Common Camera Shots in Short Films
Perhaps the most important thing about a short film is the way in which camera shots are used and what effects they have on the audience. The following are a few examples of common camera shots found in most films that we will more than likely come to include in our film:
Close-Ups/Extreme Close-Ups
The most common camera shot found in short films is the close-up which is found numerously in multiple films. As you could guess, this shot entails filling most of the frame with the image of a face or specific object. It distinctively focuses on showing the audience the reactions of characters or for showing specific details important to the plot. This is more so relevant in the short films we will be creating as there tends to be more important but occasionally tougher to spot details due to short films being more artistic.
Medium Close Up
The Medium Close Up is essentially the middle point between both Close Up and Mid Shot and it very much so serves the same purpose as both of these really but with more focus on a portion of a character. It's basically got the same effect as a Close Up but with less of the uncomfortable feeling associated with having a camera pointed right in the subject's face.
Mid-Shots
The most common camera shot found in short films is the close-up which is found numerously in multiple films. As you could guess, this shot entails filling most of the frame with the image of a face or specific object. It distinctively focuses on showing the audience the reactions of characters or for showing specific details important to the plot. This is more so relevant in the short films we will be creating as there tends to be more important but occasionally tougher to spot details due to short films being more artistic.
Extreme Wide Shot (Long Shot)
The Extreme Wide Shot (A.K.A the Long Shot) is essentially used as an establishing shot. This entails zero focus on the subject but rather on everything surrounding the subject instead. It can also be used in large films as a good battleground shot but in a short film, it's more than likely to be utilised in order to set the scene and that's about it.
Wide Shots
A wide shot may not necessarily be a common theme in short films but it is occasionally in order to establish a setting or set up a shot featuring a lot of details surrounding the character. It can also be used to highlight a character's demeanour. The shot is essentially just a wide angled image in which a main subject fills a large portion of the frame but without suffocating the screen for the audience.
Over The Shoulder Shot
The Over The Shoulder Shot is a staple of dialogue scenes in films. They are essentially only used in situations where a conversation is taking place or one character is performing an action to another character. In particular, you can truly achieve some artistic shots from an Over The Shoulder Shots in short films due to the specific artsy style of short films in general.
Two/Three Shots
Two and Three Shots are implemented frequently in films of all kinds but, in short films, they are particularly useful in showing conversations or actions between 2 or 3 characters (for example). It's a commonly used shot when the idea of the scene is to focus on characters without the distractions of their surroundings.
POV (Point of View) Shot
POV (Point of View) Shots are a very common type of shot in short films, again, due to the artistic style they tend to adopt. As it may be obvious to see, the POV shot entails showing an individual character's view point. These are particularly useful for if you're intending to have a very focused plot that follows the perspective of one character. Occasionally there is the odd film that features POV shots from two characters which creates a unique story capability.
Tracking/Dolly Shot
The Tracking/Dolly Shot is a complicated shot at higher production levels as they tend to make use of trolleys or other moving objects in order to follow an object or person as they move across a location. At our level, it'll be slightly harder as we'll have to rely on steady-hand should we decide to incorporate a Dolly Shot in our film. In a short film, they can be used as a creative device to show off a setting or to merely show a transition of location too.
Dutch Tilt
You may not necessarily class the Dutch Tilt as a common shot as such but it's such a creative shot that it may be useful to include it in our short film because it creates a disoriented or slightly uneasy effect for the audience. Essentially the Dutch Tilt is a shot in which the camera is turned at a slight angle and it's mostly used to create tension in films.