Getting Started
To determine the number, types, and frequency of differing shot types, filmmakers need to have a clear idea of what story they want to tell and how they want to tell it. This requires having a solid script worked out first, and either during or just after the scriptwriting phase, the shot sizes are determined.
Confused? Lego Rocker will reveal all.
Moving Between Shot Sizes
When changing shot size, it’s usual to move the camera to a different position around the subject. This makes the edit more subtle. If one shot is from directly in front, the second should be at an angle or from the side. Moving within the same frame, you may get a jump cut where the camera seems to ‘jump’ forwards or backwards.
A masterclass in shot size from Sergio Leone.
An establishing wide from Road to Perdition (2002)
An extreme close-up from The Silence of the Lambs (1991)