Close Up

Close up

Close up (CU) is usually a full-face shot composed from below the shoulder line. It’s a dramatic shot that can tell a story clearly.

CU has these characteristics:

It shows how the character looks like.
It emphasizes facial reactions.
Compared with extreme close up (XCU), audience will feel more relaxed and comfortable while watching a close up.
It may cause cut off problem.

Extreme Close Up

Extreme close up (ECU or XCU) shows only part of a subject, typically a face. For example, eye, mouth, hair, a smoking cigarette butt. The detail fills most, if not all, of the frame.

XCU has these characteristics:

It can hardly tell a story by itself
You can cut several XCU in a montage sequence to express a meaning
It has very powerful impact
It has been used more and more often in TV commercial and music video to deliver that visual impact

I believe you still remember those red sexy lips, shinning hair, and slim waist, in TV commercials. You are impressed by the visual beauty without knowing whose body that is.

Big close up

Big close up (BCU) covers the entire face.

BCU has similar characters as XCU with less impact. And you can also recognize the face and its expressions from a big close up.

Medium close up

Something between close up and medium shot.

Video Close Up & Extreme Close Up - Video Editing Glossary & Terms

Close Up