E+mc² The video formula for perfect camera coverage.
Back in the day, I often came back to the edit suite after a long shoot on location or in the studio to find that I didn't have the coverage I needed for a compelling edit. This simple formula has virtually eliminated that problem. The formula is a take off on Einstein's E=mc². I have changed it a bit - E+mc² Here are the shots you must get to insure a smoother edit session and an interesting production: Establishing Shot (ES or WS)
Establishing or Wide Shoot - tells viewers WHERE they are.
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The establishing or wide shot tells your audience WHERE they are. Once you have "established" the place and feel, you can go anywhere. Omit this shot and your audience has to catch up to you and guess where they are. An establishing shot should be as wide as needed to help your viewers "establish" where they are. In the shot to the right you immediately know this is a Realtor getting ready to sell or show a home. Skylines, Signs, Buildings, all make great establishing shoots.
Medium Shot (MS)
Medium Shot is a comfortable distance from the talent and/or action.
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The Medium Shot is the shoot I like to use most. It is a comfortable distance from the subject and still gives a sense of place. I usually use a head to waist shot and sometimes get a bit closer. If the talent uses his or her hands alot, I widen enough to see this action.
Close Up (CU)
Close Up is for emphasis and a good angle to cut to for alternate takes.
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The Close Up serves a few purposes. I use it to add emphasis to a point or draw attention to a specific detail. When cutting, I usually alternate between the MS and the CU when cutting between takes. On some productions, I run two cameras simultaneously - a MS and a CU. By cutting between a MS and a CU you can keep the interest going.
C²ut Away (CA)
Cut Aways are a great device for covering up jump cuts.
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The Cut Away is the most important shot and the most often forgotten. Here is why I TRY to shoot a lot of cut aways. Let's say you have an interview and you only have one take. The interview has a great beginning and ending but the middle is weak and you would like to shorten it. You cut out the middle and you see that the audio is OK but the image jumps at the cut point. This is called a Jump Cut. Not really an elegant solution but it's done all the time. A better solution? Insert a Cut Away at the point of the jump cut to "cut away" to a related scene. I like to shoot a few seconds of a persons hands (before or after the interview) because hands (especially expressive ones) make for a perfect CA shot. When filming two people I often shoot cut aways of each person "listening" to the other in a CU. This is a perfect CA and gives me plenty of cutting opportunities.
By shooting all of these camera positions, you can shoot any topic or interview and insure you have everything you need for your edit. This simple to remember formula E+mc² has really saved my bacon and reminded me to get an Establishing Shot, a Medium Shot, a Close Up and a few Cut Aways. AND, I end up looking like an Einstein!
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