camera shots

Editing / camera angles

 

 

 

Medium Close Up (MCU) - This is when you can only see from just below the shoulders up with parts of the background involved in the shot giving the audiance a taste of the surroundings. This picture shows the parts of the actors body that the director wants the audiance to focas on in order to build a reaction to a situation that could occur or to show whats going on in the background.

 

This shot is framed from behind a person who is looking at the subject. The person facing the subject should usually occupy about a 3rd of the frame. This shot helps to establish the position of each person, and get the feel of looking at one person from the other's point of view. It is common to cut between these shots during a conversation, alternating the view between the different speakers

A close-up of a person emphasizes their emotional state. Whereas a mid-shot or wide-shot is more appropriate for delivering facts and general information, a close-up exaggerates facial expressions which convey emotion. The viewer is drawn into the subject's personal space and shares their feelings.

 
The mid shot shows some part of the subject in more detail, whilst still showing enough for the audience to feel as if they were looking at the whole subject. in fact, this is an approximation of how you would see a person "in the flesh" if you were having a casual conversation. You wouldn't be paying any attention to their lower body, so that part of the picture is unneccessary.