. Framing Heights: Filmmaking Lesson How to properly frame your subjects for film & video Acronyms for framing ECU – Extreme close-up MCU – Medium close-up CU – Close-up MS – Medium shot WS – Wide shot LS – Long shot ELS – Extreme long shot BG – Background FG – Foreground OTS – Over the shoulder POV – Point of view Fitting shots together As you can see, above you have a whole world of possibilities when it comes to composing a shot. However, what some filmmakers don’t know is that there are certain shot connections which fit together better than other shots. The other thing you need to take into consideration is that Hollywood has established certain cinematic norms that film audiences will believe and perceive as acceptable. These norms change over time but you’ll also want to watch films with a keen eye for certain shot jumps. For example, just over a decade ago audiences would rarely be subject to an ELS (Extreme Long Shot) with a cut to a CU (Close-up). Most audiences of the time would agree that this transition was too big of a “jump”. They would have preferred to see a MS (Medium shot) in between the ELS and the CU. This would allow for a smoother and more accepted transition into the close up. However, audiences today, due to filmmaker experimentation, are more accepting of large, more extreme jumps in shots. We will begin by addressing the benefits and drawbacks of each framing technique.   Continue Below... Filmmaking Cinematography Framing Heights: Filmmaking Lesson Filmmaking Tip: Close-up Framing Filmmaking: Cutting on the look / Cutting on the action Extreme Close-up Framing     .

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