Moving Images, Understanding Media

Chapter 1 Motion Picture Language 9

waist of the character, and a medium close shot is between the medium and

close shots, or across the stomach. Moving outward, a medium full shot cuts

across the knees, while a full shot (FS) includes the entire human fi gure.

When two people are featured in a shot, this is called a two shot. For example,

a shot that frames the characters at the chest line and includes both in the shot

would be a “close two shot.” If the camera is placed behind one character so that

part of the frame shows the edge of the character’s shoulder (and possibly neck

and head), this is an over-the-shoulder shot. When we arrive at a shot that includes

multiple fi gures in a view of an entire scene, such as a room or a fi eld, this is a wide

shot. If the camera is far away from the subjects, then it is called a long shot.

Figure 1-11 Medium shot. (Courtesy of

Kendelyn Ouellette).

Figure 1-12 Characters running in full shot in

the fi lm Side Streets, directed by Tony Gerber,

cinematography by Russell Lee Fine. (Photo by

Seth Rubin, Courtesy Market Road Films).

Figure 1-13 Two shot. (Courtesy of Kendelyn

Ouellette).

Figure 1-14 Over the shoulder shot. (Courtesy

of Kendelyn Ouellette).

Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).