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Other Common Shot Types

Cut-In  

   Similar to a Cutaway, but shows a Close-Up shot of something visible in the main scene.

 Cutaway  

   A shot of something other than the subject and away from the main scene. It is usually followed 
by a cut back to the first shot and is useful for avoiding a jump cut when editing down a section 
of dialogue, or editing together two separate takes.

 Establishing Shot  

   Usually the first shot of a scene, this is used to establish the location and environment. 
It can also be used to establish mood and give the audience visual clues regarding the time 
(night/day,year) and the general situation. Because they need to provide a great deal of information, 
Establishing Shots are usually Extreme Long Shots or Long Shots.

 Master Shot  

   Term given to a single, uninterrupted shot of a scene. This shot can be the only shot used by a 
director to cover a scene, or edited together with additional shots. While it’s commonly a Long or 
Full Shot, a Master Shot can be a closer shot, or consist of multiple shot types if the camera is 
moving throughout the scene.

 Point of View Shot (POV)  

   Shot intended to mimic what a particular character in a scene is seeing. This puts the audience 
directly into the head of the character, letting them experience their emotional state. Common 
examples are of a character waking up, drifting into unconsciousness, or looking through a scope or 
binoculars.

 Reaction Shot  

   Shows a character’s reaction to the shot that has preceded it.

 Reverse Angle Shot  

   A shot taken from an angle roughly 180 degrees opposite of the previous shot. The term is 
commonly used during conversation, indicating a reverse Over-the-Shoulder Shot, for example.

 Two Shot  

   A shot in which two subjects appear in the frame.

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