YouTube: An Insider's Guide to Climbing the Charts

Directing the Camera

I saved the most fun part for last.

The other main part of what directors do, other than directing the actors, is directing the camera operator. The camera operator might be you in your YouTube videos, or it might be a friend. Regardless, you should understand the shots that make up most filmmaking.

Shots

The basic shots in Hollywood filmmaking are the establishing shot, the medium close-up, the close-up, and the over-the-shoulder shot. These shots are shown in Figures Figure 2-13 through Figure 2-17.

An establishing shot is a wide shot that shows the setting where the scene takes place. A lot of beginning filmmakers skip this, and that can be a mistake. If you start with a close-up of two people talking, the viewer has no frame of reference for where the scene is taking place. This is not always needed; sometimes it's all about the people. But in any story-driven piece, consider whether the location is important. If it is, you might want to consider starting the scene with an establishing shot.

Figure 2-13. Michael and Debra Jean in an establishing shot. This photo and the next four photos taken by London May.

A medium close-up shot shows a bit of the background of the setting but comes in closer on the people talking. This is often where you "meet" the characters for the first time.

Figure 2-14. Michael and Debra Jean in a medium close-up shot.

A close-up shot shows ...