How to Describe Shots
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 ... |
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