Story-Telling Techniques for Video Production: Using Medium Shots
By Internet Video Gal in Storytelling, Video Production Tips
Generally, shots are classified as wide, medium, or close ups. Each has its own function. Here is a discussion of medium shots, the most common.
Medium-shots are the most commonly used because they’re so versatile. Generalized action can almost always easily be conveyed in a medium-shot. Use close-ups for punctuating your message with specifics. Use wide shots to show your location. For most everything else, a medium shot is appropriate. A MS can include several people at once.
At the same time, don’t make the mistake of stringing together nothing but medium-shots or your show will be visually monotonous and therefore boring. Break up your medium shots with CU and wides.
What makes a MS?
As with everything in video, the definition of precisely what constitutes a wide-shot or a medium-wide-shot is not an exact science. Whether a shot is referred to as a wide, medium or close-up will often depend on the perspective of the person doing the labeling. But generally, a medium shot is one where the entire scene can’t be seen, but about 2/3 of it can be.
If the shot is of a person, a medium shot would be from the waist up or looser. Chest up or tighter would be considered a close-up. Being able to see a person in their surroundings from head to toe would be a wide shot.
If I had to give a percentage for the divisions between wide, medium and close-up shots in the edited mix of a “standard” video, (if there is such a thing) I’d say:
- Wide- 10%
- Medium- 60%
- Close- 30%
Remember, that’s a rough guestimation of what’s typical, please don’t consider that a mandate. (There are no mandates in video, that’s one reason why I like it! You get to make up your own rules!)
Abbreviate
Medium-shot is abbreviated MS.
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