Hello and welcome
back to StudioBinder.
Today, we're going to go over the
most used shot in cinema history.
"What the fuck are
you talking about?"
The medium shot.
No, not this one.
A little closer.
Not that close!
Ahh, there we go.
So why isn't the medium
shot getting more love?
Before we get into the video,
you should like us and subscribe.
Are you ready?
"Ready to party!"
So, what is a medium shot?
A medium shot typically frames
the character from waist to head.
There are all kinds of
variations of the medium shot.
From a medium two
shot, like this.
To a cowboy shot
which frames your gunslinger from below
their holster to the top of their hat.
It may seem straightforward,
but there's a lot of subtlety to
how to use by skilled filmmakers.
Compare Wes Anderson's
use of the medium shot
with Michael Bay's use
of the medium shot.
Different, right?
Now, let's check out some
creative use of the medium shot
to see what we can learn
for our next projects.
"What?"
Let's start with the Coen brothers
first feature "Blood Simple."
By pushing from a
wide to a medium shot,
we get the sense of being
voyeurs in this bar.
It's almost like we're a few stools
down, listening to them chat.
Although,
that might get us killed.
What if you just want to laugh?
Medium shots are
used in comedies
because they are close enough to
show how the characters react,
but also wide enough
to set up jokes.
Case in point - the fake
ID scene in "Superbad."
Sure, we go and close
for the details,
but look how much we get from
staying in the medium shot.
We can sense these
characters body language,
their fate is in
McLovin`s hands.
"I am McLovin."
Laugher is great,
but what if it leads to love.
"Are you not entertained?"
"When Harry Met Sally" is a
movie built on medium shots.
"- Oh, hi Sally.
Sally, this is Harry Burns.
Harry, this is Sally Albright."
Every time they talk to
each other in this movie,
we sit in the medium shot,
and we watch them banter.
The movie does
this over and over.
It makes the love feel real.
We may not be able to make every
set up as dynamic as these masters.
You can certainly do it
better than "Ed Wood."
"- Get your gun ready.
- From all I've seen tonight
guns won't do any good."
StudioBinder is a great tool for planning
out all your shot list and storyboards.
This will make it so much easier to
get the most out of your time on set.
"- You think it'll work?
- Of anything else I've tried."
So remember to subscribe.
And then comment with which medium
shot is your all-time favorite.
I'm going with this
one from "Titanic."
I freaking love "Titanic."
