“Shot” refers to a single continuous recorded take from the camera in film and video production. It is the basic building block of a movie or video and is used to capture a specific moment, action, or emotion.
The shot is an essential element in storytelling, allowing filmmakers to control what the audience sees and how they see it. Different shots, such as close-ups, wide shots, and medium shots, serve different purposes and help convey different moods and emotions. A single shot can range from a few seconds to several minutes in length and can be static, where the camera remains in one place, or dynamic, where the camera moves or tracks the action.
In pre-production, filmmakers plan and storyboard the shots they want to capture and determine the camera angles and movement that will best convey the story. During production, the camera operator records each shot, and in post-production, the editor pieces together the shots to create the final film or video.
