The choice of shot differs from person to person, that’s what makes movies by different directors all the more appealing.  They all see the same thing in different ways, and will want to portray that thing in their own particular style.  Choice of shot and camera angle are one of the ways different directors distinguish themselves from each other, and one of the ways they make the piece interesting.

So to the shots.

Extreme Wide Shot (EWS).  This shot covers a lot of ground and is most often used outside as an establishing shot.  Often the subject isn’t even visible in an extreme wide shot, but it can set the scene or give an idea of scope for a later shot.

Very wide Shot (VWS).  We have moved into the subject a bit here, but they are still in the background, and not the focus.  It is a continuance of the EWS, placing the subject in context or scale with the surroundings.  Often used is establishing shots for reality TV, where an EWS wouldn’t work.

Wide Shot (WS).  Similar to the long shot, where the subject takes up most of the frame.  To continue putting them in context with their surroundings, or to include activities around them in the shot.  Also used in reality TV a lot where a group of people are all in the scene.

Long Shot (LS).  Works the same as a wide shot, has the subject in full frame, but also includes the surroundings, including anything that is pertinent to the scene or makes for interesting viewing.  Useful for when you want to portray the subject being in the middle of the action.

Mid Shot (MS).  This is a half body shot, which half depends on what the subject is doing.  Most often this is a shot from the waist up, which also gives an impression of the whole body.  This is a popular one for news broadcasts.  Upper body only with a small space above the head at the edge of shot.

Medium Close Up (MCU).  This is a halfway house between a mid shot and a close up.  The subject fills the frame which is cut off high chest and leaves a little room above the head.  The standard new anchorman close up.  CU is often too close for studio work, so the MCU is used instead.

Those are just some of the camera shots possible in modern film making.  I will go through the others in my next post.  There is more to movie making than you think!

Good planning is essential in any enterprise if you want it to succeed. Video production is no different, especially if you want to avoid having to make decisions on location or creating problems during edit.

Even on the easiest shoot, having a schedule will help get the most important shots in first and plan logistics or interviewees. If shooting outside it is double essential to have a schedule as it will factor in the environmental aspects of the shoot as well as the practical ones.

A good schedule will include;

• Time for a recce. This is essential in planning where to get sited and set up, the light conditions at the time of day, and any other factors like traffic noise, aircraft or other things that could interrupt a shoot. Consideration should be given to the area and time of day. There is no point shooting near a school or factory when its knocking off time. Also recce a “plan b”, if something happens to the original site, have a backup site ready to go.
• A timetable and shooting schedule. Allocating time to take the shots, conduct the interview, film the occasion or whatever. Planning how long each detail needs and setting it into a schedule. Considering the environmental factors as noted above should also feature in the timetable. Avoiding high traffic or noisy times if shooting outside, avoiding flight paths or bus routes.
• Time for travel and set-up. Something often missed by newcomers. The traffic conditions can vary, breakdowns happen and the equipment doesn’t come out of the box ready to go. Adequate time should be allocated for unforeseen circumstances and to set up the shoot.
• Take into account the weather forecast is working outside. This is an important factor as many shoots need ideal conditions in order to work. Different weather conditions may mean different shots, microphones and lighting. Knowing in advance what to expect can help you when packing the kit.
• The needs of any interviewees or contributors. Advance planning of all those needed to make the piece happen. Especially civilians or other contributors not with the crew. Taking their needs into account will make for a far more effective and congenial shoot.
• A script will also form part of a schedule. This will help you adapt if the situation changes. It’s much easier to change tack or ad-lib if you know the general direction of the piece. It will allow you to keep the thread if the unexpected happens.

The old adage “failing to plan is planning to fail” is as true here as anywhere. Having a comprehensive plan, and a good idea of what’s going on, where and when, will allow you to concentrate of capturing great footage, while allowing you to react to situations as they arise, but not be surprised by them.

These elements are what separates a good video production from a great one. Awards are won when the crew is prepared but able to capture the unexpected.

Before shooting even a frame you need to know the whole story you’re trying to tell and how this footage fits into it. Knowing in advance will give you a much better idea of what you need and from which perspective.

A useful technique for telling a story is the summary. They outline the point of the story, the characters involved and show you where it will lead. Pulling key words or phrases from the summary will assist you in decided what and how to shoot. Creating a summary is essential to telling it. You need to know the angle, for both the filming side and the journalistic side, if there is one. While planning is essential for a good shoot, you must always be ready for the unexpected. Always be prepared to react if something happens or the story develops in a hurry.

The summary will give you an idea of the sequences needed to shoot the piece. It doesn’t matter if it’s an interview, news piece or a wedding, they will all need some kind of sequence to tie them all together and make the end result a seamless one. You need to plan cutaways and cut-ins, overlaps and overshoots. Overshoots are where you get more material than you need in order to give a margin when it comes time to edit. If you need five shots, film eight then if anything goes wrong you have spare material to work with.

In a shot film the person, then the thing, then the person and the thing. This is an old adage that has been passed down throughout the ages when talking video production. It offers a variety of angles and images for when it comes time to edit. Changing shot size, angle and zoom will also help create an interesting a diverse, yet cohesive piece.

The five shot rule is also useful when filming. The five shots are close up, close up on the face, wide shot over shoulder, and a different angle shot. Each of these can sequence together seamlessly and portray the whole picture. If you only shoot from one angle, then only one perspective is seen, then when it comes to editing, you only have two choices, use it or lose it.

A good cameraman will always shoot much more than they need. The situation being recorded may never happen again, or be very difficult to stage. Therefore you only have one chance to get the footage, so it had better be good, and offer options when it comes to editing. This is why the overshooting and the five shot rule are so important. Once the footage has been obtained, the story can be told in a number of different ways with all this information. Shooting from a single angle, with a single shot limits the feature quite a lot.

These are just a few tips to enable you to become a better cameraman, movie maker, editor, producer or whatever. If you are recording a single moment in time, just make sure you capture it all.