PRELIMINARY EXERCISES

I have studied camera angles and shot types by reading Daniel Chandler’s website The ‘Grammar’ of Television and Film.

We have studied multiple camera angles; examples are:

1)      Extra Long Shot: Abbreviated as (XLS) a shot taken from a far distance from the focus. This shot generally is used to manipulate the shot in order to show the viewer something that either may not have been obvious or showing off any background features.

2)      Extra Close Up: Abbreviated as (XCU) a shot taken of the focus at a close distance. This is often used to highlight a minor detail which may not have been obvious to the viewer originally.

3)      Medium Shot: Abbreviated as (MS) a shot taken at a medium distance not displaying at a significant range (close or far). This is the most commonly used shot to display characters without attempting to manipulate the frame or highlight anything.

4)      Medium Close up: Abbreviated as (MCU) a shot taken at a relative distance which is not too close as a close up. This is a close up which is not too close to the focus which allows space in the frame. Doing this can also display emotions or reactions for the viewer to view.

1)      Worms eye: a shot angle that manipulates the focus to be larger than it actually is. This is able to create a possible sense of fear or submissiveness.

2)      Low: a shot angle below eye height. This is a slightly subtler than a close up. Often not displaying any unobvious details unlike the bird’s eye or worms eye.

3)      Birds eye: shows a view from above often attempting to make the subject seem smaller then they/ it actually are.

4)      High: A high view is a view above the eye line, however, it is not as high as bird’s eye but still displays similar effects.

Examples of all these can be found here:

  My group and I put these shots to use and created a Continuity Video as part of our excersize.
IIt can be watched HERE: