Filmmaking Vocabulary Words

Shots
Extreme close-up
Close-up
Medium close-up
Medium shot
Long shot
Wide shot (also called establishing shot)

Angles Filmmaking
Low angle Script writing
Dutch angle (also called canted angle or shot) Storyboarding
High angle (also called birds-eye view) Plotting

Camera Parts Editing Terms

Lens Cut
Lens cap Crop
Zoom button Title
Record button Credits
Viewfinder Digital effects
Firewire / Capture cable Footage
Rough cut
Tripod Parts
Shoe Transitions
Tripod head Cut
Leg locks Dissolve
Pan-handle Wipe
 Types of Angles

Low Angle:
To film this shot, the
camera is placed lower
than the person or object
to be filmed. A low angle
is used when you want to depict the power or
importance of an individual or object.

High Angle:
In order to shoot a high angle, the camera must be
placed above the actors or objects, looking down.
This is also called a birds-eye view. This angle
is used to make the actors or objects appear more
insignificant, small, or weakdepending on how
extreme the angle is.

Dutch Angle:
In order to film a Dutch angle, the camera has to be
tilted to the right or left. A Dutch angle is used to
signify suspense or to foreshadow that something
unexpected is about to happen.
Note: A Dutch angle is also called a canted angle or
canted shot.
 Sample Script

Do You Want To Buy a Dog?

EXT.COURTYARD.DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOT (WIDE):

PERSON A is standing in the courtyard alone.

LONG:

PERSON B enters and walks up to PERSON B.

MEDIUM CLOSE-UP:

PERSON A
Do you want to buy a dog?

CLOSE UP:

PERSON B
(thinking and pondering)
Does it bark?

EXTREME CLOSE UP:

PERSON A
(annoyed, eyes rolling)
Of course it barks!

LONG:
PERSON B walks away confused.
 Types of Shots

Extreme Close-up
(ECU, XCU)
What is it? Subject
exceeds the boundaries
of the frame.
Why use it? Creates intensity or tension when subject
is a person, or gives high detail on object.

Close-up (CU or tight shot)

What is it? Frames a persons face, cuts off at midneck,
usually shows entire head.
Why use it? Shows emotion or shows an object in
detail.

Medium Close-up (MCU)

What is it? Frames head and upper torso, cuts off at
mid-chest.
Why use it? Close enough to read facial expressions
but gives polite distance; reveals a bit of surroundings.
(continued)
 Types of Shots (Continued)

Medium Shot (MS)

What is it? Frames a subject from the waist up.
Why use it? Happy medium between CU and
LS. With MCU, the most common type of
shot. Zoom from MS to MCU for emphasis or
conclusion.

Long Shot (LS, FS)

What is it? Frames the subject from the feet up
or may be slightly further away to show motion.
Why use it? Subject is the person, environment is
clearly visible. Use it for action, not meaning or
emotion.

Wide Shot (WS)

What is it? Camera is far away from the action.
Why use it? Emphasizes the environment, human
subjects are not the point of the shot. Tells the
viewer where the story is taking place; can be
used to establish a new location (also called an
establishing shot).
MOVIE PROJECT PLANNING SHEET
Date: Group #:
Project (Working title):
Group members:

Subject: (Describe your movie in one or two sentences, so that someone who
has no other information would have an idea of what your movie will be about.)

Audience: (Who do you want to watch your movie? For example, you might be
making this movie for your friends, for your parents, or for yourself. You may
want it to appeal to a wide audience or to a very narrow audience.)

Purpose: (Why are you making this movie? What do you want this movie to
accomplish?)

Project duration:

Project deadline:

Lets Make Movies! http://fcit.usf.edu/lmm/