Camera Shots in TV Drama

Lesson Outcomes

• To learn the key camera shots associated with TV Drama

• To understand how camera shots can be ‘read’ denotatively and connotatively

Representation

• The areas you could be asked about:– Gender – Age ??????– Ethnicity – Sexuality – Class and status – Physical ability/disability ??????– Regional identity ?????

Camera Shots

• The most common camera shots used in TV Drama are

Establishing shotMaster ShotClose upMid ShotLong Shot

Point of ViewWide ShotTwo ShotOver the Shoulder Shot

Reading Shots

• Denotative Meaning – the literal meaning/basic description of what it is

• Connotative Meaning – the meaning we read into the image. It is the meaning we associated with colours, locations, costuming, props, etc. They are used in TV Drama to help us form assumptions about characters, their attitudes/values, relationships. The Connotative meanings you need to make must be connected to representation!

Establishing Shot

• The Opening shot of a new scene. Used so we can identify location.

• The assumption we make about the location are often the key connotative reading

Master Shot

• A shot that shows the audience the whole scene in a wide shot. Often used to show the key elements, characters that will be in the scene. Can be used instead of an establishing shot or following on

• Connotative meanings are often based around relationships and hierarchy

Close Up Shot

• A close up shot shows either an object or a persons face close up so that they take up most of the space. Used to show detail/ emotions. Often used in dramatic moments.

• The key connotative meaning often comes from the way we read the facial expression

Mid Shot

• A shot that shows someone from the waist up and we can see more clearly where they are and the relation with other people (if present)

• Key connotative meanings - we start to make connections between the character and their emotions, location and other characters

Long Shot

• A shot that shows a person from head to toe, gives us greater understanding of the location. Often used early in a scene or when a character first enters the scene.

• Key Connotative Meaning – location and actions

Point of View

• A Shot of what the character is seeing. Normally we see a shot of the character ‘looking’ then we cut to the POV.

• Connotative meaning - this is connected to the character who’s viewpoint we are seeing. We are put in their shoes so feel how they feel.

Wide Shot

• A wide shot is used to show action which is happening over a large space or to show several people at once. Used in the middle of a scene.

• Connotative Meaning – we start to make connections between the characters and their relationships, actions and location.

Two Shot

• This is a shot that has two people in the frame. They could be next to each other or one in the foreground and one in the background

• Connotative meaning – all about relationships

Over the Shoulder

• A shot in which the subject of the shot is filmed from behind a person’s head and shoulders. Often used in conversation and ‘we’ are almost part of the scene.

• Connotative meaning – again all about relationships and are often based on facial expression and body language.

Lesson Outcomes

• To learn the key camera shots associated with TV Drama

• To understand how camera shots can be ‘read’ denotatively and connotatively

• Questions/Comments on a post it note

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Summary Task

• Watch the following extract (Greys’ Anatomy)• Choose 10 shots (variety!) and complete the

following chart

• The clip is in the ‘Student Resources’ folder.

Shot type and Picture Denotative Reading Connotative Reading