The Crane & The Cathedral
Monday, May 07, 2007
American Shots
This weekend I went to a video workshop run by ACSUR, a Spanish NGO focusing on social justice with strong connections in Latin America. They are running a series of "video for North-South relations" courses, over 90 hours of hands-on production combined with theory about globalization and the role of media in social change/development work. Most of the folks in the class are from local NGO's or city workers, and there are several counties throughout Catalunya covering the costs of the courses so they're free to participants. All very cool.
Saturday was a kind of videocamera 101 day. But there's always something new to learn. While I am familiar with close-ups, medium shots, wide shots, on Saturday I was introduced to the "American Shot". This includes some headroom, head and shoulders, and cuts of the person just about at the knees. Why the "American shot" you ask? As did I. I was told that it refers to making sure that the shot includes the pistols hanging from the pockets, old Western style. Basically, the "American shot" means make sure the guns are in the frame. Everyone wanted to know what we call it in the US, but I pleaded ignorance. IT's kind of like a "cocina americana" which are all the rage here. It means a combined kitchen/dining room thing. What do we call those? Have others heard of this american shot? After all, I do seem to have skipped film school.
Incidentally, I did not take this photo. It is Roan Atkinson, British actor and American shot model.
This weekend I went to a video workshop run by ACSUR, a Spanish NGO focusing on social justice with strong connections in Latin America. They are running a series of "video for North-South relations" courses, over 90 hours of hands-on production combined with theory about globalization and the role of media in social change/development work. Most of the folks in the class are from local NGO's or city workers, and there are several counties throughout Catalunya covering the costs of the courses so they're free to participants. All very cool.
Saturday was a kind of videocamera 101 day. But there's always something new to learn. While I am familiar with close-ups, medium shots, wide shots, on Saturday I was introduced to the "American Shot". This includes some headroom, head and shoulders, and cuts of the person just about at the knees. Why the "American shot" you ask? As did I. I was told that it refers to making sure that the shot includes the pistols hanging from the pockets, old Western style. Basically, the "American shot" means make sure the guns are in the frame. Everyone wanted to know what we call it in the US, but I pleaded ignorance. IT's kind of like a "cocina americana" which are all the rage here. It means a combined kitchen/dining room thing. What do we call those? Have others heard of this american shot? After all, I do seem to have skipped film school.
Incidentally, I did not take this photo. It is Roan Atkinson, British actor and American shot model.
