Shot sizes

Shot Sizes:

Extreme Close Up

what is shown in shot: head/part of head

use: show emotion and detail

reserved for: passion/conflict

Close Up:

what is shown in shot: head and shoulders

use: show characters personality and identify character to audience. 

reserved for: dramatic or revealing moments of truth

Medium Close Up:

what is shown in shot: head and shoulders (to top pocket)

use: all round shot

Mid Shot: 

what is shown in shot: to waist

use: provides information on the body language and the clothes of the character

Medium Long Shot:

what is shown in shot: includes knees

use: more physical information but less close up detail

Long Shot: 

what is shown in shot: full figure

use: shows character in a location and can distance audience from events

reserved for: to suggest loneliness/isolation

Wide Shot:

what is shown in shot: establishes a place

use: shows the physical geography and creates atomosphere

reserved for: mainly used at the beginning and end of scenes

Over The Shoulder Shot:

what is shown in shot: everything over the characters shoulder

use: creates a link between the character and what she is seeing

     suggests someone is being followed/watched

Two Shot, Three Shot etc: 

what is shown in shot: two a more characters in the same shot

use: shows relationship between characters

Point Of View Shot:

what is shown in shot: the perspective of a character

use: allows the director to choose who the audience experience the story from

High Angle Shot:

what is shown in shot: anything but from an angle above eye-line

use: suggests a low status/vulnerability/isolation 

Low Angle Shot: 

what is shown in shot: anything but from an angle below eye-line

use: suggests high status or someone who is intimidating.