In filmmaking, different shots and shot progression are used in order to convey meaning. Each shot gives the audience a new bit of information that they process; so different shots obviously convey a different meaning. To demonstrate this, I would like to use the example of one of the first scenes of Sherlock Holmes where the audience is first introduced to Watson.
This series of shots uses the conventional long shot to medium shot to close up. It begins with giving a long shot of the street and then zooming in slightly to focus on the window through which we see Watson for the first time. At this point it is still a long shot. This shot does not necessarily show lots of detail about Watson, but that is not its purpose. Rather, it orientates the audience to who is speaking and his location. It is simply showing us “this is Watson, he is a character.”
Next, the frame changes to a Medium shot inside the house. We see Watson from across the room talking with his to-be father-in law. This shot gives us more information. Before, we just knew that Watson was the man talking in the window, but now the audience can start to see more information about him- his environment, posture, attitude, ect. Overall, it gets the audience to start thinking about him.
Next, when Watson moves into the hallway talking to the secretary, there is a close up shot. This gives detail about him. We know more about his facial features and expressions, his clothes, and his character. Since the close up is while he is dealing with an issue, we can see the subtle nuances of how he deals with aversion (calm, cool, collected, but aware of the need for action.)
Through this series of shots, the audience is able to comprehend Watson as a character more thoroughly. There are many other examples of the same shot progression throughout the film, but they all show the same conclusion: different shots can convey a different message.
(pictures of these shots coming soon once I learn how to take a screen shot on a mac)
use the grab program
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