Take One
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Coverage

A silent beat

Someone takes in news, makes a decision, or decides to lie.

Start your film to use it

One long take on the face carries the scene. Everything else is there so the editor can shorten it without a jump: a tighter size, a cutaway to what the character thinks about, and a wide from behind that gives the audience room to guess.

Watch out. Shoot far longer than you think. Editors cut into a beat, never out of it.

MCU Single · Eye level · Static

The long take. Hold for a full minute.

CU Single · Eye level · Static

Closer. Same performance.

ECU Single · Eye level · Static

Eyes only. The decision.

ECU Insert · High angle · Static

Cutaway: the object of thought.

WS Single · Eye level · Static

Wide from behind. The room, the back of the head.