Relationships Between Shots

For this blog post, I decided to pick out a scene from The Breakfast Club. This video extends to 3 minutes, but I cut the shot-breakdown short by just discussing the first minute or so of the scene. Check out the video below and follow along!



:00 - :15     Medium Full Shot

• sets up scene - lunch is taking place
• medium full shot displays interaction/reaction between all three characters
• Bender throws a can of soda off screen

:15 - :16     Close Up of Allison's Hand

• continuity from the can of soda thrown in the last shot
• depicts action/characters outside of the main focus of the scene

:16 - :17     Medium Shot of Allison

• quick transition shows how she isn't the focus of the scene, or at least not yet
• however, she is present while everything else is taking place

:17 - :20     Medium Shot of Claire (from front/side)

• focus is pulled back to the initial table
• medium shot allows for the audience to focus on what Claire is doing

:20 - :21     Medium Close Up of Bender

• medium close up hints that Bender is taking interest in what Claire is doing as well

:21 - :24     Medium Shot of Claire (from behind)

• medium shot moves from the front to the back
• shows what Claire is doing from Bender's perspective
• both Bender and the audience are onlookers of unfolding events

:24 - :26     Medium Close Up of Bender

• Bender steps into the scene and intervenes with unfolding events

:26 - :28     Medium Shot of Claire (from front/side)

• medium shot moves back to the front
• pulls the audience out of Bender's perpective
• audience becomes outside onlookers

:28 - :30     Medium Close up of Bender

• closer medium shot stresses on Bender's expressions

:30 - :35     Medium Shot of Claire

• medium shot still shows the action taking place, without pulling away focus from the dialogue or Claire

:35 - :36     Medium Shot/ Two Shot of Andrew and Brian

• shows audience what is taking place outside of the current conversation
• focus is mainly on Andrew sitting at the table, but introduces Brian's presence in the background
• depicts them as observers to the scene unfolding
• anticipates response from Bender

:37 - :41     Medium Close Up of Bender

• delivers response
• pulls focus back onto the main scene

:41 - :43     Medium shot of Claire

• continues conversation while maintaining action

:43 - :46     Medium Close Up of Bender

• emphasis on facial expressions/reactions

:47 - 48      Medium Shot of Claire

• nonverbal response to Bender

:48 - 1:10     Medium Full Shot

• pulls focus away from conversation
• continues from initial shot setting the scene
• shows both the action and the reactions taking place around Andrew

Although the conversation was mainly taking place between two characters, the three characters in the background were still acknowledged. Paired with the pauses, there is a similar theme being played out, even after the minute mark on the video. Everyone in the scene acted as both a curious observer and a mischief maker. The shots played their part by shifting that focus from one character to another throughout this scene.