Camera Shots And Moves

There are a quite a few common camera shots in TV Quiz Shows here I will show you what these are and explain how they are best achieved, by framing and the rule of thirds.

Framing:
Framing is simple to explain when using the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is where a shot is divided into nine equal sections, to make it easier to gain the best possible shots using power points these are where the lines meet and generally the biggest areas of focus when viewing a shot.
When framing up for someone in a TV quiz show or simply an MCU or mid shot the eyes should always be on the top third with about three fingers head room above the subject this is the best way of framing and will always give the best results.

Camera Shots:

Medium Close Up (MCU): A medium close up is probably the most common shot used in a TV Quiz Show this shot is taken from the chest to the top of the head and frames the subject up well for a Quiz Show particularly when someone is talking.

Mid Shot (MS): A mid shot probably wouldn’t be used very often in a Quiz show unless a subject was standing because a mid shot is from the hips to the top of the head and obviously in a Quiz show the talent is normally seated.

Wide Shot (WS): Wide shots can often be used as establishing shots for example setting the scene or showing the set in a Quiz show, the can also be used with a tilt or pan when an ad break is ready to be taken or a sting is about to be inserted. Wide shots show a whole person and the surrounding so this is perfect for an introduction/ establishing shot.

Close Up (CU): Close ups are simply zooms on certain objects or talent, in terms of a subject a close up is from the chin to the top of the head so a real close in on what is happening, in a Quiz show this would be used if something was happening on the table or maybe a zoom on a buzzer or other object may be used.

Two/ Three Shot: This is simply what the name states a two or three shot is a shot with two or three people in this would be used in a Quiz show when teams are being introduced and so on or maybe in a quick fire round when any member of a team could answer a question.

Over Shoulder Shot (OSS): Over Shoulder shots are used to add variety and experimentation an OSS is a shot where we appear to be peering over someone’s shoulder on another subject, this can be useful when shots are getting too samey to add some flare to the show.

Camera Moves:

Crab: Crabbing is where the camera on the tripod wheels to the left or the right.

Ped: To ped is the motion of moving the pedestal up or down.

Pan: Panning would be where a camera is stationed in one position but turns to the let or right to provide a swooping motion.

Tilt: A tilt is the opposite to a pan tilting is where a stationed camera swoops up or down to give more variety to changing shot.

Dolly: Dolly is the opposite of a crabbing motion rather than moving left or right the camera will move forwards or backwards a useful term for framing up shots in the studio.