Five Shots Every First-Time Director Should Know

The wide shot. This shows the whole place and where everyone stands. Use it at the start of a scene so viewers know where they are. Leave a little space around your subjects, so they do not feel squeezed.

The medium shot. Frame a person from about the waist up. It is the workhorse of dialogue scenes, and it shows body language along with the face. Most of your film will probably use this shot.

The close-up. Move in on a face to show a feeling, or on an object that matters, like a letter or a key. Save close-ups for important moments. If you use them everywhere, they lose their power.

The over-the-shoulder shot. Place the camera behind one person and look past their shoulder toward the other. It makes conversations feel connected. Shoot it from both sides so you can switch back and forth in the edit.

The point-of-view shot. Show what a character sees, as though the audience were looking through their eyes. Follow it with a shot of the character reacting, and the viewer instantly understands what is going on.

Mind the eye line. Keep characters looking toward the same side of the frame across shots, so they seem to be facing each other. Use the rule of thirds as a guide. Imagine the frame divided into a grid of nine boxes and place eyes near the top lines.

Practise with a silly scene. Film two friends sharing a sandwich, using all five shots. Edit it together, and you will see why each one earns its place.