English camera angles

Close up

A person’s head is seen from the neck up or object fills most of the screen (ex: laundry basket in A beautiful Mind)

Medium Shot

Shows human figures from waist up (ex: when john first meet Alicia scene)

Long shot

Full body shown or a object with its surroundings (ex: lady in the bar)

Cut away or insert

When the camera cuts to an object or another area. (ex: when it cuts to john being in the hospital before realizing that everything is fake)

Straight on angle or eye level

Camera is at the same level as the subject

POV or subjective angle

acts as though we are looking through the persons eyes

Shaky Camera

Camera is shaking

Handheld camera

a steady camera

High angle

camera is higher than the person (ex: john nash holding the baby at the stairs)

Low angle

Camera is low than the person (ex: alicia looking at john at the stairs)

Establishing shot

used to show the audience the location and surroundings

Arc shot or 360

camera moves around person in a circle

Cross-cutting

When the camera cuts to an object or another area going back and force (ex: alicia and baby in shower scene)

Flashbacks

movie shows moment that happened before

Montage

Short clips of scenes brought together (ex: johns strategy in the bar scene)