master shot
Full scene coverage
A master shot is a continuous take that captures an entire scene from start to finish, typically in a wide angle that shows all the action and participants.
Film editors use it as the foundational footage, cutting away to close-ups and other angles but returning to the master shot to maintain spatial coherence: We'll shoot the master first, then get coverage.
Monitoring location over time
- panningLateral camera traverse
- dollyWheeled moving platform
- steadicamFilm stabilization apparatus
- continuousWithout pause or gap
long take · unbroken · choreography · blocking · camera movement · fluid · arc · push in
Broad focal perspective
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
blocking · depth of field · establishing · orientation · geography · uninterrupted · context · overview
Stabilizing support structure
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- lightingArt of illuminating spaces
- marksVisible signs or grades
- rehearsalPre-performance practice session
stand-in · storyboard · prep · rigging · equipment
View with exterior removed
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- insertPlace within another thing
- intercuttingAlternating between parallel scenes
- assemblyConstructing from components
cutting back · re-establishing · transition · sequence · timeline · pacing · juxtaposition · options
tracking
Monitoring location over time
continuous · long take · unbroken · choreography · blocking · camera movement · fluid · arc · push in · pull out
wide angle
Broad focal perspective
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
composition · blocking · depth of field · establishing · orientation · geography · uninterrupted · context · overview · staging
tripod
Stabilizing support structure
rehearsal · stand-in · storyboard · prep · rigging · equipment
cutaway
View with exterior removed
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- insertPlace within another thing
- intercuttingAlternating between parallel scenes
assembly · cutting back · re-establishing · transition · sequence · timeline · pacing · juxtaposition · options · flexibility
- Filmmakingcamera, film director, camcorder, directing, script
- cinematographycamera, lens, lighting, exposure, framing
- camera shotsclose-up, close up, zoom in, zoom out, dolly zoom
- wide shots
- camera vocabularyaperture, depth of field, white balance, close-up, aspect ratio
- film editingediting, film editing, cut, editor, splice
master shotclose-up
Near-range photograph
closeup · tight shot · insert · macro shot · choker
master shotinsert
Place within another thing
cutaway · reaction shot · cut-in · B-roll
master, shot, masters, mastered, mastering, masterful, masterly, masterpiece, mastership