Plots, Shots, and Angles
Story / Plot Lines
Plot: the series of related events that take
place and work out of the major conflict.
What was a/the general plot line in The
Princess Bride?
Note: The Princess Bride has two separate plot lines!
Primary
Secondary
Who’s Involved?
Protagonist: the one who is FOR
something. (often good guy)
(why DO we like them?) -young, handsome, in love, dealt with loss, LIKE US!
Antagonist: person or force in conflict
with protagonist (against)
(why don’t we like them? evil minds, dishonest, ugly looks or attitudes
Who were they in The Princess Bride?
Conflict. . .
Conflict between protagonist and
antagonist must create suspense
Conflict May Be . . .
Man vs. Man
What was some of
the man vs. man
conflict in The
Princess Bride?
Conflict can be . . .
Man vs. him/herself
What was some of the man vs.
him/herself conflict in The
Princess Bride?
Conflict Can Be . . .
Man vs. A Force
Nature, the Dark Side, etc. . .
What was a Force
that created conflict in
the Princess Bride?
Conflict may be . . .
Physical (Face Off, Rambo, Cast Away, Alien,
The Passion; action movies)
Emotional: (Pretty Woman, What Dreams
May Come, Riding in Cars with Boys . . .
Chick Flicks)
Mental (Search for Bobby Fischer, Dogma,
Beautiful Mind, Seven)
What was some Physical, Emotional, Mental Conflict in
The Princess Bride?
Plot Structure
Your story needs 6 key points for
maximum audience interest.
4
3
1
2
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE
5
6
Plot Structure . . .
1. Preliminary Situation
Clearly defined explanation of events leading up to
this point . . . BEFORE action begins.
Creates EMPATHY for characters
1
“feeling with” a character (sympathy is “feeling for”)
for the audience to feel involved, they must have
empathy for one of the characters
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE
*MUST establish why we like the protagonist
Why do we like Wesley and Buttercup?
Plot Structure . . .
2. Initial Incident:
an event that sets the plot moving.
2
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE
What’s our initial incident in The Princess Bride?
Plot Structure . . .
3. Rising action
A series of events that follow the initial incident
Develops from conflict between protagonist and
antagonist
3
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE
LIFTS ACTION TO HIGHER LEVEL of
interest/suspense! (stakes go up, time gets
shorter . . .)
What lifts the suspense/interest in The Princess Bride?
Plot Structure . . .
4. Climax
The MOST intense, exciting moment
Turning point of the rising action
Outcome of conflict is determined
4
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE
What is/are the climax(es) of The Princess Bride?
Plot Structure . . .
5. Falling Action
Series of events following the climax
Ties up all loose ends (or leaves one or two hanging for a sequal!)
Usually pretty short
5
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE
What loose ends are tied up in The Princess Bride?
Plot Structure . . .
Conclusion/Resolution
Logical Outcome of all that has occurred before
Comedy: brings all characters together (Dumb and
Dumber; Scooby Doo; Inigo, Fezzig, Wesley,
Buttercup; etc.)
Drama/Tragedy: Characters live on with the result of
their actions (Saving Private Ryan; Humperdink,
Vicini)
6
DIAGRAM OF PLOT STRUCTURE
Can also be a combination of the two . . . As in The
Princess Bride
The Shots
A series of consecutive frames recorded in one
uninterrupted “take”
Defined by the amount of subject matter within
the frame of the screen.
But can vary from director to director
Extreme Long Shot
Long Shot
Full Shot(s)
Medium Shot(s)
Close Up
Extreme Close-up
Cutaway
Over-the-shoulder
More . . .
Shots . . .
We’re usually not conscious of shots in
isolation . . . (comic books)
We experience their combined effect in
sequences
But each shot should be thought through
by the director . . . independently.
Extreme Long Shot
Reveals the Locale
*Often referred to as
ESTABLISHING
SHOTS
Taken from a great
distance (¼ mile or
so)
Almost always an
exterior shot
Extreme Long Shot
The Cliffs of Insanity
Extreme Long Shot
On the Boat
Extreme Long Shot
Humperdink’s Castle
Long Shot
Corresponds to the distance of an
audience to a stage production . . .
Action and Subject important, but locale plays an
important part in this shot!
Useful for
showing a character as he/she relates to the
locale
Similar to a . . . Full shot
Long Shot
Long Shot
Full Shot
Includes the human body in full (barely)
The “closest” Long Shot
Head near the top of the frame, feet near the bottom
Subject becoming more important than locale
Full Shot
Full Shot
Medium Shot
Contains a figure(s) from the knees or
waist up.
Includes ISOs, 2-shots, 3-shots, and OTS’
Subject now more important than locale
Useful for
Carrying movement
Exposition scenes
Dialogue
Medium Shot (ISO)
a one person medium shot
Medium Shot (ISO)
Medium Shot (2 Shot)
Two Shot
A medium shot containing two figures
from the waist/knees up.
Two Shot
Two Shot
Two Shot
Three Shot
A medium shot containing three figures
from the waist up.
*More than 3 figures typically becomes a
full or long shot.
3 Shot
3 Shot
Over The Shoulder Shot (OTS)
Typically contains 2 figures
One character faces the camera, the second
character has part of his/her back to the camera.
Shows relationship to each other in the frame.
Over the Shoulder. . .
Over the Shoulder. . .
Over the Shoulder. . .
Close-up
Concentrates on a relatively small object
Tends to elevate the importance of an object
– Saying “Look at this!” or “This will be important
later!”
– Reveal private information
– Could also create symbolism
– Shares emotion
A character’s face is most common
Can do close-ups of inanimate objects . . . called
CUT-AWAYS
Shows very little locale, if any
Close Up
Close Up
Extreme Close-up
A variation of the close-up.
A tighter shot, intensifies focus
Perhaps showing portions of a character’s face
Eyes, mouth . . .
The ring in The Lord of the Rings
Extreme Close-up
Extreme Close-up
Extreme Close-up
Extreme Close-up
Camera Angles
Determined by where the camera is
placed
Can provide a subtle or obvious
commentary on the meaning of an image.
A person photographed from a high angle suggests a
completely opposite interpretation of a person
photographed from a low angle (the SAME
PERSON doing the SAME THING)
Birds-Eye View
Shot from directly overhead
Image can seem abstract, unrecognizable
Audience can feel “god-like”
Gives feeling of fate, higher powers . . .
Characters seem small, insignificant . . .
– Often used for establishing shots or to give the idea of
being watched from above. (Batman, City of Angels)
Birds Eye View
Bird’s Eye View
High Angle Shots
Camera placed on a crane or other high
location.
Subject seems harmless, insignificant,
weak
SLOWS movement
Setting/Locale given more prominence
Provide audience a general overview.
With some sense of power
High Angle
High Angle
High Angle (POV)
High Angle (OTS)
Eye-Level Shots
Audience feels at same level and
INVOLVED with the subject.
Audience allowed to make up their own
mind about the subject.
Most shots are taken at or near eye level.
Eye-Level Shot
Eye-Level Shot
Eye-Level Shot
Low Angle Shots
Camera placed below the subject
Increases height of subject
Heighten the importance of the subject
Inspires fear, awe, and respect
Increases movement/speed
Low Angle
Low Angle (POV)
Low Angle
Green Mile
Low Angle
Harry Potter
Oblique Angle
Involves a lateral tilt
of the camera (tilts
view)
Often used for Point-ofView shots in which
viewer is tipsy,
confused, etc.
Suggests tension,
uneasiness, anxiety . . .
– Can be effective in
violent scenes!
Oblique Angle
Note: Old Batman and Robin Episodes
Small Group SHOT Assignment
(160pts)
Take shots in CHS; include a(n):
Extreme Long Shot (10 pts)
General Guidelines:
Long Shot (10 pt)
-BE QUIET IN THE HALLWAYS
-DO NOT INTERRUPT A
Full Shot (10 pts)
CLASS LECTURE.
-Be Careful and take care of the
Medium ISO (10 pts)
cameras.
– 2 Shot (10 pts) -- 3 Shot (10 pts)
Over the shoulder (10 pts)
Close-up (10 pts)
Each Photo can contain more
than one element listed.
Cutaway (10 pts)
Example: You may take a picture
of two people from the waist up
Extreme Close-up (10 pts)
using a low angle. That would
meet two of these requirements if
Birds-Eye View (10 pts)
labeled correctly!
High Angle (10 pts)
Low Angle (10 pts)
Eye Level (10 pts)
Create a display showing and labeling all shots (20 pts)
Total assignment worth 160 pts.