Camera shots and editing in film

In short: Film language arises from shot sizes (wide shot, medium wide, close-up, extreme close-up), camera movements and editing. They steer what we see and feel.

In more detail: A shot is the uninterrupted recording between two cuts. Editing joins shots into a narrative.

In detail

• Wide shot: Shows the place and context.
• Medium and close: People with gestures and expressions.
• Close-up and detail shot: Emphasises emotion or important details.
• Camera movement: Pan, tracking, zoom, handheld (feels immediate), Steadicam.
• Perspective: A low angle makes figures seem powerful, a high angle small.
• Editing: Hard cut, dissolve, match cut; pace through cutting rate (filmgeschichte-kurz-erklaert).
• Frame rate: Cinema mostly 24 frames per second, sport and games higher (bildkomposition-goldener-schnitt).