Establishing shot
An establishing shot is often the first shot of the movie or scene. It depicts the setting of the scene and can foreshadow events taking place. An establishing shot is a wide shot (WS) or a long shot (LS). The shot is filmed using a camera from a high point, either from a window in a building, on a roof etc. The shot can be taken using a panoramic effect (available on most iPhones) for a WS or using a regular format for an LS.
This is the an establishing shot from 2008’s ‘The Dark Knight’ directed by Christopher Nolan. It’s a still image of the shot just before the bank heist in an opening scene. It shows a depiction of Gotham’s banking central.
Extreme close-up
An extreme close up (ECU, XCU) shows a lot of detail on one specific thing, for example, a face. The shot is filmed using the zoom tool on a camera. The camera stands at a short distance (or long depending on the wanted outcome) and zooms in to a specific object, person or detail. An extreme close up is usually used to allow the viewer to enter the character’s personal space, giving them more of a chance to empathise, pity or relate to the character and their feelings. It also dramatizes the scene by making it memorable to the viewer, therefore making the subject of the scene more memorable.
Quentin Tarantino uses an ECU in his movie ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’, made in 2003. When the protagonist Beatrix arrives at one of her enemies houses and makes first contact with her since the main incident in the movie. This happens throughout the movie as she sees her enemies, like Budd for example.
Big Close-Up
A big close-up is a lot similar to an ECU, but doesn’t focus on one specific thing as much. For example, instead of zooming into a characters eyes with an ECU, a BCU will focus on the entire face. It’s also achieved much like an ECU, by using the zoom feature on a camera and lining it up with the subject. Although it can also be done as a scene setter by setting the camera physically closer to the subject. The shot is used to give a face-to-face impression of a subject, making it more personal. For example if the BCU is of a face, the audience feels as if they are talking or listening to the character face-to-face in real life. This makes the scene more memorable and more suitable for provoking personal emotions from the audience because of the realism.
Jonathan Demme used a BCU on Hannibal Lecter’s face in ‘Silence of the Lambs’, made in 1991. This was used during a conversation between Lecter and Clarice Starling, just before he informs her of eating a man’s liver.
Close up
A close up (CU) is very similar to other close up shots but has no specific size or distance. It’s an umbrella term for extreme, big or medium. It’s often used to put across how a character feels or to point out a specific detail. It helps the audience understand the full extent of emotion being portrayed. The CU is a shot often taken at relatively close range on a longer lens, using the zoom tool or putting the camera closer physically (which often provides a better quality).
In Stanley Kubrick’s ‘The Shining’ produced in 1980, a CU shot is used as Jack finishes axing down the door and yelling ‘Here’s Johnny’, a very famous scene. It shows the pure psychopathy that Jack is experiencing, on his quest to murder his wife and child due to the movies message of ‘cabin fever’.
Medium Close-Up
A medium close up, also known as an MCU, is a shot half way between a mid shot and a regular close up shot. It shows something more clearly but doesn’t get personally or uncomfortably close to it. It’s usually used for formal shoots like interviews, documentaries or news shows. It captures the emotions and small details of the subject but doesn’t make them too personal or in-your-face. They’re used to draw attention to the main subject (e.g. a newsreader) while remaining relaxed and impersonal.
This is a MCU shot from ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ directed by Frank Darabont and produced in 1995. It’s just as the warden of the prison has found Andy Dufresne’s escape hole. It captures his emotions well but is not uncomfortably close and upholds the hostility and overall inability to relate to the warden by the shot being impersonal. An impeccable choice of shot.
Medium Shot
A medium shot (MS) is very versatile and can be used to portray a lot of things. A medium shot is an angle from the waist up, including the characters face and upper body, often used for groups of people. MS’ are often used for dialogue sequences, and they allow the viewer to pick up on the character’s movements and gestures. They convey body language which helps get across the characters emotions. They are also good for small group shots e.g. a conversation between characters. The shot is filmed using a tripod and sometimes using multiple cameras to cut to different people/perspectives. It takes no extra features, it’s just a manual set up of the camera with the desired shot.
Another shot from 2008’s ‘The Dark Knight’ directed by Christopher Nolan, where Bruce Wayne is discussing upgrading his suit with Mr Fox. A good use of an MS for a conversation between two people.
Medium Long-Shot
A medium long shot films the subject from roughly the knees up. It’s in between a full shot and a medium shot. It’s also known as an MLS and is often used for group shots or shots that include several key details. It’s filmed similar to an MS where the camera is positioned with a tripod with the desired shot in view.
This MLS from 2016’s ‘Suicide Squad’ directed by David Ayer, shows the whole squad as they’re walking to a building they’re about to investigate. It shows all their emotions but not in too much detail, just enough to get them across to the viewer as this short view isn’t as important in the film.
Long Shot
The long shot (LS) also known as a wide shot is when someone’s full body is in view but they’re not taking up the entire shot. There’s always space above and below the subject. It’s used to include a character and their surroundings but focuses on the character. The shot is filmed regularly but from far away using a short view lens. Focus also needs to be adjusted so that both the surroundings and the subject is clear in view, or focusing on a specific thing to achieve a depth of field effect.
This is a long shot from ‘Django Unchained’ directed by Quentin Tarantino in 2012. Django – a former slave and now a bounty hunter – has arrived at ‘big Papa’s’ house – a slave and plantation owner.
High Angle Shot
A high angle shot is a shot taken from above looking down on a subject or character. It’s taken using an elevation pad on which the camera is placed on top of or can be done using a step ladder, a drone, sticks or a crane. It’s sometimes used to make the character seem inferior, powerless or weak. It can also be used to give a drop down perspective, as f the audience is in the sky as (for example) when Frodo receives the ring in Lord of The Rings. The character in high angle shots often feels helpless or vulnerable, which a high angle shot helps to convey.
A high angle shot is used in Stanley Kubrick’s ‘The Shining’ made in 1980. Danny is playing with his toys moments before seeing the dead twin girls appear in front of him. The high angle helps produce a sense of vulnerability which enhances the horror of the twin sighting.
Low angle shot
A low angle shot is a shot taken from below the eyeline directed upwards. The low angle shot aims to do the opposite to the high angle shot, it makes the character look strong and powerful. Often used for villain/superhero movies as one is victorious. To do it is very simple, just place the camera low down and direct the lens upwards towards the subject. You can pair it with a dolly for fast movement like in The Matrix when Neo was chased by agents.
A low angle is used to view the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008). It’s just as the Joker is succeeding in creating chaos in Gotham and is close to defeating Batman, therefore the low angle shot makes him seem powerful and in control -which in the scene, he is.
Dutch Angle
A dutch angle, also known as a canted angle/dutch tilt/oblique angle is a shot that is taken deliberately slanted to one side. They are usually very quick and move with the character in fast-paced action scenes, for example, if the character slides under a car, the camera will follow and the shot will be taken at a dutch angle in order to get the character’s perspective. This can also be used for dramatic effect and helps portray unease, disorientation, frantic or desperate action, intoxication, madness, etc. The shot is filmed by placing the camera on a tilting tripod and adjusting the tilt, retightening the grip and filming the shot. There’s a large use of dutch angle shots in ‘Twelve Monkeys’
‘Twelve Monkeys’ was released in 1995, directed by Terry Gilliam. In this scene James Cole has woken up in a mental asylum so the dutch angle is portarying his confusion and disorientation.
Tilt Shot
The tilt shot is very similar – if not the same – as the dutch angle. Its a shot taken deliberatley slanted. It’s often filmed with a pan–tilt–zoom camera (PTZ camera) for quick action filming. A tilt shot is often used for locations and surroundings instead of charcters like a dutch shot. There’s a tilt shot in ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ when Andy ha sbroken into the warden’s office and is picking music to play for his working inmates.
Panning Shot
A panning shot is where the camera moves horizontally and captures a panoramic view. It can also be tilted up or down in a vertical panning shot or in a diagonal pan. A panning shot can be used to follow a moving subject in a scene or to establish an entire setting. The pan shot often starts with a still frame, and ends with a still frame. To take a panning shot you need to use a tripod that allows the camera to smoothly move horizontally or vertically without breaking or moving around.
A panning shot is used in ‘The Shining’ to follow Jack while trying to find his wife in the hotel.
Pedestal shot
A pedestal shot involves moving the camera in sync with the subject. For example, if they are running a pedestal shot is used to keep up with them running. It’s sometimes referred to as ‘pedding’ the camera up and down. To film a pedestal shot a pedestal must be used, it’s very similar to a tripod or a camera tilt but instead of just the camera’s direction moving, the whole camera moves.
A pedestal shot is used in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009) during a conversation between a character hiding Jews during Hitler’s reign and a ‘Jew hunter’.
Zoom shot
A zoom shot is used to magnify a specific subject in the scene, whether it’s someone’s face or part of the scenery, it’s easily confused with the trombone shot but in a zoom shot the camera itself doesn’t need to move. To do a zoom shot you just need to set up your camera with the shot and use the zoom feature to magnify part of your scene.
A zoom shot is used in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994) when Mia Wallace accidentally snorts heroin thinking that it’s cocaine.
Crash Zoom
A crash zoom is used when something totally unexpected happens to add to the shock or thrill. It’s an extremely fast zoom that often blurs the surroundings of the subject. Effects can be added using apps like Premiere when recording a crash zoom.
Quentin Tarantino uses crash zooms many times throughout all his movies when a new character or a plot twist is introduced.
Dolly shot
A dolly is a moving platform for a camera placed on a track or rail. A dolly shot is also known as a tracking shot or a trucking shot. They are used to move with a subject but to keep the shot still and steady. 
A dolly shot is used in the opening of Spectre, the 2015 James Bond movie directed by Sam Mendes, while Bond is chasing a bad guy he’s been ordered to capture in Mexico.
Dolly zoom (Trombone shot)
A trombone shot is a combination of a dolly shot and a zoom, it’s a dramatic zoom in but with precision. With the camera mounted on dolly, and the subject stood still, the camera begins to zoom in on the subject as it is pulled backwards on the track, all while maintaining perfect focus on the subject. This shot has many alternative names:
- Forward zoom
- Reverse tracking
- The ‘Hitchcock’ zoom
- The ‘Vertigo effect’
- The ‘Spielberg shot’
- Dolly zoom
- Zoom-in, dolly-out
- Contrazoom
A dolly zoom is used in Spielberg’s ‘Jaws’ (1975) when the shark is first spotted in the water.
References:
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