Cine-Speak

Shot Sizes



The information of the shot sizes are taken from the lecture at Griffith university; link: https://learning.griffith.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_71280_1&frame=toptab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_71280_1&frame=top

And additional information is taken from the website: http://www.urbanfox.tv/creative/shotsizes.html#vls


VLS/WS: Very LS/ Wide Shot

The very long shot is the broader view of the hole background. The people in these shots are captured far away.


This is an example of a very long shot:


















Link to the picture: http://www.urbanfox.tv/creative/shotsizes.html#vls


LS: Long Shot

The shot takes the hole height of the people in the picture. It is not taken as far away as the very long shot, but you can clearly see where the people on the picture is situated, even though the hole background is not taken.


This is an example of a long shot:












Link to the picture:
http://www.urbanfox.tv/creative/shotsizes.h



MLS: Medium Long Shot

The medium long shot takes the person from the knees and up. It almost shows the hole subject.
This is an example of a medium long shot:















This is a private picture i have taken of my friend



MS: Mid shot

The mid shot takes the picture of the person from the waist and up. It could be used to introduce the subject to the audience.


This is an example of a mid shot:













Link to the picture: http://www.urbanfox.tv/creative/shotsizes.html#vl


MCU: Medium close up

The medium close up is usually used in news interviews. It cuts of from the breast pocket and up.

This is an example of MCU:
















CU: Close up

A close up is a close picture of the subject and shows the subjects full face.

This is an example of CU:













Link to the picture: http://www.urbanfox.tv/creative/shotsizes.html#vls



BCU: Big close up

The big close shows the hole face of the subject up close, but sometimes not the forehead. It a
very intimate shot.


Example of BCU:











Link to the picture: http://www.urbanfox.tv/creative/shotsizes.html#vls



ECU: Extreme close up

The extreme close up shows the subject very closely, for instance a shot of an eye only or a
mouth.


WHO?
The Close up answers the question of WHO. It shows the character close up in detail.

WHAT?
The Mid shot answers the question of WHAT, showing what the subject is doing.

WHERE?
The Long shot answers the question of WHERE, showing the background where the subject is.

WHEN?
Both the Wide shot and the Close up can answer the question of WHEN.

WHY?
The Big close up can answer the question of WHY. It revieals more of the charachter or their action.

HOW?
The Medium Close up can answer the question HOW, and explain the event.