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All Types of Shot in Film & Storyboard

October 9, 2025 No comments yet
Collage of different shot types in film showing a man at various camera distances with overlay text “All Types of Shot in Film & Storyboard” – ideal for learning filmmaking shot techniques and storyboarding.

In filmmaking, shots are the foundation of visual storytelling. Every frame you see on screen is carefully chosen to set the mood, highlight emotions, and move the story forward. From wide landscapes to extreme close-ups, the different shots in filmmaking determine how the audience experiences the narrative.

Similarly, in storyboarding, these same shot types are drawn to pre-visualize scenes before actual production. With Murphy, an online AI storyboard maker, creators can instantly generate professional storyboards using all types of film shots.

Let’s explore the type of shots in film and how they translate into storyboards.

Illustration of a man with labeled camera framing types in filmmaking, including extreme close-up, close-up, medium close-up, medium shot, cowboy shot, medium full shot, and full shot—used to explain different shots in filmmaking and storyboarding.

Type of Shots in Film

Filmmakers categorize movie shot types by framing, angle, and movement.

1. Shots by Camera Framing

Extreme Wide Shot (EWS)

  • The Extreme Wide Shot captures vast landscapes, environments, or settings, often making characters appear tiny or even absent. It’s commonly used as an establishing shot to set context.
  • Example: A city skyline before zooming into a character’s apartment.

Wide Shot (WS) / Long Shot (LS)

  • This shot frames the entire subject from head to toe along with their surroundings. It balances character and background equally.
  • Example: A soldier standing on a battlefield.

Medium Shot (MS)

  • The Medium Shot frames characters from the waist up, showing both body language and facial expressions. It’s a common shot for dialogue.
  • Example: Two friends talking at a café table.

Medium Close-Up (MCU)

  • Framed from the chest up, this shot allows audiences to focus more on facial expressions while still including body gestures.
  • Example: A teacher explaining in a classroom.

Close-Up (CU)

  • The Close-Up focuses tightly on a character’s face or object, emphasizing emotion or detail.
  • Example: Tears rolling down an actor’s cheek.

Extreme Close-Up (ECU)

  • Zooming into a single detail like eyes, lips, or a ticking clock, the Extreme Close-Up magnifies tension or symbolism.
  • Example: A finger pulling a trigger.

Two-Shot

  • Frames two characters in the same shot to highlight relationships, chemistry, or conflict.
  • Example: Romantic couples talking face-to-face.

Over-the-Shoulder Shot (OTS)

  • Taken from behind one character, showing the perspective of another. Commonly used in conversations.
  • Example: A detective interrogating a suspect.

Point of View (POV) Shot

  • The POV shot shows exactly what a character sees. It helps audiences connect directly with the character’s experience.
  • Example: A driver’s view of the road.

Cutaway / Cut-In

  • Cutaway: Shows a detail outside the main action.
  • Cut-In: Zooms in on a specific part of the subject.
  • Example: Zooming from a character’s face to the clock ticking on the wall.

2. Shots by Camera Angles

High Angle Shot

  • The camera looks down on the subject, making them appear small, weak, or vulnerable.
  • Example: A villain towering over a frightened child.

Low Angle Shot

  • The camera looks up at the subject, making them appear strong, dominant, or intimidating.
  • Example: A superhero standing tall against the sky.

Eye-Level Shot

  • Neutral perspective—camera at the subject’s eye level. Creates realism and relatability.
  • Example: Normal conversations between friends.

Bird’s Eye View (Top Shot)

  • Taken directly from above, this angle is useful for showing layouts, geography, or choreography.
  • Example: A busy intersection from the sky.

Worm’s Eye View

  • Extreme low angle shot that emphasizes power or scale.
  • Example: A skyscraper towering above.

Dutch Angle (Tilt)

  • The camera is tilted diagonally, often used to create tension, disorientation, or suspense.
  • Example: A thriller scene in a haunted house.

3. Shots by Camera Movement

Pan

Horizontal camera movement (left to right or right to left).

  • Example: Panning across a desert landscape.

Tilt

Vertical camera movement (up and down).

  • Example: Tilting up from a character’s feet to face.

Tracking / Dolly Shot

The camera physically moves with the subject, often on rails.

  • Example: Following a runner on the track.

Crane Shot

A sweeping aerial-like movement, adding scale and drama.

  • Example: Rising above a wedding crowd.

Zoom In/Out

Lens zooms closer or further from the subject without moving the camera.

  • Example: Zooming into a detective’s magnifying glass.

Handheld Shot

Shaky, natural-looking movement, often used in action or documentary filmmaking.

  • Example: A war-zone documentary.

Steadicam Shot

Smooth stabilized motion, often following characters seamlessly.

  • Example: Tracking a character through a long hallway.
Illustrated storyboard examples showing different types of shots in film, including extreme wide shot, wide shot, medium shot, medium close-up, close-up, extreme close-up, two-shot, over-the-shoulder shot, point of view shot, and cutaway—used to teach filmmaking and shot composition in storyboarding.

Types of Shots in Storyboarding

Storyboarding uses the same movie shot types, but with added symbols and notes to guide production.

1. Establishing Shot

Opens the scene by showing location and context.

2. Wide Shot

Places characters within their environment for spatial awareness.

3. Medium Shot

Shows body language and interaction.

4. Close-Up

Highlights emotion or an important object.

5. Extreme Close-Up

Emphasizes a dramatic detail for storytelling impact.

6. Over-the-Shoulder

Used to visualize dialogue between characters.

7. POV Shot

Illustrates what the character sees for immersive storytelling.

Storyboard Camera Angles

  • High Angle – Makes the subject look small or weak.
  • Low Angle – Shows dominance or authority.
  • Eye-Level – Neutral, everyday look.
  • Dutch Angle – Creates suspense.
  • Bird’s Eye – Shows scene from above for planning action.

Storyboard Motion & Transitions

  • Arrows: Indicate character or camera movement.
  • Pan/Tilt Symbols: Show camera direction.
  • Zoom Indicators: Expanding/contracting frames.
  • Cut, Fade, Dissolve: Indicate transitions between scenes.
Collage showing different movie shot types including wide shot, close-up, extreme close-up, and over-the-shoulder to illustrate the importance of shots in filmmaking for guiding focus, building emotion, and enhancing visual storytelling.

Importance of Shots in Filmmaking

In filmmaking, shots are the foundation of storytelling. Every frame has the power to influence emotions, guide the audience’s attention, and set the rhythm of the story. Without the right choice of movie shot types, even a strong script can lose impact. Here’s why shots matter so much:

Create Emotions

A close-up shot draws the audience into a character’s feelings, making us feel connected and empathetic. On the other hand, a wide shot creates distance, highlighting isolation or grandeur. These different shots in filmmaking control how we emotionally react to a scene.

Guide Focus

In shot filmmaking, directors use specific camera shots to show the audience exactly what matters. A cutaway can highlight an important detail, while a point-of-view shot (POV) immerses us in what the character sees.

Build Pacing

Editing different types of shots in film also sets the rhythm. Quick cuts between close-ups and action shots build intensity, while slow pans and steady medium shots create calmness.

Tell Stories Visually

Even without dialogue, the right filmmaking shots tell powerful stories. A bird’s eye view can show a prison escape, while an extreme close-up can capture a tear that says more than words ever could.

Simply put, shots types in film are the language of cinema.

Diagram illustrating the difference between a shot, scene, and sequence in filmmaking, with labeled examples including a single shot in a forest, multiple shots forming a scene, and a full sequence combining various scenes—essential for understanding filmmaking shots and visual storytelling.

Difference Between Shot, Scene, and Sequence

When learning about movie shot types, it’s also important to understand the difference between a shot, scene, and sequence. Many beginners confuse these terms in filmmaking.

  • Shot: A single, uninterrupted take from the camera. Example: one continuous close-up shot of a character’s reaction.
  • Scene: A collection of shots that happen in one location. Example: multiple medium shots and over-the-shoulder shots in a coffee shop conversation.
  • Sequence: A larger storytelling unit made up of multiple scenes. Example: a full car chase sequence that includes wide shots, POV shots, and tracking shots across different locations.

Understanding this difference is key for both filmmaking shots and storyboarding because it helps plan the visual structure of the film.

Visual comparison of commonly used movie shot types including medium shot, close-up, over-the-shoulder shot, and wide shot—highlighting essential filmmaking shots for dialogue, emotion, perspective, and setting.

Commonly Used Shots in Movies

While there are many types of shot in film, some movie shot types are used more frequently because of their versatility:

Medium Shot (MS): The most common shot in filmmaking, framing characters from the waist up. It’s perfect for conversations and showing body language.

Close-Up (CU): Focuses on a face or detail to capture raw emotion. This is one of the most powerful filmmaking shots for building empathy.

Over-the-Shoulder Shot (OTS): Used in dialogue scenes, this shot frames one character from behind another’s shoulder. It gives the audience perspective and emotional connection.

Wide Shot (WS): Frames the entire subject and environment, commonly used for action scenes, establishing context, or showing group dynamics.

These shots types in film are considered essential tools for directors, editors, and storyboard artists alike.

Illustration of a filmmaker operating a camera on a tripod with text “Mistakes to Avoid in Shot Filmmaking,” highlighting common errors in choosing movie shot types such as overusing close-ups, ignoring camera movement, and poor shot planning.

Mistakes to Avoid in Shot Filmmaking

Even though different shots in filmmaking open endless creative possibilities, filmmakers often make common mistakes when choosing movie shot types.

Overusing Close-Ups: Too many close-ups can overwhelm the audience and reduce impact. Balance them with wide shots and medium shots.

Sticking to One Shot Type: Using only one type of shot in film makes it monotonous. Mixing angles and camera movements keeps storytelling dynamic.

Ignoring Camera Movement: Shots aren’t just static frames. Pans, tilts, and tracking shots add energy. Without them, your film may feel flat.

Skipping Shot Planning in Storyboarding: A lack of planning leads to confusion during production. That’s why professional directors use storyboards for movies (or tools like Murphy AI) to pre-visualize filmmaking shots.

Examples of Iconic Shots in Cinema

To understand the impact of different shots in filmmaking, let’s look at some legendary examples:

Dolly Zoom in Jaws – A disorienting zoom-in and pull-back that creates shock and fear. One of the most famous movie shot types in history.

Over-the-Shoulder Conversations in The Godfather – Used extensively to show power dynamics and subtle intimidation.

Bird’s Eye Escape in The Shawshank Redemption – A breathtaking top-down shot of Andy Dufresne standing in the rain after his escape, symbolizing freedom.

These examples prove that shot filmmaking is not just technical—it’s emotional storytelling at its best.

Screenshot of Murphy AI storyboard creator showing post-apocalyptic scenes in graphic novel style, with UI options for selecting shot types like close-up, mid shot, and full shot—demonstrating how AI simplifies filmmaking shots and visual storytelling.

How AI is Changing Storyboarding and Filmmaking

Traditionally, storyboards were hand-drawn by artists, which took time and money. Today, AI tools like Murphy – Digital AI Storyboard creator revolutionize shot filmmaking by generating professional storyboard frames instantly.

With Murphy, filmmakers can:

  • Generate Automatic Framing & Camera Angles – Choose from close-ups, wide shots, or POV shots.
  • Create Instant Scene Breakdowns – AI converts your script into storyboard shots.
  • Customize Shot Variations – Experiment with different shots in filmmaking before production.

This makes shot planning faster, cheaper, and more accurate—helping both indie filmmakers and big studios bring their visions to life.

But Murphy doesn’t stop at storyboarding. We also provide powerful tools for the entire filmmaking workflow, including:

By combining AI-powered storyboarding with practical filmmaking tools, Murphy makes shot planning faster, cheaper, and more accurate—helping both indie filmmakers and big studios bring their creative vision to life.

Illustration of a thoughtful woman beside the text “Shot Composition Tips for Beginners,” representing key filmmaking concepts like rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing techniques used in various types of shots in film.

Shot Composition Tips for Beginners

Even after learning types of shot in film, how you compose the shot matters just as much. Here are key tips every beginner filmmaker should know:

  • Rule of Thirds: Place your subject off-center for balance. A widely used principle in movie shot types.
  • Leading Lines: Use roads, railways, or architecture to guide the viewer’s eyes toward the subject.
  • Depth of Field: Blur the background while keeping the subject sharp. This is common in close-up filmmaking shots.
  • Framing within Frames: Use doors, windows, or natural shapes to frame your character. This adds layers and meaning to the shot.

Mastering composition turns even basic shot filmmaking into visually stunning storytelling.

FAQs: Real Questions, Honest Answers

What are the 7 basic camera shots in film?

The basics are: Extreme Wide, Wide, Medium, Medium Close-Up, Close-Up, Extreme Close-Up, and Over-the-Shoulder.

The medium shot is the most used, as it balances environment and emotion.

There are over 20+ filmmaking shots when you include framing, angles, and movements.

Storyboard shots are pre-visualized sketches, while film shots are the actual recorded visuals.

They save time, reduce mistakes, and let directors experiment visually before production.

The most common types of shot in film include wide shots, medium shots, close-ups, extreme close-ups, two-shots, over-the-shoulder shots, POV shots, and cutaways. Each movie shot type is used to create emotion, guide focus, and tell a story visually.

In short filmmaking, a shot is a single continuous take. A scene is a collection of shots in one location, and a sequence combines multiple scenes to tell a larger story moment. Understanding this helps plan different shots in filmmaking efficiently.

There are over 20 common filmmaking shots, including variations by camera framing, angles, and movement. Popular ones include medium shots, close-ups, wide shots, tracking shots, and POV shots.

An establishing shot is a wide shot that sets the scene and shows the environment. It’s often used at the start of a scene to provide context. Storyboards usually include establishing shots to plan the sequence of different shots in filmmaking.

  • Wide Shot (WS): Shows the subject with its environment.
  • Medium Shot (MS): Frames the subject from the waist up.
  • Close-Up (CU): Focuses on the subject’s face or a specific detail.

Using a combination of these types of shot in film makes storytelling visually engaging.

An OTS shot is framed from behind a character’s shoulder, commonly used in dialogue scenes. It helps show perspective and connection between characters, making it a popular movie shot type.

A POV shot shows what a character sees, immersing the audience in their perspective. It’s widely used in shot filmmaking to create tension and emotional connection.

  • High Angle: Makes subjects look small or weak.
  • Low Angle: Makes subjects appear powerful.
  • Eye-Level: Neutral and natural.
  • Bird’s Eye / Top Shot: Dramatic overhead perspective.
  • Dutch Angle / Tilt: Adds tension or disorientation.

Using these angles with different shots in filmmaking enhances storytelling.

Storyboards represent planned shots, including wide, medium, close-up, OTS, POV, and tracking shots. They also show camera movement, framing, and transitions, helping filmmakers visualize scenes before production. Tools like Murphy AI automate this process efficiently.

AI tools like Murphy – best storyboard software for filmmakers can convert scripts into storyboard frames automatically. They suggest camera angles, framing, and shot variations, saving time and improving accuracy in shot filmmaking.

A reaction shot captures a character’s response to an event or dialogue. It’s crucial for conveying emotion and narrative impact in different shots in filmmaking.

A cutaway shot temporarily diverts attention from the main action to show something else, like a detail or reaction. It’s commonly used in movie shot types to maintain continuity.

Camera movements like pan, tilt, tracking, dolly, and zoom guide the viewer’s focus, reveal new information, and create cinematic impact. Properly combining movements with filmmaking shots improves visual storytelling.

The 180-degree rule keeps the camera on one side of an imaginary axis between characters. It ensures consistent screen direction, especially in dialogue or action sequences, and is key in shot filmmaking.

The 30-degree rule ensures that when changing angles between consecutive shots, the camera moves at least 30 degrees. This prevents jump cuts and maintains smooth continuity for movie shot types.

Aspect ratios, such as 16:9 or 2.35:1, define frame width and height. They influence composition, focus, and how audiences perceive different shots in filmmaking.

Lighting creates mood, highlights subjects, and adds depth. Techniques like backlighting, silhouettes, and soft lighting are used across types of shot in film to enhance cinematic storytelling.

Color conveys emotion, emphasizes themes, and guides viewer focus. Using color intentionally enhances the impact of filmmaking shots and helps create a cohesive visual style.

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