Shot Psychology is an introductory body of knowledge that filmmakers can use to enhance the expressive power of their work.
The book reviews over 300 filmmaking techniques and concepts with their associated effects and organizes them in an easy-to-access reference guide.
One of the main features in the book is the Master List, which cross-references each technique to its associated effect. In this way, a filmmaker can easily and quickly see how different techniques might work together to intensify the same emotion or feeling. As the book explains, when techniques are combined with other techniques that have the same general effect, the effect can be amplified. The main purpose of the Master List is to facilitate this type of creative process. It is designed so a filmmaker can thoughtfully evaluate all the techniques associated with any given effect and choose the best one or the best combination of techniques to achieve the greatest possible effect. (Please note: The Master List provides a page number for each individual technique but that is only for reference if needed and is not the primary purpose of the list itself.)
For example, if you want to create the effect of anxiety, you would look it up in the Master List and find that there are 20 techniques suggested for your possible use in creating or emphasizing anxiety.You can evaluate the 20 techniques and determine which combination of techniques might help give you the most powerful effect. The Master List makes this type of evaluation practical and easy.
In addition, if you have an idea for a shot but aren't really sure what effect you want or what effects might be at your disposal, you can look down the list of Effects, of which there are over 500, and see if there is something that sparks your interest. The list of Effects is a reference for navigating the Master List, so you can easily find which group of techniques might assist you in creating any given effect.
The lists, especially the Master List, offer a practical way to study combinations of techniques and help you quickly explore all the options available to you.
Shot Psychology is meant to function as an abbreviated encyclopedia related to camera work and as such, it can be referred to as needed, especially when you are trying to figure out which combination of techniques will help you create the emotional effect you are looking for. Over two years of careful study and cataloging went into the creation of both the book and the Master List.