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What They See Let's Be Friends:

PUBLISHED BY GABE MOURA, ON JUNE 3, 2014

What really differentiates movies

from plays is the way filmmakers
manipulate the audiences field of
view. In theater, the audience is in RECENTLY PUBLISHED
a wide shot, always looking at
the entire stage and all the actors Anatomy of a Scene: Stakes &
on it. They are free to look Steaks in GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS

wherever they want. In cinema, (1992)

however, the filmmaker directs

Anatomy of a Scene: No Pattern on
what the public sees and how.
my Quarter from THE WAY WAY
While a long shot can show a vast vista of Mount Everest, an extreme BACK (2013)
close-up can show the silent despair of a child learning that his mother
has passed away. These different shots make up the fabric of visual Anatomy of a Scene: Crushing
storytelling. Read on: Dreams in LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
(2006)

Writing Strong Female Characters

Wide/Long Shot What is ISO (Film Speed)?

Long shots are used to

emphasize a sweeping
ElementsOfCinema.
location around the 3,005 likes
subject.

Long shot and wide shot Like Page Share

are interchangeable
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terms.

This frame from Gone

with the Wind (1939) emphasizes the tragedy of the Civil War and its
death toll. Can you find Scarlet OHara in the picture? SPONSORED LINKS

Wide shots are more easily captured with wide-angle lens*.

For the Sake of Clarity

Long shots and establishing shots (which we will go ever
next) can sometimes be similar in nature. The main difference
between the two is that establishing shots will be wide enough
to show all the characters and objects necessary for the drama,
while a wide shot will be wider than that, focusing more on the
environment. Compare the frame from Gone With The Wind
above to the frame from Little Miss Sunshine below, and try to
guess how far the camera is from the action. DU 21 FVRIER AU 6 MARS

Litire minrale anti-odeurs

Establishing Shot and Master Shot CARREFOUR
10kg
An establishing shot and a master shot are not the same per se. But JE DCOUVRE
they were combined under the same subheading because the framing
Voir magasins participants sur Carrefour.fr
and composition are usually the same for both of them.

An establishing shot introduces

a new location a church, a city
street, a rooftop, a hospital
room from a vantage point
that allows the audience to see
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all the relevant characters in
receive news and updates
the filmic space. A master shot
straight into your inbox.
would probably be recorded
from the same position, with
the same lens, also showing all the characters. The difference is the Name:

duration. A master shot records the entire action, a complete run-

through from that same camera position. This way if a tighter shot is Email:

forgotten or messed up during coverage, the director knows her editor

will have enough material to show the scene in its entirety by cutting SUBMIT
back to the master shot. In most movies, an establishing shot will last a
few seconds before the editor cuts to medium shots and close-ups. We respect your privacy.
However, if for someone reason the director decides that the cuts are
not good enough, he may use the master shot of a scene to show the
action unfold, in which case there would few to no cuts in that scene,
which can a be a pleasant style. LISTEN NOW!

EDITING CONNECTION: Why Would a Director Opt to No

Cuts?
I can already hear some of you asking that question. There are
several purposes why that may be the case. For starters, a
scene without cuts or edits keeps the viewing distraction-free,
which can be great for tense scenes.
 Have you seen Hitchcocks Rope. That film is in my opinion one
of Hitchcocks finest pieces. In Rope, there are two obvious cuts
throughout the film. The other cuts are hidden in smooth
transitions. This technique does wonders for the most
suspenseful scenes in the movie by locking the audience to
specific camera setups, which is not what we as movie-
watchers are used to.

Another reason for that choice is budget constraints. If planned

ahead of time, fewer cuts could translate to fewer camera
setups, which could translate to fewer days of principal
Listen to The Elements of Cinema
photography, which is amazing for the budget.
Podcast where Gabe Moura talks to
filmmakers and other industry
Sling Blade (1996, Billy Bob Thornton) comes to mind. This
insiders beating the odds to work in
film, which was reportedly shot for 1 million dollars ( pocket
Hollywood.
change for Hollywood standards), uses a lot of lengthy master
shots to show the action of a scene. And if you think that fewer
NEVER MISS A GUEST:
shots means a poor movie, think again. Sling Blade went on to

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gross almost 25 million dollars and earn an Oscar f0r Thorntons
screenplay.

on iTunes
To a sense, master shots are usually part of cinematography Subscribe
terminology because they should be standard practice for every new
scene. Establishing shots, in the other hand, refer more to the editing on Stitcher
phase of the movie, when the editor selects one quick angle to reveal
the location.
INDEX
Also, note that an establishing shot doesnt necessarily mean that we
see the characters full body. Basically, the establishing shot displays Home

the elements needed for the scene to function.

Cinema
Film Form
Narrative Filmmaking
A Stroll Down Memory Lane
Documentary Filmmaking
During the first years of cinema, the most common type of shot Experimental Filmmaking
was the long shot. Back in the 19th century, when cinema was
Screenwriting
still young, there were no filmmakers; there were only camera
Screenwriting Basics
operators. These operators were interested in landscapes and
Conflict
locations because thats what the audience wanted to be
3-Act Structure
transported elsewhere and see something new. The camera
Issues with the Three-Act
(then called the cinamatographe) was traveling to distant Structure
countries and capturing exotic images around the globe. Close- Character Arc
ups were rare. Exposition & Backstory
Theme
Main Character
Foreshadowing
MacGuffin
Dialogue

Cinematography
 Cinematography Basics
Depth of Field
Exposure >>
Aperture (aka Iris and F-
Number)
Shutter Speed
Composition >>
Shot Sizes
Camera Angles
Camera Moves
Types of Lenses
The Cinematography Crew

Directing
Directing Basics
Mise-En-Scene
Blocking
Coverage

When impresarios (arguably the first filmmakers) decided to Editing

use the cinematographe to record scripted stories, establishing Editing Basics
shots became common. Establishing shots were preferred Parallel Editing (aka Cross
because the camera would record scenes with a similar Cutting)
vantage point as theater audiences have in plays. In those Kuleshov Effect
times, the film grammar, which incorporates, among other Types of Transitions
Reaction Shots
things, editing and shot variety, hadnt been developed yet.
Ellipsis

It wasnt until D. W. Griffith came along that medium shots,

Sound
close-ups, and insert shots were understood and used
effectively. D. W. Griffith changed the game because his films References
abound with shot variety, as he knew the different purposes of
the shot sizes.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I may be an affiliate for products

Full Shot (FS) that I recommend. If you purchase
those items through these links, I
A full shot displays the
may earn a small commission at
character from head to toe, NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. I only
without showing much of his recommend products that I use and
surroundings (or else it would love, or products relevant to the
be considered a long shot). topic under discussion. We are also
These shots were very popular part of the Google AdSense
in the beginning of cinema network to provide you with
before filmmakers had relevant ads tailored to your taste.
For more information, click here.
understood the power of
medium shots and close-ups.

A full shot distances the character from the viewer both physically and
psychologically. They carry less emotional weight, and therefore they
are not the best choice during emotional scenes.

Whenever the director wants to convey someones anger, fear, or joy,

close-ups are way more effective. A full shot would be more
appropriate during a characters entrance or a foot pursuit, for
instance.

Medium Shot (MS)

Medium shots are the most common types of shots in the movies.
Showing most of the subjects body, medium shots are halfway
between long shots and close-ups; however, authors disagree on the
definition. While some
writers say that the
medium shot shows the
character from a little
above the knees to the
top of his head, others
state that medium shots
only go as low as a little
above the waist.
Regardless of the
academic debate, a
medium shot is by all
definitions a happy medium between a full shot and a closeup. Also,
composition guidelines suggest that frame lines shouldnt cut the
actors on the joints, so as long as operators avoid knees, waists,
elbows, etc., the framing shouldnt be a problem. In other words, just
go a little higher or lower with the framing to avoid the joints.

The medium shot also includes two other famous shot types: The two-
shot, with two actors facing the same screen direction, and the
over-the-shoulder shot, showing a conversation in which the actors
sit or stand across from each other:

To record medium shots, a normal lens* should be enough. Adjust

distance accordingly.
Close-Up (CU)
In close-up shots, the subject occupies most of the frame, allowing very
little observation on the environment. Close-ups are much more
dramatic than long or medium shots. They are preferred when
emphasizing someones emotion:

Extreme Close-Up (ECU)

Often labeled as a detail shot, extreme close-ups do exactly that: show
a small detail that would otherwise be missed in a winder shot.

For close-ups and extreme close-ups, telephoto lens* are more

appropriate.

Insert Shots
Insert shots dont focus on people. They are utilized to emphasize a
relevant object, such as a letter, an envelope with money, or a gun that
would otherwise be lost in the grand mise-en-scne. Insert shots are
tight shots in which objects fill most of the frame. Even if inserts dont
reveal anything new, they are still welcome during the editing phase, as
they smooth transitions between shots, often serving as a neutral shot
that allows a breach of the 180 degree rule.
Reaction Shots
Simply put, reaction shots are a cutaway usually a close-up of an
actor reacting to the main scene, like a conversation or an event,
though it can be pretty much anything.The reaction may be conveyed
by a sneer, furrowed browns, a grin, or any other gesture that conveys
an emotion.

The logic of the reaction shot is that the emotional reaction of the actor
depicted will move the story forward or reveal his traits.

On Purpose
Besides the obvious purpose of showing different elements of
the mise-en-scne, shot sizes are also important for variety. If
the audience were always looking at, say, a close-up shot, they
could get bored of that unchanging frame. But because shot
sizes are always different within a scene, spectators often have
something new on the frame to watch.

Cinematographers should know by heart how the relationship

between focal length (types of lenses) and camera-subject
distance affects framing, and thus creates the different shot
sizes. A true filmmaker, aside from understanding these basic
technical concepts, must also comprehend the emotion,
purpose, and meaning behind each type of shot.

* Further Reading: If you are confused by all the different types of

lenses (i.e. wide-angle, telephoto, etc.) I mentioned on this page, then
read our article about focal length here for further clarification. If
questions persist, please dont hesitate to contact me.

FILED UNDER: CINEMATOGRAPHY

COMMENTS

Dhanu Dhanu says

August 8, 2014 at 8:05 pm

Nice

Reply

ojochona caleb says

August 12, 2014 at 6:32 pm

nice

Reply

hiba says
August 13, 2014 at 3:20 am

First of all, thanks for these valuable informations!!My question

is :I didnt understand the difference between establishing shot
and the master shot !! I understood that master shot is used to
prevent cuts and editing but how technically both shots are
used !!

Reply

Gabriel says
August 13, 2014 at 6:48 am

Okay, Ill try to clarify it for you. First, let me share the
definitions from Wikipedia:

ESTABLISHING SHOT: An establishing shot in filmmaking

and television production sets up, or establishes the
context for a scene by showing the relationship between its
important figures and objects. It is generally a long- or
 extreme-long shot (long here means that the camera is far
from the subject, like in a wide shot) at the beginning of a
scene indicating where, and sometimes when, the
remainder of the scene takes place.

MASTER SHOT: A master shot is a film recording of an

entire dramatized scene, from start to finish, from an angle
that keeps all the players in view. It is often a long shot
and can sometimes perform a double function as an
establishing shot.

They are confusing because they are very similar. Note

that a Master Shot can also be used as a Establishing Shot.
Basically, they look the same. They are both types of Wide
Shots that show all the elements in a scene.

I think the main difference between them is that a Master

Shot is a term during principal photography when the crew
films the whole scene from the same camera setup.
Imagine for example, a dinner scene that is 5 minutes long.
The Master Shot will be about 5 minutes long because it
covers that whole scene from beginning to end.

On the other hand, an establishing shot is more of an

editing term for when the editor chooses a few moments of
the Master Shot to show where the scene takes place. This
can be just a few seconds long before he cuts to other
types of shots, like close-ups.

So In essence They both look the same. What makes

them different is the length or duration. A Master Shot will
be as long as the scene (possibly several minutes). A
Establishing Shot can be just a few seconds long.

If you are about to shoot a film, all you need to worry about
is the Master Shot. The editor will create the Establishing
Shot from it.

Reply

Plexzy Ben says

March 3, 2015 at 4:56 am

wow! thats kul, the explanation was well executed

Reply
 ASHOK SATIJA says
May 30, 2015 at 12:34 am

Hi,

It is really very valuable information. Yet for a beginner there

are certain problem in understanding few things. like 180
degree, framing and several other things. I would request you
to kindly throw light on these terms also.

Regards,

ASHOK SATIJA

Reply

Filmmaking Basics says

June 22, 2015 at 2:38 am

Thank you so much for your priceless information, its really so

helpful to me for understanding more about cinematography

Reply

Gabe Moura says

June 30, 2015 at 9:11 am

You are very welcome!

Reply

Peter says
July 29, 2015 at 6:51 am

Thank you so much, very much of help to me, i just finished a

6months course on film making, i am to shoot a short film, i am
have quiet a hard time coming up with a shot list, please help
me on this how can i come up with a shot, i really want to do it
my self and be bold to say i did this..

Reply

Gabe Moura says

July 30, 2015 at 8:00 am

Hi Peter, I like your question so much I am working on new

post that should offer you many tips and insights. For now,
 I will just say that before you do the shot list, you should
have a storyboard. It is very important to be able visualize
your shots, your angles, your composition. Think about how
you will tell your story with the camera and get sketching!

Once you have a storyboard, you will be able to create the

shot list more easily. It is also helpful to have a lined script:

As you can see above, a lined script is a script in which you

use a pencil to draw vertical lines across the dialogues and
actions. Each lines corresponds to one shot. This allows
you to see what each shot will cover. Basically, you want to
make sure that every dialogue and action of the script has
at least one line over it, so you dont forget to shoot that
part.

I HOPE THIS HELPS! Stay tuned for a more complete article

coming next week.

Reply

Kayla says
September 23, 2015 at 6:47 pm

This was so very helpful and actually quite fun to read and
learn about! Im starting college next month for Film & Video
Production and want to kind of get some pre-learned
knowledge in beforehand. Cool stuff

Reply

Gabe Moura says

October 6, 2015 at 6:40 am

Hey Kayla, glad you had fun with this read! Good luck in
college! Let us know how it goes.

Reply

Bill Haran says

October 12, 2015 at 7:54 am

I am looking to film a feature using almost all master shots oncr

complete. All wide. Utilizing just one lense a sigma 18-35 on my
70d. Crop sensor camera. Im also having the action tell
majority of the story, keeping dialogue to a minimum
Thoughts, thsnks for any feedback you can give

Reply

Gabe Moura says

October 12, 2015 at 4:02 pm

Shooting all master shot is a great way to save time and

money since you dont have to re-do scenes for extra
coverage. Of course, the challenge with shooting all master
shots is that your actors have to be extremely well
rehearsed so that you can minimize takes. Also another
problem is that if the wide shot is boring, the audience will
be bored out of their minds. Make sure you pick great
locations and add some background movements/elements
whenever possible.

I recommend you watch SLING BLADE, as that independent

movie also favored master shots over coverage. Keeping
dialogue to a minimum is always challenging, but a
worthwhile goal. Movies are supposed to be visual, so its
definitely possible.

I also recommend you watch Hitchcocks ROPE because

that movie had an interesting camerawork confined to one
place, in addition to the famous gimmick of hiding cuts.
Both those movies should inspire you with your goal. Good
luck!

EDIT: If you have not bought the lens yet, I would

 recommend getting one with more zoom, more focal
length. I know you are planning to shoot all wide, but
having a longer telephone lens will allow you more freedom
in your camerawork. For instance, a family dinner scene
can look much more claustrophobic with a wide shot
captured with a telephoto lens, as it compresses space.
Look at the background here:

In this case, you would have to make sure you have

enough room between the camera and your subjects, as
you need to be physically farther with the camera when
using a long lens. Anyways, just a thought. Having choice
during filming is a good thing, but not crucial if you plan
accordingly.

Reply

sunil says
January 20, 2016 at 7:23 am

hi..Im going to do a short movie but I dont no which lenses I

want to use for good output. Can u pls suggest me for 5D mark
3 camera?

Reply

Gabe Moura says

February 4, 2016 at 7:49 pm

Hello sunil, the kind of lens you use depend on the kind of
framing you want. This usually varies per shot. Make sure
youve read this article:
http://www.elementsofcinema.com/cinematography/types-
of-lenses/

In a nutshell, wide shots will require wide or short lenses.

Close-ups will require long or telephoto lenses. If you have
a small budget, its always a good idea to use zoom lenses
 so you can alternate your focal length without having to
actually change lenses between shots.

As far as brands go, you may wish to consider Zeiss and

Sigma, to name a couple. Also remember to always double
check the lens mount to ensure it will fir your camera.
Good luck!

Reply

saran says
February 15, 2016 at 12:57 am

will u pls explain me about cutaway?

Reply

jim says
August 23, 2016 at 5:15 pm

thanks poo for an awesome article.

Reply

Vicky says
September 22, 2016 at 1:00 pm

I am interested in reading your upcoming articles. Thanks for

the info.

Reply

Aisha W says
November 21, 2016 at 1:10 am

I found all this information extremely helpful! i am currently

writing scripts for short films at University level, and have been
told by my Director to write an emotion shot list of my script.
How do I write an emotion shot list? What contents does it
have?

Reply
 Paul says
December 30, 2016 at 3:47 pm

Thank you so much for the information, I find it more helpful

especially that am about to shoot and direct my first drama tv
series.looking forward to your helpful articles.

Reply

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