~ Shot Variation ~

Lets look into shot variation. 

            A technique called shot variation, is used to create a sequence of scenes or images with movement when making a film. An example of that is using a wide shot of the location or character at the start of a sequence. This type of shot is usually used at the start to set the tone and scene of the film or sequence. Making the audience get the concept and vibe of the scene seeing it in a wide shot. Or a extreme wide shot can be used at the beginning of a sequence, to set the whole scene where the film or most of the film will set in. This can also be known as a establishing shot. Also a medium shot can be used in a sequence, mostly used for a dialogue or intense scene. To make sure the audience is following or is engaged with the narrative of the film or conversation between characters. Using a close up shot, focusing on a certain character or item, gives the audience more depth on the subject, making the audience more informed about the character or item up close. Long shots can be used in films to introduce main characters to the audience, focusing on a certain character to give the audience a look into the character and who it is and what their appearance is.  

     Each shot in a sequence has a specific purpose and has an effect on the audience, like the examples I gave above. A shot variation can show an importance of a character or location to the film, feelings or emotions of a character, power between one character to another and foreshadowing something happening to a character, or event to come in the sequence.

  The purpose of using shot variation is combining each shot; long shot, close up etc into sequences. To make the film have more depth so the audience can understand the film more by each shot, showing the importance of why each shot is used. It is also there for storytelling, different shots help to tell the story and help each character, location or object have more meaning, the audience can learn more about each character by shots. It also helps the narrative evolve so the audience can understand what is happening. It helps the audience be more engaged into what is happening in each scene by different shots. Being able to enjoy the film, understanding it as each different shot shows them exactly what is going on in a scene, like the characters, a certain object or location etc.

           Here is an example of shot variation, different shots and how they look on camera. 

   

            Here is an film example of a scene using a variety of different shots. The first shot that is used in this scene is a medium shot. This shot is used at the start to focus on the two characters who are stepping into the scene when the door opens. There is also a long shot used to show the room and location that the scene is set in when the characters enter. There is a close up on Darth Vader; the antagonist to show his evil laughs and smiles, to show how bad and evil he actually is to the audience. So they can understand his  ego in the scene. It shows what each character emotions are during the scene using close ups of their faces and clear medium shots to show their body language. So the audience understand and connect with the characters in the events taking place.  This scene is from the film Star Wars, Return Of The Jedi; released in 1983. 

 

      Another example is a trailer for the film Inception, which was released in 2010. Most scenes in this trailer are close ups, showing the audience the emotions the main character goes through as the trailer goes on and gets more intense. Showing the audience what the main character is feeling through the trailer. Getting a sneak peak of what the main character is gong through and is dealing with in snippets of the action in the events happening. Also they use establishing shots to set each scene or location which is in the film. Showing you each location in the film, giving you a feel of what the film will look like and be placed in. It also gives close up  of various weapons being used in scenes in the trailer, guns, bombs etc. Showing that he film is going to be an action film by showing weapons, weapons usually linked with violence or action films. Giving the audience a clear view from the trailer, what the genre of the film is. Building up the intensity by showing the weapons first, getting the audience intrigued in what the weapons are going to be used for in the film, persuading them to go watch it.