An accurate shot description is the first essential of continuity. Always describe the shot from the camera’s viewpoint (which is also your viewpoint and that of the audience). For example, ‘Fred enters frame camera left and exits bottom of frame right’.
The following gives a list of the most commonly used shot descriptions and abbreviations:
| W/A | Wide-angle shot. Such a shot takes place in a wide area of the set in front of the camera. It is sometimes referred to as a VLS (very long shot). |
| LS | Long shot. A shot which directs the viewer’s eye to the depth rather than the width of the shot. |
| MLS | Medium long shot. Refers to a shot comprising the head to just below the knee of the subject. |
| 3–s | Three shot. A shot containing three central characters. |
| 2–s | Two shot. A shot containing two central characters. |
| 2–s fav. X | A shot with two people – the camera favours one person more than the other. |
| o/s 2–s | Over the shoulder two shot. Two people are seen in the shot but the camera is looking at one of them over the shoulder of the other. |
| Mid 2–s | Comprising the head to just below the waist of two people. |
| Close 2–s | Comprising the head and shoulders of two people. |
| Deep 2–s | A shot containing two people – one in the foreground and one in the background. |
| MS | Mid shot. A scene at normal viewing distance. In the case of a human subject the camera frame cuts the figure just below the waist. |
| MCU | Medium close-up. The camera frame cuts the figures at chest level. |
| CU | Close-up. The camera frame cuts the subject just below the neck. |
| BCU | Big close-up. The face fills the frame. |
| X’s POV | X’s point-of-view shot. The camera is X and sees as if from his point of view. |
| H/A | High angle. The camera is above the action and looking down on it. |
| L/A | Low angle. The camera is below the action and looking up. |
Exits and Entrances
A point to remember is that when referring to entrances and exits always do so from your (also the camera and audience) viewpoint.
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