Close-up Shots in Film - Ultimate Guide to Lighting, Framing and Editing Close-ups

The Ultimate Guide to Close-up Shots in Film - Techniques for how to use close-up shots to tell a story, including lighting, framing, and editing the close up.
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Close Up Shots in Film
02:00 - Close Up Definition and Purpose
02:04 - Aspect Ratio
04:25 - Camera Lenses
06:50 - Angles and Staging
09:42 - How Much Face to Show?
11:48 - Editing
15:48 - Wrap Up/Takeaways
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THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CLOSE-UP SHOTS IN FILM
Roger Ebert once said that “Movies are like a machine that generates empathy.” One of the most common and direct ways this occurs is through the close up. So much about how we communicate and connect with people is through the face. It makes sense then that the close up shot is one of the most ubiquitous camera shots. In this video, we’re going to examine the myriad of ways how to shoot a close-up, including aspect ratio, lighting, depth of field, and how to edit close-ups in a scene.
One of the decisions made during pre-production is what aspect ratio will be used. More square-shaped images are great for close-up shots because they can isolate a single face. On the other hand, more rectangle-shaped images can give more context around the character or even allow close-ups of two or three characters at a time.
Camera lenses also bring distinct qualities when shooting close-up shots in film. Lenses with a focal length of 50mm and above will tend to flatten the face, while wide-angle lenses (like 28mm and below) will stretch and distort the face. There is also lighting to consider - soft backlighting can give the character a glow, while harsh underlighting creates dramatic shadows.
When we picture a close up shot, it’s probably shot at eye level and level with the ground. But camera angles and staging can easily change the meaning of a close up. Dutch angles are a shorthand for unstable situations, while high and low angle close ups are subtle ways to inform power dynamics.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to how to shoot a close up. And the more you understand the various nuances like lighting, framing, lensing, and editing, you’ll be better equipped to construct the perfect close up shot.
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Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Close Up Shots in Film 02:00 - Close Up Definition and Purpose 02:04 - Aspect Ratio 04:25 - Camera Lenses 06:50 - Angles and Staging 09:42 - How Much Face to Show? 11:48 - Editing 15:48 - Wrap Up/Takeaways

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Tomorrow going to shoot my Close Ups, it was really good timing as usually your perfect advise for me - self-studying actor, producer and scenarist, hope my Ukrainian young and old actors will accomplish everything by your wonderful advising School

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Leone's filmography is a masterclass in close-up

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That close-up moment in Sound of Metal is beautiful

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I understand that close ups are used to show emotion but one of my pet peeves are when movies or tv shows use close ups so much when it’s just a simple shot-reverse shot sequence without much tension. Tightening of framing to build tension I understand but if it’s basic dialogue, do I really need to see up the actor’s nose? 😂

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TV shows use much more close ups because a TV sceen is smaller than a theater screen. We see less of the actors' expressions with a wide shot on a TV screen. For the same reason in TV show there are often fewer landscapes than in a film that is made to be projected on a cinema screen. A TV screen transmits less the feeling of grandeur of a landscape.

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This is just on time! I’m going to create my 1st short film in college and the main scene is a dramatic close up shot. 💕

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From where you're learning?

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Don't be afraid to get close. - StudioBinder The Use of Close-up in Cinema is Awesome! Brilliant. In All the way possible. Setup, Rising Action, Climax and Resolution. The Editing process to make a Scene, A Great Moment in storytelling. Thank you StudioBinder. It's always Inspiring to learn.

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Awesome!!! The beginning scene of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly starts with an interesting close-up!

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I wonder how you could catch this same intense passion with close ups of objects, where don't have the presence of the actors faces helping imagination.

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That would come down to how well you shoot insert shots, which we cover in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIOZdGWPedaXnck

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One thing about close-ups that amazes me is how I never noticed until late in life that faces are lit differently in the close-up versus the wide shot of the same scene. This is just art negotiating with practicalities, but it's fun when it gets out of control, like in the old Star Trek series where the bridge is brightly and evenly lit but suddenly we get a close-up of Shatner with his face in shadow except just a shaft of light across his eyes. As an educator I could use that kind of spontaneous gravitas.

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Good observation!

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Off subject but why, on the bridge of the Enterprise, did none of the chairs have seat belts?

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"Closer please. Closer!" A fitting shot choice to end this theme.

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Its so cool that I know and love a lot of the films you used to make this. I'm just a little surprised you didn't use any of Sergio Leones close ups.

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Well done Paul Gregoy. For me, I'm in love with close ups. I even like to film my videos on my channel with close ups using my 50mm lense.

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I think one of the best examples of how effective a close up can be is shown at the climax of I, Tonya. Margot Robbie was simply amazing...

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Great example!

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Close ups should be used sparingly IMO, since I believe using it plenty of times dilutes the impact especially in scenes with heightened emotions.

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Sergio Leone would beg to differ

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Thank you 💕

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Thank you for making a great explainer !! Would love to see more of these where you cover all aspects ( lenses lighting aspect ratio ...)

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you mean a separate video for each category we covered in the video?

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@@StudioBinder no no in a single video like in this one you covered about lenses, lighting ... In that manner.

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my favourites: Call me by your Name, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Gone Girl all movies that end on close ups, i just realized

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Powerful way to go out

[@billtisch3698]

So happy to read the several negative comments about misuse of close ups on this thread. I'm not alone after all. For example, it seems that their use in documentaries (such as an interview of a war veteran) is supposed to automatically be taken by viewers as a brilliant artistic revelation of the subject's character or soul or something when, in fact, it is only a revelation of nose hairs, rosacea, zits, and melanoma. Nobody looks good from eight inches away. And in sports... I swear cameras that cover sports are designed to automatically begin zooming in whenever the director cuts to them. Between pitches, a camera will zoom in to a batter's or pitcher's face until all you can see is the veins in their eyeball. They never quit zooming. As if all we want to see is a close up of one player's face. No! I want to see the big picture most of the time. I abhor close ups that cause me to avert my eyes - which is becoming a very common occurrence. And when the news covers large scale events - such as a wildfire from a helicopter - don't zoom in on one burning tree branch! Show me the wide shot, the extent of the damage! Cameramen must be taught that tight shot does not always equal good shot.

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Elizabeth Moss close ups in the Handmaids Tale are quite something

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Hello, best video! like always! pls make video on film axis and passing through them, thx :)

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Cinema Lighting Part 2 please!

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On the way!

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Say what you want but the *anime protagonist goes crazy* close up is still one of the most terrifying/ satisfying

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Thank you:)

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