When we show our characters up close, most likely we’re interested in the emotions they express or are going through at that particular moment. But what if we portray them through a wide lens? How will it affect the overall impact of the shot? What emotions can it convey? And why do wide-angle close-ups always feel so expressive? Let’s figure it out together! I was watching the latest season of FX’s series “The Bear” when I noticed one thing. The creators love detail shots in general, but they often use a wider lens to frame close-ups of the protagonist Carmy, especially in the most stressful situations. I wondered: Is it a subtle tool to enhance his feelings of anxiety and make us relate to him more? Or is it just a coincidence? Or could this type of shot follow a completely different goal here? Questions upon questions. Defining the terms Let’s start our research with some simple definitions. What is a close-up? In the MZed Course “Fundaments of Directing,” film director and educator Kyle Wilamowski divides this term into two types of shots. The first one is called a “medium close-up,” and it looks like this famous example from “Forrest Gump”: A film still from “Forrest Gump” by Robert Zemeckis, 1994 A medium close-up shows us the character from the shoulders up. This framing is all about the actor and much less about his or her surroundings. In real life, when you sit with a friend and discuss something important...
Published By: CineD - Friday, 30 August, 2024