Careers in Television and Video: Camera Shots and Their Uses

Let us move on to the camera shots themselves. If you seek a career in this field, knowing these shots will be useful whether you are operating a camera or scriptwriting. The shots are the same in both film and television, although names may differ. They also have several purposes, but I have said it before, nothing in this industry is set in stone. Use the shots however way you wish. I will just note their general utilization. They also refer to shots used for scenes with humans in them. Learning the abbreviations of these terms is helpful to know when asked of you by a director or when writing scripts. It is easier to refer to them as abbreviations than to type them out each time. Shots are not required to have the subject facing the camera. These examples are only for reference. All you have to do is indicate in the script, screenplay or storyboard that the shot is from the side view, or any other angle.

The first shot is an Extreme Long Shot, or ELS. The subject, wherever they are in the scene, only takes up a small section of the screen. Often used to establish a character(s) at a given location, or allow room for any epic action to take place. It can also imply solitude in a given scene. Next is a Long Shot, or LS. It is from head to toe and the subject now is more identifiable. There is room for the character to move in action, others may enter the scene, and they can still interact with any pertinent scenery or props. A Medium Long Shot or MLS gives much the same options. Sometimes known as a Knee Shot, and composed from head to knee. Next is a Medium Shot or MS, sometimes called a Waist Shot. Just as the name indicates, it is from waist to head. Good shot for intros, spokespeople, reporters, or hosts, and recognizable portions of the background are still viewable.