Camera Shots
This is a shot in which the person’s face fills the frame.
CU - Close Up Shot
When the camera gives us a 1st person perspective.
Point of View Shot
A style of film, for example a Western.
Genre
What we call the actual conversation between people in a film. Not the sound type!
Dialogue
A continuous camera movement from side to side but usually from a fixed position.
Pan
This is a shot taken in which the person’s torso and face fill the frame.
MS - Mid Shot or Medium Shot
This camera angle is looking up at a subject to make them appear large and threatening.
Low Angle
Where one scene gradually transitions into another.
Cross-fade or dissolve
A disembodied narrator’s voice heard in a film.
Voiceover
When the camera moves parallel with the subject keeping it in focus
Tracking
This is a shot taken in which the person’s full body is in the frame with some gaps and setting.
LS - Long Shot or Full Shot
This camera angle is looking down on a subject to make them appear weak and vulnerable.
High Angle
A sequence of different camera shots shown in rapid succession; often to convey a rapid passing of time.
Montage
This is the music that accompanies the film.
Soundtrack or Score
When a camera moves towards or away from the subject.
Dolly
This is a shot taken in which a PART of a person’s face or body fills the frame.
ECU - Extreme Close Up
This camera angle is looking directly down on a subject or setting from a distance above.
Bird’s Eye Angle/View
This is a term given to everything included in a frame for a camera shot. Eg. costumes, furniture, lighting, positioning...
Mise En Scene
Sound that doesn’t originate from inside the film’s world. Eg. often the music that accompanies the titles or cinematic action (but not always!)
Non Diegetic
A continuous, straight camera movement upwards to downwards or vice versa.
Tilt
This is a shot taken in which people may or may not feature far off; the setting fills the frame from a distance.
ELS - Extreme Long Shot or Establishing Shot
This camera angle shows the front of a subject from behind the back of another subject standing opposite them.
Over the Shoulder Angle
Manipulating the camera aperture to change the HOW MUCH of the shot is in focus.
Depth of Field
Sound that originates from within the film’s world; eg characters talking to each other, gunshots...
Diegetic
Deliberate positioning of subjects within the space of the camera shot.
Framing