A shot is a basic building block of film and video. In this lesson, you will learn how the term is used in production and editing, how field size shapes what viewers see, and how camera placement and other purposes create different kinds of shots.
In production, a shot lasts from the moment the camera starts recording until it stops. In editing, a shot is the continuous footage between two edits or cuts. These meanings describe different stages of filmmaking: one concerns recording, while the other concerns how recorded footage is organized in the finished film.
All flashcards
What are the two meanings of shot in filmmaking?
In production, it is the period from when the camera starts recording until it stops. In editing, it is the continuous footage between two cuts.
What factors determine field size?
Field size depends on camera-subject distance and lens focal length. A shorter focal length generally gives a wider angle of view.
How do a long shot and an extreme close-up differ?
A long shot shows the subject in its environment, while an extreme close-up isolates a very small area, such as the face from chin to forehead.
What is a reverse shot, and what continuity issue can arise?
A reverse shot shows the opposite direction from the preceding view, often showing the other side of an exchange. If handled carelessly, it can violate the 180-degree rule and create a continuity error.
What distinguishes a dolly shot from a freeze frame?
A dolly shot moves the camera toward or away from a subject while recording. A freeze frame holds one still image on screen for an extended time, typically through editing.
Quiz questions
In production, what period does a shot cover?Answer: The uninterrupted interval from recording start to recording stop.
Which field size frames a subject approximately to the knees?Answer: A medium-long shot.
A shot presents what a character appears to see. What is it called?Answer: A point-of-view shot.
Which shot gives a broad overview of a scene's location or spatial layout?Answer: An establishing shot.
What is a master shot?Answer: A shot that records a scene in one take without edits within that take.
Based on the Wikipedia article Shot (filmmaking), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.