As a filmmaker, one of your primary responsibilities is to translate what’s on the page to the screen in a way that is both emotionally charged and reveals the necessary information. There’s no one way to do that. There’s no secret formula. No one-size-fits-all guide. But there is a canon of the hundreds of thousands of existing films. And one of the most common and reliable visual tools that directors have used in those films is the medium shot. This workhorse is perhaps the most commonly used shot in films and when used properly, can serve as the visual glue of a scene. It’s more than just the glue, though. The camera angle can be used to reveal character and ramp up emotion while also revealing setting and allowing the character and setting to play off one another. It's a crucial shot type in the wide array of camera shots, movements and angles. No filmmaker should operate without a firm understanding of this shot, so what we’re going to do today is discuss it and explore some shot examples. We’ll also touch on this shot's 'siblings'. Before we do all that though, what is a medium shot in the first place? That’s a fair question to ask, so without further ado, let’s define it! Medium Shot DefinitionA medium shot (“MS” on the shot list) is captured at a medium distance from the subject. It is often used for dialogue-heavy scenes, but also depicts body language and can reveal more...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Monday, 10 June, 2024