Closeup
In film a close-up (CU) is a shot that is closely zoomed in on a person or object. The most common close-ups are ones of actors faces.
Close-ups generally are short cut-aways from a more distant shot to show detail, such as a characters emotions, or some intricate activity by their hands. Close cuts to character faces are used far more often in television than in movies, they are especially common in soap operas. Television shows that do not use close-ups create an immediate feeling of emotional distance from the characters. The West Wing is notable for hardly ever using close-ups to show emotion.
Close ups draw a viewers attention. If a director wants to make sure an will not be missed a director can use a close-up. Close-ups are also a tool for distinguishing main characters. Major characters are often given a close-up when they are introduced as a way of indicating their importance. Leading characters will often have multiple close-ups. There is a long-standing stereotype of insecure actors counting the number of close-ups they received. A famous line in Sunset Boulevard is "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."
The disadvantage of close-ups is that they do not show the relative positions of people and things, over use of close-ups can quickly confuse an audience.
The close-up is usually said to have been invented by D.W. Griffith, but earlier filmmakers had used it, just not to the same effect or with the same understanding of its abilities. Sergio Leone pioneered a technique of using extreme close ups that show no more than the actors eyes.
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