Visual Filming Techniques Notes

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Filming TechniquesCamera ShotsA shot is an uninterrupted run of the camera.

Long Shot - A shot from a distance where the background is quite significant.

Extreme Long Shot - Contains a lot of landscape and helps establish the location and atmosphere of the film.

Full Shot - A shot of the character that includes their entire body.

Medium Shot - A shot that is filmed from the waist up and fills most of the screens.

Close Up - Contains almost no background and focuses on the whole of an object or face.

Extreme Close Up - Focuses of an aspect of an object in great detail.

Bridging Shot - A shot used to cover a change in time or place.

Crane (Aerial) Shot - Taken from above in a crane or cherry picker.

Tracking Shot - A shot taken from a dolly to and follow movement.

Establishing Shot - Often a LONG SHOT providing essential background details.

Insert Shot - A detail shot that provides information needed to understand the scene.

Point of View Shot (POV) - Positions to show a character's perspective.

_____________________________________________________________________________LightingLighting is an aid to characterization and dramatic meaning. This is created by contrast, balance, emphasis and the creation of atmosphere.

High Key (bright) lighting is used for happy, comic scenes.

Low Key (dark) lighting is used for sad, tragic scenes.

Key Light is the main source of light.

Fillers - All other forms of lighting. Used to soften shadows.

Backlighting is light from the back of a figure to produce a halo effect.

Three-point Lighting - A combination of key, fill and backlighting.

Camera AnglesCamera Angle is the angle at which the camera is pointed at the subject.

Overshot - When the camera is directly above an object. This shows the broader picture of things. E.g.