade out - Fading into the shot is when the screen appears just a blank, black screen to begin with, and then the shot begins to fade in. This usually occurs at the beginning of a scene to indicate a softer, quieter introduction. whereas fading out of a shot is shown on the screen and then slowly fades out into blank, black screen.

Slow motion - When the action on the screen has been edited to move at a slower rate than the original action did.this is normally used to either make a faster action more visible to the audience, to emphasise a moment or reaction, to create an unusual and strange feeling about a familiar, ordinary action and is also used to emphasise violence.

Jump cut - Same scene, jumps time.

Parallel editing - When two things are happening at the same time ( two shots set up in different places that alternate)

Shot/ reverse shot - Where the camera changes to each person when talking (over the shoulder shot)

camera movements

Pan - Moves side to side at a static point (tripod)

Tilt - At a static position - movement up and down

Track - Side to side motion, not at a static point

Zoom - Camera is static, getting closer in distance

Crane - Moving up and down not from a static point

Hand held - Camera man holds camera which emulates being the character in the film. (point of view shots)

This is an example of a wipe being used in the film star wars which is used to show the next scene.

This is an example of a dissolve which has been used to blend two shots together.

This video is an example of a fade which is being used to show the next scene in a nice smooth cut.

This video is an example of a shot - reverse - shot which is when the camera changes from one person to another to show the audience the characters talking.(conversational situations)

This video is an example of parallel editing to show to the audience of two things taking place at the same time which is two shots set up in different places that alternate.

This video is an example of jump cutting which is the same scene but jumps time.

This a video taken from the matrix, which is one of the most iconic moments in the entire film series which is an example of slow motion is when the action on the screen has been edited to move at a slower rate than the original action did.this is normally used to either make a faster action more visible to the audience, to emphasize a moment or reaction, to create an unusual and strange feeling about a familiar, ordinary action and is also used to emphasize violence, which in this scene does very well.

Sound

types of sound

Diegetic - Sound that comes from a person or object in the film world e.g. top gun

Non - diegetic - Sound that comes from outside the film world e.g. CSI Miami

Sound track - This is sound added in post - production, usually a mixed music track e.g. Amazing Spiderman

Score - The music composed arranged and played specifically for the film or TV show e.g. Platoon

Dialogue - The sound made by characters when they are talking to each other e.g. Reservoir Dogs

Voice over - This is where a voice from outside the film world gives the audience information. This can be used in films to tell part of the story directly to the audience or in documentaries e.g. The Royal Tenenbaums

Stings - These are shot bursts of music often used in horror films to make the audience jump in certain parts.

Sound motif - This is sound associated with a character or place and is repeated. This can be a sound effect or a short piece of music that announces the character. James bond does this all the time. e.g. Scream 2

Sound bridge - Sound that carries from scene to scene.

Ambient sound - This is a background sound belonging to the film world. there are two types :
In the field of vision = crowds, traffic
Outside the field of vision = jukebox, bird song
e.g. CSI vegas

Direct address - When a character talks directly to the audience  e.g. Ferris Buler's Day Off

Contrapuntal - This is where the sound contrasts with whats happening on screen. For example, when happy music is being played over a practically sad scene
e.g. Grosse Point Blank






Mise en scene 

Mise en scene is a french phrase which means `putting into a scene'.
In media/film terms this means all the elements within the shot i.e. props, costume, setting, hair, make-up, and colour.
Mise en scene is important for films/programmes as it enables the audience to understand the characters and the narrative in a particular way.
Mise en scene is a micro-element which is used to create meaning to the audience.

Costume - A costume is basically what the character within the film/ programme is wearing. It expresses the personality and status of the character to the audience.Also costume also helps represent of age, class and status, gender, race, regional identity and ability /disability.

Setting - Setting is basically  the location and the surrounding environment in the scene. It often creates mood and emotion to the audience i.e. a still sandy beach - Which makes the audience feel relax and calm due to the nice relaxing scenery of the slow moving crashing waves and the soft, smooth warm sand. Setting also can influence or tells the audience the narrative or the character within the film / programme.

Colour - Colour is used to emphasise or to help the audience determine characters high status by the colours of the characters costume drawing the audience's attention to the character (dominance) or even express the characters' personality. Colour is also used within settings which help create atmosphere and emotion.