Shot Types & Comps

Question 1

Shot

Answer 1

Basic elements of a film which are edited together to make a scene.

Question 2

Take

Answer 2

A version of a shot

Question 3

Long take (Continuous shot/take)

Answer 3

Continues for an extended amount of time. Used as an establishing shot, to give a sense of realism or to build tension.

Question 4

Camera position

Answer 4

Distance + Angle

Question 5

Long shot/Wide shot

Answer 5

Entire scene of action. All elements in a scene (setting, characters, etc). Establishing scene.
Master shot (enough footage, used with other shots).

Question 6

Extreme long shot

Answer 6

Characters very small compared to surroundings. Establish a scene, show context (impressive scope, huge scale).

Question 7

Medium shot

Answer 7

Waist up. (Most common, facial expressions, conversations)

(Knees/Ankles up –> Medium long)
(Mid-chest up –> Medium close)

Question 8

Close-up

Answer 8

Frame filled with object or face.
Attention to details (emotion).

Question 9

Extreme close-up

Answer 9

Frame filled with only part of face (eyes, mouth, ears). Stylistic, surrealist.

Question 10

POV shot

Answer 10

seeing through someone’s eyes.

Question 11

Eye-level

Answer 11

Most common camera angle.

Question 12

High angle

Answer 12

minimizes subject

Question 13

Low angle

Answer 13

Subject bigger, more imposing.

Question 14

Canted/Dutch angle

Answer 14

tilted, disorientation, tension.

Question 15

Aerial angle

Answer 15

Establishing shot. Bird’s eye view. Plane, crane, drone.

Question 16

Overhead angle

Answer 16

Like aerial angle but closer. See what characters don’t.

Question 17

Shallow DOF

Answer 17

Blurry background, subject in focus, aperture on camera more open (lower #)

Question 18

Deep DOF

Answer 18

Background and subject in focus. Aperture more closed (higher #)

Question 19

Tracking shot

Answer 19

Dolly, handheld. Follows the mvt of the scene.

Question 20

Pan shot

Answer 20

side to side

Question 21

Tilt shot

Answer 21

Up and down.

Question 22

Zoom shot

Answer 22

In and out.

Question 23

Rack focus

Answer 23

Manually change focus during a shot.

Question 24

Rule of Thirds

Answer 24

Subject in one of four spots if shot divided into 9 squares. (asymmetrical)

Question 25

Centered framing

Answer 25

At the center. (usually symmetrical)

Question 26

Loose framing

Answer 26

Lots of negative (free, empty) space.

Question 27

Tight framing

Answer 27

Entire frame busy. Not much free negative (free, empty) space.

Question 28

Composition

Answer 28

Color –> light, costumes, set
Balance: Symmetrical vs asymmetrical.
Lines & shapes.

Question 29

Props

Answer 29

Useful for plot, symbolic importance.

Question 30

Shot/Reverse Shot

Answer 30

Back and forth
Dialogue, conversation
Over the shoulder, looking offscreen.