Technical+Terms

===**Camera Technical Terms** ===

__Full shot__ contains the entire subject including the feet.

__Medium__ shot cuts just below the waist.

__Medium close shot__ cuts just above the waist.

Cowboys shot includes an imaginary gun.

__Close shot__ cuts just above breast line.

__Four types of Close Ups(CU): __ 1. Wide: full background 2. Full: whole person fills the whole shot 3. Medium: waist up 4. Extreme: really, really close. like, really close.

Avoid cropping at the joints.

__Shot selection__ can be determined by how identified/intimate we want to be with the character.

Too close too soon feels severe because intimacy takes time.

Over the course of a story we start with full shots and medium shots as we get to know the characters.

Save extreme close ups for later in the story when our relationship with the characters has become more personal.

Pulling away from a character makes her seem lonely or insignificant.

__A three shot__ contains three characters.

A close up on a related part of the scene is called an __insert__.

A __POV__ shot comes from the characters perspective.

A __basic dialogue__ set up is two matching over the shoulder shots and two matching closer-ups.

These are called __internal and external reverses__.

Start with __external shots__ then as we become more involved cut to internal shots and back if we want to become less personal.

The further we are from the __eye line__ the more objective and impersonal the shot is.

To avoid a __jump cut__ camera angles must be at least 20+% different.

__Three reasons for a Master Shot are__: a. A wide shot of the entire scene. b. A right angle shot of the scene (side view of two people in conversation) c. A choreographed shot that moves through the scene with the action.

__Shot size__ is determined by the distance between us and the characters or the focal length of the lens.

A __50mm lens__ is closest to the human eye.

Using a __long lens__ and zooming in creates less compression of space.

A __short lens__ widens the angle of view and creates more compression of space.

__Compression of space__ is created when you zoom out and move in. This makes the characters look more three dimensional in size.

__Focal length__ controls the closeness between characters.

Zoom out and move closer makes the characters look further apart.

__Compressing space__ allows us to see the world in a different way than the human eye.

__Short lens__ creates more space between objects and makes locations seem larger.

A __long lens__ creates creates a tighter atmosphere and singles out the character we are interested.

Using different focal lengths than reality is the easiest way to create production value because the image becomes an interpretation not a recording.

__Long Focal length__ can narrow the scene and makes the layout focused.

Disorientation can be a goal because a scene loses its mystique if we know its entire layout.

Pull back in an __OS__ shot to create intimacy.

Pull back in a __CU__ to create a more forgiving shot.

In an __OS__ the character in focus has the major part of the frame.

In a __CU__ one third is empty space.

Empty space in matching shots between characters is called shared space.

__Two reasons to center a character are: __ 1. When the focus is head-on and supposed to be the key star 2. When there is a neutral third party

The __rule of thirds for CU’s__ means framing the eyes

__Too little head space__ creates a shot that seems too heavy

__Too much head space__ creates a shot that seems too light

Use __leading lines__ in a shot to create a sense of depth.

__Low angle shot__ makes the character look big or superior

__High angle shot__ makes the character look small or inferior.

An __extremely high angle__ shot can cause us to feel detached from the scene.

__Shooting low angle shots into the sky__ can create exposure problems.

Add __foreground or perspective lines__ to create height.

__Placement of the horizon line__ can help the audience understand perspective and height.

__Placement of the eyes__ of a character above the horizon line makes her seem more freer or more in command.

__Placement below the horizon line__ makes her look subdued/depressed.

__Shooting at eye level__ is closest to reality, however it makes the shot look like a documentary.