Classroom activity – After viewing television, scene, storyboard a shot
sequence for a television show. You MUST include AT LEAST one example
of each shot, it must tell a story, and you must use AT LEAST ten shots
CORRECTLY. Make sure to label each shot as WS, MS, etc. DUE next
Wednesday!
XCU
CU
MCU
MS
LS
WS
XWS
Usually the XWS
is even MUCH
BIGGER, Like
the Restaurant in
Seinfeld, or the
exterior
apartment shot in
Friends
Extreme Close-up (XCU) – Used
for details, or extremely close
shots.
Close-up (CU) – From about an
inch ABOVE the head to the tops
of the shoulders. Used for
emotion. Used in dialogue.
Television is a close-up medium.
Medium Close-up (MCU) – Goes
from just above the head to about
the middle of the chest. Used the
same as a close up.
Medium Shot (MS) – From just
above the head to waist (the navel
– not the top of pants). Used to
show two characters in dialogue,
or used to show actions.
Long Shot (LS) – From just
above the head to knees. Usually
used like a wide shot (WS)
Wide Shot (WS) – from just
above the head to just below the
feet. Used ONLY to establish a
scene (at the beginning). Also
used when a new character enters
or leaves a scene.
Extreme wide shot (XWS) –
Used ONLY at the beginning of
the scene to show setting or
climate. Ex – Entire building, a
mountain.
Tilt Up
Tilt – Turning the
camera up or
down
Pan – Turning the
camera left or right
Pan Right
Pan Left
Dolly in
Dolly – Moving the
camera forward or
back
Tilt Down
Truck – Moving
the camera left or
right
Truck left
Truck right
Dolly out
Pedastool Down
Pedestal - Raising the camera up
or down like an elevator
Pedastool Up
Rules of Shooting Video
Rule of 3rds: Camera operator mentally divides the picture frame into 3rds both horizontally and vertically. The
picture elements are then placed along the intersections of the lines, called “centers of interest.”
Picture Balance: Subjects are arranged to provide a pleasing picture with SIZE, COLOR or SUBJECT POSITIONING.
Continuity: Making sure all audio and video are consistent throughout (costume, hair, make-up, situation, props).
30-3 Rule: No shot should be longer than 30 seconds and no scene longer than 3 minutes.
Jump Cut: Where image seems to “jump” person/object in video appears, disappears or moves in frame abruptly.
180 Degree Rule: When shooting 2 people in conversation, the camera should not break the 180 degree line
(shoulder to shoulder shooting)
Match cut or cut-in: While keeping the action going, camera cuts in closer on the action to make 2 shots look like one
continuous motion.
Cut Away: When cutting from one shot to another to prevent a jump cut.
Class Activity #1: Watch this scene from Seinfeld and calculate: 1. Total number of shots in scene 2. Longest shot 3. Most
repeated shot types (CU, MS, WS)
Class Activity #2: On the back of this sheet demonstrate your knowledge of rule of 3rds and picture balance by storyboarding a 5shot sequence of someone doing something.