Sunday, December 29, 2013

Know Your Camera Shots

As an actor, it is very helpful to understand some of the lingo used by the director and the crew, so you know what's going on and how it pertains to you on screen. One example is the camera shots used when filming a scene. A scene will be filmed many times from different angles and different framing.

When you know your framing, you know how much room you have to move, and how subtle your performance needs to be. When the camera is far away, you can get by with more expression than you can when it is focused just on your face.

Listed below are the most common terms that I've encountered on the many films I've worked on. Don't feel overwhelmed by all of this, and don't feel like you have to memorize every one before you go on set. This is merely a tool to help you feel more comfortable and understand what is going on. If the director or the camera operator doesn't tell you what they're seeing through the camera, it's very helpful to ask, "What's my framing?" I've had to ask this MANY times! And it really helps.

Close-Up, Close Shot.  A detailed view of a person or object, usually without much context provided.

Crane Shot. A shot taken from a special device called a crane, which resembles a huge mechanical arm. The crane carries the camera and cameraman, and can move in virtually any direction.

Dolly Shot, Tracking Shot, Trucking Shot. A shot taken from a moving vehicle. Originally tracks were laid on the set to permit a smoother movement of the camera. Today even a smooth hand-held traveling shot is considered a variation of the dolly shot.

Establishing Shot. Usually an extreme long or long shot offered at the beginning of a scene or sequence providing the viewer with the context of the subsequent closer shots.''

Eye-Level Shot. The placement of the camera approximately 5 to 6 feet from the ground corresponding to the height of an observer on the scene.

Full Shot. A type of long shot which includes the human body in full, with the head near the top of the frame and the feet near the bottom.

Master Shot. A single uninterrupted shot, usually taken from a long or full shot range, which contains an entire scene. Later, the closer shots are photographed, and an edited sequence, composed of a variety of different shots, is subsequently constructed on the editor's bench.

Medium Close-Up (MCU). A shot cropped between the shoulders and the belt line. Also called a bust shot. 

Medium Shot.  A relatively close shot, revealing a moderate amount of detail. A medium shot of a figure generally includes the body from the knees or waist up. This shot is also called a Cowboy Shot, and got its name during the filming of many westerns, when this was a common framing technique. When the term Cowboy Shot is used, the shot will always include the hip because that's where the cowboy kept his gun.

Montage. Transitional sequences of rapidly edited images, used to suggest the lapse of time or the passing of events. Often employs dissolves and multiple exposures. In Europe "montage" means editing.

Over-The-Shoulder (OTS) Shot. A medium shot, useful in dialogue scenes, in which one actor is photographed head-on from over the shoulder of another actor. (This one of the most common shots in filmmaking)

Point-of-View Shot. Any shot which is taken from the vantage point of a character in the film. Also known as the first person camera.

Rack Focusing, Selective Focusing. The blurring of focal planes in sequence, forcing the viewer's eye to "travel" with those areas of an image that remain in sharp focus.

Two-Shot. A medium shot, featuring two actors. The subjects do not have to be next to each other, and there are many common two-shots which have one subject in the foreground and the other subject in the background.

Wide Close-Up. This shot features the subject taking up the whole frame. It should include the actor's chin and top of the head.

It is common for a director to start with an establishing shot that shows the entire scene and all the actors, then start moving in closer - two shot, medium shot, over-the-shoulder, and close-up.  Each director has their own methods for filming a scene, though.  Which is why it's helpful to ask questions if you're not sure what's going on.

I copied the camera shot definitions from an article written by Ryan Felton.  To see more types of camera shots and example pictures, visit this link to read the rest of his article:

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas!

As you enjoy the holidays with your family and friends, don't forget the real reason we celebrate - we have received the most important gift that has ever been given.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  And in the words of tiny Tim, "God bless us, every one!"  :-)


Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Trivia Tuesday

One of my "dream roles" would be Millie in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."  I love that movie!  I actually got to meet one of the actresses at a film festival several years ago.  It was her first movie role.  She's the second girl from the left in the following picture...



This is one of my favorite scenes.  :-)


Okay, your turn!  What would your dream role be in a movie or theater production?

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Headshot Tips

"As an actor, the first thing you need is a great headshot. Headshots are the single most important thing you need in order to land a job. (You can even land a job without knowing how to act. Sad, but true.) So, before you put on your best get-up, get a haircut, and pose like you did on prom night, take a look at some thoughts and advice on what to do and what to avoid when creating your personal headshot."

Follow this link to read all the important information that Abbie Cobb shares about the do's and don'ts for a winning headshot: http://www.christianfilmdatabase.com/christian-movie-news/bit-headshots-abbie-cobb-excerpt/.  This is the best article I've seen on this subject so far.  I haven't been able to scrape together enough money to hire a professional photographer to take my headshots yet, but I know it's really important and I hope to be able to do that next year.

A nice snapshot isn't going to sell it.  And I've also been told that you should find a photographer that SPECIFICALLY has experience doing acting headshots, because they know what a casting director will be looking for and they'll help direct you towards that.  There needs to be something about your picture - a depth in your eyes - that intrigues the casting director and makes them want to see more from you.  If they look at a hundred blank smiling faces, the ones that stand out will be the ones that offer something MORE.

But please, if you're interested in acting, take a few minutes and read the article.  You'll find it to be extremely helpful and informative.

You can also do a google search and look at a bunch of actors' headshots online, and compare them for yourself.  Which ones stand out to you?  Why?  Do you see something interesting in their eyes?  Look at their poses, which are your favorites?  What character "types" are you seeing?  Which ones would best match up with your type?

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Trivia Tuesday

I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan.  And while I was in Colorado filming "In His Steps" this past May, I joined Zack Lawrence and other Doctor Who fans to create a fan film!  We now have over 3,000 views on youtube, and Zack was contacted and asked if the film could be screened at some film festival!  (I forget the details, but it was pretty cool.)

If you are at all familiar with the original series, you know that the Doctor had an adopted granddaughter named Susan.  She is from the race of Time Lords, which is why she can regenerate...


Any other Doctor Who fans out there?  Who's your favorite Doctor?  Who's your favorite companion? I have loved Eccleston, Tennant, and Smith, but I would have to say that Tennant is my favorite. I've enjoyed all the companions as well, but Clara has become my favorite. She is so delightful. 

I wanted to dress like Clara for the 50th Anniversary episode when it aired in the theater, but these were the only clothes in my closet that would resemble a Doctor Who character, so I went as the 11th Doctor.  :-) And yes, I have a sonic screwdriver...


Saturday, December 7, 2013

New Film from the Kendrick Brothers!

If you liked Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous, then you'll be excited to hear that the Kendrick Brothers are planning their next film!  Here's what they said on their website:

"After months of prayer, we believe the Lord has given us clear direction concerning the plot for our next movie. Even as Fireproof focused on marriage and Courageous highlighted fatherhood, this next movie will unpack another pivotal issue. We have been inspired with the storyline and are excited to cast and shoot this movie. Lots of emotion. Lots of humor. Lots of truth.

Our current plan is to complete the script this year, shoot and edit in 2014, and then promote and release the movie in 2015. As we continue to develop the story, we are asking for prayer. The script has to be solid and on target. The Lord has clearly carried us in the past, and we recognize our desperate need for His guidance and grace now. Please pray for His inspiration, creativity, and discernment as we develop the characters and craft the scenes. Pray for His blessing, favor, protection, and power to be on this project from beginning to end. And ask Him to strategically use this movie to transform countless lives, restore broken families, and greatly impact the nations for His glory. Thank you in advance!"

If you want to be considered for a role in their next film, they have an application you can fill out on their website:  http://kendrickbrothers.com/connect/application-actors

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Trivia Tuesday

I participated in my first play when I was 16 years old.  It was a non-Disney musical version of Beauty and the Beast.  I just wanted a small role to test myself and see if this was something I could do, but I ended up with TWO roles that kept me on stage for a large portion of the play.  I was one of Beauty's (Belle's) sisters, and also one of two princesses that had been trapped at the castle when the spell was cast.  Talk about fast costumes changes - from rags to riches!  I had a wonderful time and made life-long friends during the week-long drama camp!  My future as an actress was sealed.  I knew this was something I wanted to keep doing as much as possible.

(That's me on the far right.)

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Résumé Tips

Here is a very informative video from Erica Arvold, a casting director in Virginia, about some do's and don't's for your acting résumé.  She answered a lot of my own personal questions!  To be honest, there's not a specific format that everyone has to follow (google "acting résumés" and you'll end up with a lot of different results!), but there are certain guidelines that should be observed, and Erica touches on a lot of those.

Keep in mind that different casting directors have different preferences.  Erica says she doesn't need to see production company names, but I'm going to leave that information on my résumé until I find out that the majority of casting directors don't care or don't want to see it.


I was also told by a long-standing professional in the acting business that casting directors don't care about your credits as "extras."  They really only care about your speaking credits.  So once you have enough speaking credits to take up some decent space on your résumé, it's probably to your advantage to delete the extras credits.  Sure, I was an extra in Spielberg's Lincoln film, but I didn't have lines or interact with Spielberg, so who cares?  One exception might be if you are hoping to get cast as an extra by a casting director who previously cast you as an extra in something else -- then leave that other credit on your résumé.  Honestly, though, whether you take those credits off or leave them on - it's up to you.  I'm just sharing a word of advice that one professional gave me recently.

Was this helpful to you?  Do you have any information or advice about acting résumés that you'd like to share?  Or specific questions that didn't get answered?  Leave me a comment!  I'd love to hear from you!  I want this blog to be an interactive experience.  :-)