Medium shot

File:A Farewell to Arms (1932 film) 4.jpg

An example of a medium group shot featuring Gary Cooper and Adolphe Menjou from the 1932 drama film A Farewell to Arms

In a movie a medium shot,<ref name="Brown_Page_20">Template:Cite book</ref> mid shot (MS),<ref name=media>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> or waist shot<ref name=asu>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is a camera angle shot from a medium distance.<ref name=medium />

Use

Medium shots are favored in sequences where dialogues or a small group of people are acting, as they give the viewer a partial view of the background, such as when the shot is 'cutting the person in half'<ref name=medium>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and also show the subjects' facial expressions in the context of their body language.<ref name=peachpit>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Medium shots are also used when the subject in the shot is delivering information, such as news presenters.<ref name=media /> It is also used in interviews.<ref name=asu /> It is the most common shot in movies,<ref name=vic>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=cinema /> and it usually follows the first establishing shots of a new scene or location.<ref name=cinema>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A normal lens that sees what the human eye sees<ref name=lenses>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is usually used for medium shots.<ref name=cinema />

Definition

File:Robin Roberts interviewing Barack Obama.jpg

A medium two-shot of Robin Roberts interviewing Barack Obama

The medium shot shows equality between subjects and background. The dividing line between what constitutes a long shot and medium shot is not definite, nor is the line between medium shot and close-up.<ref name=cinema /> In some standard texts and professional references, a full-length view of a human subject is called a medium shot;<ref name=vic /> in this terminology, a shot of the person from the knees up or the waist up is a close-up shot. In other texts, these partial views are called medium shots.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In principle, the medium shot is what can be seen with the human eye in a single quick glance and convey all the action taking place in that field of view.<ref name=vic /><ref name=media />

Types

Medium shots are divided into singles (a waist-high shot of one actor), group shots, over-the shoulders or two-shots (featuring two people).<ref name=vic /> A medium wide shot, or American shot, shows a bit more of the background but is still close enough for facial expressions to be seen, although these facial expressions would be better seen in a waist-high shot.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Camera angle
• Camera operator
• Close-up
• Dutch angle
• Establishing shot
• High-angle shot
• Long shot
• Low-angle shot
• Mise-en-scène
• Over the shoulder shot
• Two shot
• Video production
• Videographer

Further reading

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