Filmmakers have been evolving a visual language of film for over a hundred years. Mastery of this visual language probably takes as much time and effort as it takes to learn a spoken language like French, or Chinese. Just as a spoken language can be learned, visual language can be learned. Some people learn it easier than others. These fortunate people understand and “speak” the visual language of film easily and fluently.
This chapter is not for them. This chapter is for the rest of us.
Here are a few elementary rules of composition that you can use to improve your shots. With this introduction and much hard work, you too may one day create compelling images, consistently and fluently.
For every scene you shoot, try to get four basic shots, Establishing shot, Long Shot, Medium Shot and Close Up.
If you use these four basic shots on every scene, you will get 80% of all the coverage you need. Coverage is the word for getting all the shots required to edit the footage into a workable scene. The word is often used as a noun, as in “Did you get coverage?”
Establishing shot (ES)
An establishing shot shows where the scene is taking place. Establishing shots are often used to open and close a scene.
