WHAT IS CAMERA SHOT FRAMING?
Camera shot framing is the art and science of placing subjects in your shots. Camera shots are all about composition. Rather than pointing the camera at the subject, you need to compose an image.https://www.youtube.com/embed/qQNiqzuXjoM?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-gb&autohide=2&wmode=transparent
For filmmakers and videographers, a major consideration for framing is the number of subjects you feature in your shots, and their physical relationship to each other and the camera.
Based on how you plan to position your subjects, you’ll need to adjust your camerawork. You’ll want to capture your framing details on a shot list well before you arrive on set. That way you have a clear idea for the scene and can communicate your vision with ease.
That’s not to say that things may not change the day of the shoot. But, having a shot list at the ready showcases that the director and DP have done their homework and are well prepared.
TYPES OF CAMERA SHOT FRAMING IN FILM
SINGLE SHOT
When your shot captures one subject it’s known as a single shot:
TYPE OF CAMERA SHOTS EXAMPLE: SINGLE SHOT IN IRON MAN
Single shots can be set and framed in any shot size you like, just as long as there is only one character featured within the frame.
Now, why did I say featured rather than simply in the frame?
The reason is because you can have an over-the-shoulder single, also known as a “dirty single” that technically has more than one person in the frame, but the character in the foreground isn’t featured:
TYPE OF CAMERA SHOTS EXAMPLE: OVER-THE-SHOULDER SHOT IN ARMAGEDDON
TYPES OF FRAMING
TWO SHOT OR 2-SHOT
A two-shot is a camera shot with two characters featured in the frame:
TYPE OF SHOT EXAMPLE: 2-SHOT IN THE MATRIX RELOADED
Two shots are often really useful for allowing performances to play out in a single take, which can be especially useful for comedy.
CAMERA SHOT FRAMING IN MOVIES
THREE SHOT OR 3-SHOT
A three-shot features three characters in the frame:
TYPE OF SHOT EXAMPLE: 3-SHOT IN HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1
Three shots are really important in adventure films, or really any film that has a group of characters, because it is an enormous time drain to shoot 3 singles just to show every character, not to mention jarring.
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TYPES OF CAMERA SHOT FRAMING
OVER-THE-SHOULDER SHOT (OTS)
Another element of camera shots to consider is the perspective of the shot. An over-the-shoulder shot shows your subject from behind the shoulder of another character. Because it emulates perspective, it’s common in conversation scenes.
(OTS) OVER-THE-SHOULDER SHOT EXAMPLE IN WESTWORLD
Over-the-shoulder shots can help to provide orientation, and connect the characters on an emotional level. Here’s our breakdown of the Westworld scene and how OTS shots work so effortlessly.
THE OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT EXAMPLE IN FILM • SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
TYPES OF SHOTS BY FRAMING
OVER-THE-HIP SHOT (OTH)
An over-the-hip shot is similar to over-the-shoulder in that the camera is placed with a character’s hip in the foreground, and the focus subject in the plane of acceptable focus.
Here’s an example of an over-the-hip shot from one of the best Steven Spielberg movies Minority Report:
OVER-THE-HIP SHOT EXAMPLE IN FILM: MINORITY REPORT
You’ll gain a similar effect from an over-the-hip shot as you would an OTS, but if you have one character standing, and the other sitting, kneeling, or any other configuration that places the subjects on “uneven terrain” it will often suggest a power imbalance. This is the benefit of blocking and staging your actors and camera.
TYPES OF CAMERA FRAMING
POINT OF VIEW SHOT (POV)
Now let’s talk about choosing camera shots that show the point-of-view (or POV) of one of your characters.
A POV shot is a camera shot that shows the viewer exactly what that character sees. This transports the audience into that character and there is no more literal example of this than Being John Malkovich:
POINT OF VIEW SHOT EXAMPLE IN BEING JOHN MALKOVICH
POV shots can also invoke horror, as seen in one of the best horror movies Halloween but that’s just the beginning. In this video, watch how many ways in various genres the point of view shot can be used.
TYPE OF SHOT EXAMPLE: POV SHOT • SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
A point of view shot (POV) is generally sandwiched between two other shots, a technique called shot-reverse shot:
- A camera shot of a character looking at something
- Cut to your (POV) point of view camera shot
- A camera shot showing the character’s reaction
A point of view shot shows us exactly what the character sees, and we get to understand what’s generating the character’s reaction.
Unit 3 - Professional Practice 