There are different ways of framing what the camera sees, and that’s why we have lots of different shot types. A shot type is defined by how close the camera is to the subject that’s being filmed. Sometimes these shots are also referred to as camera size. The subject of a camera shot is usually a character, but settings and objects can be as well.

Long shot: This type of shot represents a wide view of a scene, typically including the entire subject and its surroundings. A long shot is often used to establish context.

Medium shot: This shot frames characters or objects from the waist up. It’s usually used for a closer framing, emphasizing actions or character dialogue.

Close-up: This shot captures small details, such as a character’s facial expression, hand movement, or an object they are holding. It’s used to highlight details and emotions.

Two-shot, three-shot, etc.: These shots allow you to include multiple planes at once, showing multiple actions or characters on the screen. For example, a two-shot might include two characters in different parts of the frame.

Over-the-shoulder shot: This type of shot focuses on one character while another (or others) is visible over their shoulder. It helps convey dialogue or interactions between characters.

Point of view (POV) shot: This shot shows a scene from the perspective of a specific character. The audience sees the world as that character does.

Extreme close-up: This shot zooms in on the tiniest details, such as a character’s face, their eyes, or an object in their hand.

Establishing shot: This type of shot is used to show the location and movement of characters or objects in the scene. It often includes panning or editing to convey spatial information.

A video codec is a software or hardware device used to compress and decompress video files. Video codecs play a crucial role in the process of encoding and decoding video data to reduce their size for more efficient storage and transmission while maintaining acceptable image quality.

Key aspects of video codecs include:

• Video Compression: Video codecs employ various algorithms to reduce the size of video files by removing redundant or imperceptible details. This helps save storage space and reduce network bandwidth requirements when transmitting video.
• Video Quality: A critical task of video codecs is to preserve high video quality even during compression. Good video codecs can maintain a high level of detail and image clarity.
• Format and Resolution Support: Video codecs can work with various video formats and resolutions, making them versatile for different types of multimedia content.
• Encoding and Decoding: Video codecs can both encode (compress) video files during recording and decode (uncompress) them for playback.

Examples of popular video codecs include H.264, H.265 (HEVC), VP9, and AV1. The choice of a video codec depends on specific needs, such as desired quality, file size, and compatibility with devices and platforms on which the video will be played.

• H.264 (Advanced Video Coding): One of the most widely used video codecs. It provides good quality at relatively low bitrates and is often used for streaming video and video conferencing.
• H.265 (HEVC – High Efficiency Video Coding): The next-generation video codec, offering better compression at higher quality. Ideal for 4K and 8K videos.
• VP9: An open video codec developed by Google. It provides good quality at low bitrates and is widely used in web video and video platforms.
• AV1 (AOMedia Video 1): Another open video codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media. It promises high quality with efficient compression and may become a standard for future video platforms.

Video Format Features:

• .MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14): A popular format for storing video and audio. It supports various video codecs and audio formats and is widely used for online videos and multimedia devices.
• .MKV (Matroska): An open format with high flexibility, supporting multiple video, audio, and subtitle tracks. Suitable for storing HD and UHD videos.
• .AVI (Audio Video Interleave): An older but still used format that supports various video and audio codecs. It is often used for archiving video files.
• .MOV (QuickTime): A format developed by Apple, popular on macOS, and supporting high-quality video and audio.

Video Editors:

• Adobe Premiere Pro: A powerful video editor for professional video editing.
• Final Cut Pro: An advanced video editor designed for macOS users.
• DaVinci Resolve: A free video editor with extensive color correction and editing capabilities.
• Apple Final Cut Pro and Express
• Avid Media Composer: A high-end video editing solution widely used in the film and television industry. It provides a wide range of editing and post-production tools.
• Sony Vegas (now known as VEGAS Pro): A popular video editor for Windows, later rebranded as VEGAS Pro.

Audio Editors:

• Audacity: Free and open-source audio editor with a wide range of tools for recording and processing audio.
• Adobe Audition: A professional audio editor for sound editing and mixing.
• FL Studio: A digital audio workstation (DAW) for music creation and sound recording.

Animation Software:

• Adobe Animate: Software for creating animations, including animated websites and characters.
• Blender: Free and open-source software for 3D animation and modeling.
• Toon Boom Harmony: Professional 2D animation software used in the animation industry.