SHOT DISTANCES

CLOSE UP SHOT- close up shots are used to indicate that something is important and highlight its significance-they can be props or reactions. An example of a close up is in American Psycho when we are first introduced to Patrick Bateman’s routine. This scene gave me a sense of stability and order, but also made me feel uneasy and slightly uncomfortable as it appears quite unnatural. This is because most people don’t have the “perfect routine” and this is when Patrick’s psychopathic personality starts to peek through.

MEDIUM LONG SHOT- a medium long shot shows the character from the knees or hips up. This is used to show the character and its surroundings to reveal how they relate to their surroundings. In this scene from “Jennifer’s Body”, we are able to notice her outfit which represents her bright and girly personality while also acknowledging how confident she is by her posture and walk which give her a sense of power.

EXTREME LONG SHOT- this type of shot is used to make our character/s appear small compared to their location or far away from another subject. They are used to make the character seem distant and alienated. A good example of this shot is the twins scene from “The Shining”. The effect this has on the audience is to make Danny seem isolated and vulnerable and make them fear what will happen to him next.