Analysing shot types

&
editing techniques.
 .Two Shot.

• A two shot is obviously were two people are present in one shot, the point of this is two shot is to
suggest a conversation amongst the two. Both characters are facing eachother signifying a strong
relationship involving no tension, also, there facial expressions both appear to be smiley connoting good
news. The bus stop sign in the background is an example of an indexical sign, the sign has some kind of
direct connection with what is being signified.
 .Close up.

• This is a close up, it is used to focus mainly on a characters facial expression as it can connote a lot of
information to the audience, from this shot we can conclude that the character is busy focusing on his
phone conversation, the iconic sign of the mobile phone held to his ear denotes this.
 .Long shot.

• This is a long shot showing two characters running/skipping along a beach. A long shot is used to show full
body language and also elements of mise en scene and characters clothing. This particular long shot shows them
holding hands connoting a realationship and happiness, also the fact they are skipping signifies they are excited
to be together on a beach, spending time together.
 .Over the shoulder shot.

• This is an over the shoulder shot and is used when two characters are conversating and also denotes who is speaking at that
moment and the others reaction to it. In this shot her facial expression connotes she has just received some fairly good news
from the other man in the shot, the signifier I see is a girl standing in a doorway grinning, this signifys she may be pleased
with some news/information.
 .Establishing shot.

• This is an establishing shot, it is an outlook onto the setting/surrounding of the main scene in the tv drama, the area that
the action will take place in, although there are characters in the shot it still shows the area and has the conventions of a
typical establishing shot. This particular establishing shot denotes grass land/ countryside probably connoting a rural
area of England.
 .Rule of thirds.

• These two shots show the rule of thirds, the two characters are engaging in conversation and to make it
look realistic their eyes should always be in the top third of the shot to show they are looking at one
another and appears beleivable to the audience.
 .180 degree rule.

• These two shots illustrate the 180 degree rule, this is where there is basically a line of vision and the
camera should never cross that line, it should stay on one side of an established position, this is so the shots
flow and it doesn’t look like everything has been moved about in between filming shots, it looks natural
and realistic and suggests continuity.
 .Match on action.

• Match on action is a technique where the shots are almost mirrored to indicate continuity and give a sense
of ‘invisible’ editing, it appears smooth and the cut isnt clear. The shot above is a good example of this, it
shows the character walking up the stairs (the back of her head) and then her just stepping onto the top
deck,, this flows smoothly and doesn’t appear to jump at all.
 .Shot-reverse-shot.

• A shot-reverse-shot is an editing technique where one character is shown looking at another character and then
that character looks back at the first character, because the characters are shown looking in opposite directions
the audience automatically assume they are looking at one another . Shot reverse shots are used a lot for
continuity editing. This is another technique to make the transitions look smooth, it deemphasizes the
transitions so there not obvious and do not look messy. In the shots above, he looks at her and she looks straight
back at him and it looks realistic, this is also another example of how important the eyeline match is.
 .An angle shot.

• This is an example of a high angle, the purpose of a high angle is to make the person/people appear weak and
looked down on, they usually have no power. In the shot above the characters are denoted sitting in a café eating
while speaking with one another, the high angle connotes they are being looked down on because their in a
café and not a well known restaurant.