CAMERA FRAMING
Nine Ways to Frame Subject(s) in a Shot
Single Shot
A Single Shot features one character alone in the frame, and they are the primary focus. This framing can work with any Shot Size.
A Clean Single means one character and no other parts of another character are visible on screen, which conveys the character’s isolation. A Dirty Single means one character is the focus, but parts of another character are visible in the frame.
Two-Shot
A Two-Shot features two characters in the frame. For a shot to count as a Two-Shot, the two characters’ faces must be visible on the screen for the duration of the shot.
This Shot is used to establish a visual relationship between two characters: affectionate, contentious, or even imaginary. A Clean Two-Shot means two characters and no other parts of another character are visible on screen, which conveys the characters’ relationship. A Dirty Two-Shot means two characters are the focus, but parts of another character are visible in the frame.
Three-Shot
A Three-Shot features three characters in the frame. For a shot to count as a Three-Shot, the three characters’ faces must be visible on the screen for the duration of the shot.
This Shot is used to establish a visual relationship between three characters: affectionate, contentious, or even imaginary. A Clean Three-Shot means three characters and no other parts of another character are visible on screen, which conveys the characters’ relationship. A Dirty Three-Shot means three characters are the focus, but parts of another character are visible in the frame.
Four-Shot
A Four-Shot features four characters in the frame. For a shot to count as a Four-Shot, the four characters’ faces must be visible on the screen for the duration of the shot.
This Shot is used to establish a visual relationship between four characters: affectionate, contentious, or even imaginary. A Clean Four-Shot means four characters and no other parts of another character are visible on screen, which conveys the characters’ relationship. A Dirty Four-Shot means four characters are the focus, but parts of another character are visible in the frame.
Five-Shot
A Five-Shot features five characters in the frame. For a shot to count as a Five-Shot, the five characters’ faces must be visible on the screen for the duration of the shot.
This Shot is used to establish a visual relationship between five characters: affectionate, contentious, or even imaginary. A Clean Five-Shot means five characters and no other parts of another character are visible on screen, which conveys the characters’ relationship. A Dirty Five-Shot means five characters are the focus, but parts of another character are visible in the frame.
Crowd Shot
A Crowd Shot features a large group of people in a frame.
There is technically no limit to the number of characters (n-Shot where n > 5) but for simplicity, a large number of people in a shot can be generalised to a Crowd Shot.
Over the Shoulder (OTS) Shot
An Over the Shoulder (OTS) Shot is when the camera views characters over the shoulder of another.
It is a combination of a Single Shot and a Two-Shot. OTS is used for conversations between characters, which therefore focuses on only one character at a time in a shot within a scene. The audience gets perspectives of the other character from each character’s perspective, and feel included in the scene.
Point of View (POV) Shot
A Point of View (POV) Shot is when the camera is capturing what a character’s vision would, to fully be in their “point of view”.
A POV Shot can be used in many instances, but is most commonly used when a character is viewing with an external aid: a camera for a found footage narrative, viewing through a telescope or binoculars; or when a character is unaware of a being watching them: a killer, spirits, sharks, etc.
A POV Shot is typically paired with POV audio, where the audience hears what the characters would hear. This invests the audience and allows them to take in the perspective of the current situation.
Insert Shot
An Insert Shot is when the subject of the camera is a prop, typically one smaller in size relative to the character.
The framing of the Insert Shot can be made intriguing based on the previous framings mentioned. Such examples include: a POV Shot, 3rd Person Perspective or both.
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