Camera Placement & Shots

A master shot is a wide shot that captures the entire action in a scene. An important part of the coverage you will shoot, it serves as a reference point, establishing the position of characters in a scene. In the edit, scenes often begin and end with this master shot. 

A two-shot is a shot, typically from the waist up, that has two characters in the frame. It emphasizes the interaction between the characters and can be used to create a connection between the characters.

The over-the-shoulder shot is one of the most commonly used types of shot composition in film and television and a conventional way to shoot dialogue. 

Over-the-shoulder shots are generally done in pairs, each one focusing on a character on one side of the frame and the listener’s shoulder on the other side as if the camera was sitting on it like a parrot on a pirate.

Reaction shots are a cutaway – usually a close-up – of an actor reacting to the main scene, like a conversation or an event, though it can be pretty much anything. 

These shots provide insights into their emotional responses and help convey the impact of the conversation or scene. 

These reaction shots are often called ‘noddies’. 

A point of view shot, is an angle that shows what a character is looking at.