Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Shot types:
Establishing Shot, Reverse Shot, Cut on the Look, POV, and Reaction Shot
Establishing Shot
The opening shot in a scene can be used to show the viewer where the story will be taking
place: in the woods, in a castle, at the circus, or in this case in a middle-class suburb. This
is often a long shot that gives a lot of general information about the location or event, the
time of day, and weather conditions. The establishing shot can also give us a feeling for
the story. It could show bright houses with trimmed hedges and a bicycle on the lawn or
there could be a dark, ramshackle mansion with an iron gate and dead trees. The feeling
of peacefulness or peril could be suggested through the shapes, patterns, and lighting. The
visual style of the fi lm can be revealed. All of these things set a visual context for all other
relationships in the scene, making the establishing shot very important.
Reverse Shot and Over the Shoulder
A reverse shot points the camera back in the opposite direction from a previous shot. If we
watch our character walk through a doorway and we are looking at his back, the next shot
may show a camera view from inside the room he's just entered from a front view. This is
often used if two characters are facing each other having a conversation. The camera will
show a “front on” shot of one character talking and then reverse the camera and show the
other person listening or responding. This kind of shot may also be done “over the shoulder.”
As the name implies, the camera is behind the character. The character's shoulder and/or
part of her head can be seen in the foreground as the audience sees what the character is
facing or looking at. Many fi lmed conversations will use a combination of these shots.
Sometimes students confuse these camera reversals with violating the 180-degree rule but
that is different. The 180-degree rule requires that you keep your subjects oriented to either
the right or left side of the screen but it does not prohibit you from reversing the position of
the camera. However, even when reverse shots are used, as in a conversation, it is often
advisable to shift one character more to the left side of the screen instead of in the center
and the other person more to the right and to keep these relative positions consistent through-
out the conversation. It is also important to keep the camera angled up or down if one
character is higher or lower than the other.
Cut on the Look and Point of View (POV)
When a fi lmmaker shows the character looking at something and then shows the audience
what the character has seen just as if we are seeing it through the character's eyes, this is
called a
point of view
or
POV
shot. So, if a character is looking up at the second fl oor
bedroom window of a house, the next shot will show the window as that character sees it
from that low angle and at that distance. If the character then looks down at his watch, the
camera may show the character looking at his wrist and then cut to show a down angle
