Published: August 24, 2024 | Last Updated: September 27, 2024
A single-shot is a camera framing that focuses on one character or subject within the frame. It isolates the individual, drawing our attention exclusively to that character. It’s not to be confused with a ‘single-take,’ which is a scene or sequence that is filmed in one continuous take without any cuts or edits.
Single Shot Composition and Camera Movements
Source: Film-Grab.com
A single shot can vary in composition, ranging from a close-up, which focuses on the subject’s face and expressions, to a full-body shot, which captures the character’s entire figure in relation to their surroundings.
Often, a single shot is combined with a dolly or crane camera movement to emphasize the characters’ emotions (push in) or reveal more of the setting and context (pull out).
Combined with a tilt, it can reveal a character – for example, an imposing supervillain entering the room.
The use of a single shot is also significant in the context of blocking and framing. By positioning one character alone in the frame, you can control the visual hierarchy of the scene, guiding the audience’s focus solely on that person.
Single shots are often combined with other shot types, such as over-the-shoulder shots or reverse angles, to create a visual rhythm between the isolated subject and their interactions.
Reasons for Using a Single Shot
A single shot often highlights the subject’s emotional state or emphasizes its importance in the scene. By isolating the character, you can create an intimate connection between the audience and the subject, allowing for deeper insight into their thoughts or emotions.
A single shot also contributes to the visual language of the film, as it can symbolize isolation, individuality, or focus. By narrowing the frame to one character, you can communicate narrative themes, such as loneliness or the importance of a particular moment, reinforcing the storytelling through visual means.
This scene from JOKER (2019) is an excellent example. Notice also how Director Todd Phillips creates a frame within the frame by using the door frame to make us focus on Arthur while effectively conveying a feeling of prison-like emotional confinement and loneliness.
Summing Up
A single shot is a framing technique where only one character or subject is featured in the shot. This isolates the individual, focusing our attention exclusively on them, and is often used to highlight emotional depth, internal conflict, or key narrative moments.
Through variations like close-ups, medium shots, wide shots, as well as camera angles and movements, a single shot can emphasize subtle facial expressions, place the character in a significant environment, or visually express themes like isolation or introspection.
Up Next: What is a Two-Shot in Film?
