August 10th

Language of the SCREEN

Researching terms

Explanation of the following:


ECU: Extreme Close Up
MS: Mid Shot
WS: Wide Shot


LS: Long Shot
MLS: Medium Long Shot
VLS:Very Long Shot
MCU: Medium Close Up
CU: Close Up
BCU: Big Close Up
ECU: Extreme Close Up


Who - Close up angle shows the WHO. The subject matter, person/ thing.
What - Mid shot shows the what by what the person or thing in an action shot.
Where - Long shots show the where.
When - Wide shot and Close Up show the where.
Why - Big Close up is used to show the why
How - A single medium Close up or series of Close ups can show the how.

ECU - Throughout the search there where many options that ECU could stand for. Throughout my search i mostly found definitions for automobiles. The website WWW.all-acronyms.com came up with a whole bunch of possibility's opened up.

Throughout my search my only thought that these terms could be would be to do with computers. Until the conversation on film was brought up, i wasn't so confused before but now i was, so without further a due i had to ask Jules what it is exactly we are looking for. After a little help back onto the path i started searching the web on this weeks subject that was clearly written on the board.Due to my laziness and non existent concentration i didn't see the big clue 'Language of the Screen' so this is what i found.

ECU - Actually is a term used in film meaning Extreme Close Up.
Example of this -







MS - Is the term for a Mid Shot.

Example of this -








WS - Is the term for Wide Shot

Example of this -