Have you ever noticed a shot in a movie where we can see a character from the knees up? This type of shot somehow allows us to fully focus on the body language of the characters in the scene, but there is also a lot of background in the shot. It's kind of a sweet spot. It's not that far away from the subject, and we can still see some small details, but we can also admire the location, architecture, and setting, making it a blend of intimacy and context.
This is a medium-long shot (MLS), a very versatile tool in filmmaking and photography. To learn about it, you need to start with its definition.
The Definition of a Medium-Long Shot (MLS)
Definition
A medium-long shot is a framing technique in which a humanoid character is framed from the knees to the top of the head. In comparison to the standard medium shot, where the character is framed from the waist up, the camera is placed slightly farther away here.
The primary focus of this type of framing is to show full upper-body gestures while the legs remain partially visible. Artists use it to highlight the posture and movement of the subject while retaining a comprehensive spatial relationship with the environment.
Visual Characteristics of the Medium-Long Shot Camera Angle
Knees-Up Framing:
The medium-long shot camera angle reveals the subject’s lower and upper body, letting the audience focus on their outfit (shoes excluded). It also gives scene directors the option to match and contrast background colors with the subject, allowing for greater artistic freedom. This is how famous directors make iconic scenes.
Balanced Subject-Environment Relationship:
The subject is still close, and the audience can capture emotional cues from their acting. However, the environment is a separate character in the medium-long shot. Subjects can interact with it, move through it, and the camera will follow. This is particularly useful for scenes where characters are moving through a location.
Versatility Across Genres:
This type of shot can be used in diametrically different genres. For example, MLS is used in westerns, dramas, comedies, and thrillers. All these stories need scenes with physical movement.
Medium Shot vs. Medium-Long Shot vs. Long Shot
All these three types of shots are designed to frame characters so that we can see their facial expressions and still admire the background, but the main difference lies in how far the camera is placed from the subject. Here is a very simple table overview.
Shot Type
Framing Range
Use Case
Medium-Long Shot
Knees up
Introductions, movement, subtle gestures
Medium Shot
Waist up
Dialogue scenes
Long Shot
Full body
Establishing action or location
5 Medium-Long Shot Examples in Cinema
There are thousands of medium-long shot scenes from popular movies. Let's see the best medium-long shot examples in films.
The Matrix (1999) – Neo Chooses the Red Pill
Here, we have two perfect medium-long shot examples showing two characters, Neo and Morpheus, their postures, hands, and reactions. The interesting thing is that the characters are sitting down in this shot-reverse shot sequence, yet we still have knee-up framing. It is a pivotal moment in the story when Neo chooses whether to take the blue or red pill.
Skyfall (2012) – Bond Approaches the Casino
Here, we have an example of a very beautiful location shot at night. We can see the fire and lanterns lighting up the scene, the stunning background art, and, on top of that, we can get a full look at Bond's outfit and his reaction to the location. It also makes Bond look very powerful and ready for action, and the shot is excellent at building suspense.
Inglourious Basterds (2009) – Landa's Interrogation in the Farmhouse
Tarantino uses a lengthy medium-long shot of two characters sitting and having a conversation. It looks like the farmer has the upper hand, keeping a poker face, slowly sitting down, and giving milk to Landa, but the uniform, posture, and silent location actually convey the real power dynamic. It is an excellent example of how an MLS can convey meaning.
Pride & Prejudice (2005) – Darcy Approaching Elizabeth
Here, we have a medium-long shot meant to show the body language, tension, and emotional restraint between two characters who are very much in love. This story is one of the most beloved love stories of all time, and this novel adaptation conveys those emotions perfectly. This scene is a perfect panning MLS example that shows the location and outfits.
The Dark Knight (2008) – Joker Blowing Up the Hospital
This is an iconic scene from one of the best Batman movies of all time, The Dark Knight. Here, the main villain, the Joker, is surprised because the hospital didn't explode as much as he had hoped, so he's trying to fix the detonator, until the explosion finally continues. We see the weird outfit and Heath Ledger's iconic, Oscar-winning performance.
When and Where to Use Medium-Long Shots
Now that we have witnessed the impact of medium-long shots, let's consider the top genres where this type of frame is most welcome, other creative techniques that work well with it, and a couple of tips that come from experienced video makers.
Genre-Specific Applications of Medium-Long Shots
Dramas
Facial expressions play a huge role in conveying emotions. However, certain emotions, like anger, fear, envy, or even lust, are better expressed if we can see the character’s body language and how their entire being is reacting to the situation.
Action/Thrillers
Scenes where a character is approaching a dangerous location or when they are preparing for a fight are perfect for shots that show (almost) the entire character, their readiness, and how they are interacting with the environment in the action sequence.
Romance
When we are in love, our entire body is in love, and our behaviour changes. If you want to capture the anatomy of a person in love, then a medium-long shot is an excellent option. With their feet glued to the ground, you can focus on everything from the knees up.
Combine Medium-Long Shots with Other Creative Techniques
Pair Medium-Long Shots with Dolly-In Movement
Suppose you have the option to put a camera on a track or dolly. In that case, you can record a person walking through a location while keeping the framing completely intact, showing the character as part of a larger location.
Enhance Over-the-Shoulder for Dialogue with Medium-Long Shots
When two people are talking in a scene, usually, we see a standard over-the-shoulder medium shot, but if there’s more going on in the scene than the conversation, you need to show more of the location.
Transition to an MLS Shot with a Direct Cut
If your goal is to show a character in their full outfit standing and admiring or studying a location, you can film them from the back with the location in front of them and transition to that shot with a simple cut.
A Couple of Artistic Considerations for Medium-Long Shots
Balance Between Expression and Movement
The body is in full focus, so you can show off subtle body language mannerisms. This is perfect for scenes where hand gestures or physical reactions drive the emotions you are trying to convey in the frame.
Use of Negative Space
The background might not play a role in terms of the character interacting with it, but in that case, you should consider how walls, objects, or light sources fill the frame and try to match the emotional undertones of the entire scene to improve it.
How to Create the Perfect Medium-Long Shot from a Full-Body Shot
Let's imagine a simple scenario. You were recording a scene, and you wanted to use a full shot, but then, in post-production, you realized that the scene actually calls for a medium-long shot. In that case, you can use one of the most powerful video editing tools, Filmora, to solve the issue.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Perfect Medium-Long Shot
Download and install Filmora on your computer. Open it, create a new project, and then import the full-body shot you want to edit.
Step 1
Drag the clip to the timeline.
Step 2
Right-click on the clip in the timeline and select the Crop and Zoom feature.
Step 3
Adjust the size of the frame and make sure that the character is visible from the knee to the top of the head. After you are done, click on Apply.
And that's the entire process. Take a look at this comparison GIF. On the left, you can see the original frame, and on the right, you have the new medium-long shot created in Filmora.
Fixing Common Issues with Medium-Long Shots
Headroom Imbalance
After starting the frame from the knees up, you realize that there is too much space above the subject's head, which can ruin the balance of the shot.
Solution
Use the rule of thirds to fix this issue. Start with the subject's eyes and place them around the top third line of the frame. Then bring the camera closer or further away from the subject until the knees are at the bottom of the frame.
The Subject is Too Small in Frame
Even after you have framed everything correctly, the subject seems too small in the final shot.
Solution
This is not a problem with scene composition. It's a camera lens problem, and you can fix it by simply trying a lens with a longer focal length. You can also try to tighten the frame a little bit, remove scene clutter, and emphasize their presence.
Secure Download
