Imagine a frame so close that every subtle twitch becomes a narrative in itself. That’s the essence of an extreme close-up shot. In the world of filmmaking, this technique isn’t just about zooming in—it’s a powerful way to create an intimate bond between the character and the audience, drawing them into the inner world of the story. For actors, it’s a test of their ability to convey emotion with the smallest gestures.
Below, we explore how filmmakers use extreme close-up shots, how to create them yourself, and how to approach the process as an actor.
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An extreme close-up is a shot that frames the subject as close as possible, often capturing only specific details of a whole. It is the most pushed-in shot possible without the subject becoming unrecognizable.
The difference between a close-up and an extreme close-up is in the details and distance. For example, framing an actor’s entire face and neck constitutes a regular close-up, while honing in on just one of their facial features (such as their eyes, mouth, or nose) is an extreme close-up.
What is the purpose of an extreme close-up shot?
Filmmakers use extreme close-ups to highlight or heighten a very specific detail, reaction, or emotion. This shot is often used in pivotal moments of the film, where the character’s internal struggle or a significant realization needs to be conveyed without dialogue. (For this reason, extreme close-ups are handy when it comes to insert shots.)
Take this scene from “Blade Runner 2049.” Officer K (Ryan Gosling) is researching DNA strands as part of the larger plot’s mystery. Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve uses extreme close-ups to highlight the important details K is focused on, juxtaposing them with the way his eyes robotically scan through the information.
Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
For another effective example, look no further than this scene from Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds.” We see Shosanna (Mélanie Laurent) putting her makeup and outfit together in a series of extreme close-up shots. The upbeat music, moody lighting that casts her in shadow, and Laurent’s intense facial expressions energize the atmosphere and set the tone for the film’s upcoming climax.
Director Edgar Wright (“Last Night in Soho”) explains how extreme close-ups can be akin to the filmmaker “being in control of the rhythm.” Wright’s frenetic montages of extreme close-ups are not only practically useful for cutting scenes but also crucial for setting a tone. “If you’ve got funny comedy timing, you can make that work with just a finger or just a hand,” Wright says.
The technique isn’t limited to just framing actors. For example, Peter Jackson uses extreme close-ups throughout the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy to emphasize how important the titular ring is to the story and characters.
Courtesy New Line Cinema
“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” Courtesy Produzioni Europee Associate
When you’re creating and implementing extreme close-ups, you have to keep a few important factors in mind:
Purpose
As is the case with all kinds of filmic devices, you shouldn’t use extreme close-ups just for the sake of using them. Ideally, each close-up serves a different narrative purpose, offering filmmakers a palette to paint the emotions within their stories. An extreme close-up of an eye can convey a character’s thoughts or create a sense of intimacy; a bitten lip can show nervousness or dread, while a subtle smile can mean someone just gained the upper hand; and a close-up of a hand can conceal the murderer’s identity until the right moment.
Composition
The challenge of the extreme close-up shot is simultaneously keeping it aesthetically pleasing, pushing in close, and not losing visual information. Experiment with how little of the subject you can capture in the frame without confusing the audience as to what they’re seeing.
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Frequency of use
When used sparingly, extreme close-ups can make a simple moment profound. If used too often, your scenes can become disorienting and claustrophobic.
Lighting
When you’re gearing up to shoot an extreme close-up, your understanding of lighting plays a pivotal role—especially when it’s time to cut the entire scene together. It’s easy to get bogged down in making sure everything reads perfectly in the close-up, but the lighting also has to match when you cut back to your medium and wide shots.
How to Use Chiaroscuro Lighting in Your Filmmaking Lenses
A macro lens can be your best friend when you’re getting up close and personal with your subject, since they’re designed to capture small details. If getting a new lens for one shot isn’t possible, you can attach a macro filter to a standard lens. A zoom lens is also an excellent option. Unlike macro lenses, which require you to position your camera close to the subject, zoom lenses can capture subjects from a distance.
Focus
Focus is a big deal no matter what equipment you use. A slightly off-focus can turn a powerful shot into a missed opportunity, so take the time to manually adjust your focus until it’s perfect. If you’re filming faces, be sure to use a shallow depth of field—it’ll sharpen those features you want to capture with the highest possible precision.
Editing
When capturing these shots, think ahead to your editing timeline. Because extreme close-ups convey a focused slice of a subject, they’re reliant on other shots to tell the whole story. As a result, the Kuleshov effect—which happens when viewers deduce greater meaning from sequential shots as compared to each shot observed separately—is crucial to consider when implementing your extreme close-up.
“Seven” Courtesy New Line Cinema
If you’re an actor, know that extreme close-up shots are where your ability to convey deep emotions through subtle expressions comes into play. These shots can be intimidating, as they capture every detail and leave no room for error. But you should look at them as opportunities to showcase your skills by using the slightest change in your expression to tell a story.
Legendary actor Michael Caine advised that less is always more when it comes to extreme close-ups. Emoting to the back of the house is advantageous when you’re onstage, but when the camera is up close and personal, pare down your performance until it almost feels like nothing. “You’ve got to just be,” he said in a 1987 interview with the BBC. The actor compared the camera to “someone who loves you deeply” despite the fact that “for the rest of your career…you ignore it,” he said. “It does not exist. You never look into it, you never know it’s there. You just hold the eyes of the other person and listen.”
7 Need-to-Know Tips for Acting On Camera If you have the benefit of working with another actor off-camera, Caine said to always choose one of their eyes to focus on and never blink. “If I keep blinking, it weakens me,” he said. “But if I’m talking to you and I don’t blink and I just keep going and I don’t blink and I keep going, you start to listen.”
Studying and understanding micro-expressions—both the concept and your own—will make you better at acting extreme close-ups. Practice in front of a mirror, taking note of the ways your face moves without you even noticing. Combining this with close script analysis and a deep understanding of your character’s nuances will allow you to react in small ways.
“Anything that you really do or think or see will look amazing. Don’t try to punch it up to make sure the audience gets it,” says acting coach Cathryn Hartt. “It will look too big. Close-ups exaggerate everything. Think more along the lines of letting us see the reflection of the other person in your eyes.”
Collaboration with the director is also key. Discuss the scene and understand the emotions you need to convey. Ask for feedback after each take and be open to adjusting your performance. Remember, the goal is to be as natural and authentic as possible.
