The Filmmaker's Eye

medium long shot

Medium long shots include a character or characters from approximately the knees up in the frame; they are wider than medium shots, but tighter than long shots. These shots are also sometimes known as “American shots,” originally named by European critics because they were first introduced in early American western films (according to film history lore, this shot size was created to include characters and their gun holsters). Medium long shots are commonly used for group shots, two shots, and emblematic shots, because they provide enough room in the frame to include several characters or visual elements simultaneously. While the long shot emphasizes the body language of a character and the surrounding area, the size of the medium ...