CAMERA MOVEMENT

This page outlines the standard types of camera movement in film and video. In the real world, many camera moves use a combination of these techniques simultaneously.

Crab: A less-common term for tracking or trucking.

Dolly: The camera is mounted on a cart which travels along tracks for a very smooth movement. Also known as a tracking shot or trucking shot.

Dolly Zoom: A technique in which the camera moves closer or further from the subject while simultaneously adjusting the zoom angle to keep the subject the same size in the frame.

Follow: The camera physically follows the subject at a more or less constant distance.

Pan: Horizontal movement, left and right.

Pedestal (Ped): Moving the camera position vertically with respect to the subject.

Tilt: Vertical movement of the camera angle, i.e. pointing the camera up and down (as opposed to moving the whole camera up and down).

Track: Roughly synonymous with the dolly shot, but often defined more specifically as movement which stays a constant distance from the action, especially side-to-side movement.

Truck: Another term for tracking or dollying.

Zoom: Technically this isn't a camera move, but a change in the lens focal length with gives the illusion of moving the camera closer or further away.

http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/movement.html

SHOT SIZES

Establishing shot: or long shot, gives your audience a sense of location and will set the scene for your film

Medium shot: makes your subject the key element of the frame and often used to show interactions with other characters. When using medium shots, be aware of what else is in the frame, so as not to interfere with your subject.

Close up shot: usually fills the frame with a single object and encourages your audience to concentrate on a particular aspect of the story.

XCU: extreme close up

VCU: very close up: face shot from mid forehead to above the chin

BCU: big close up: full head

CU: close up: just above head to upper chest

MCU: medium close up: just above head to lower chest

MS: medium shot: just above head to below the waist

MLS: medium long shot: contains the entire body plus a short distance above or below

LS: long shot

XLS: extra long shot

WS: wide shot

Single: shot of just one person, usually speaking

2S (two shot): shot of two people, usually speaking

GV: general view: usually wide shot establishing location

OS: off screen or out of shot

http://www.medicalaidfilms.org/modules/Editor/uploads/pdf/MAF_Shooting.pdf

Drawings by Ozan Konrot