Take One
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Coverage

Three people in a room

A meeting, a family table, a third person who changes the balance between two.

Start your film to use it

Treat it as a series of two-person exchanges inside one group. The master keeps everyone placed. Then cover each pair that actually talks to each other with two-shots and singles. Do not shoot every possible pair; the script tells you which ones matter.

Watch out. The line moves with the conversation. Draw it between the two who are talking in that moment, and stay on one side of it.

The 180-degree line. All cameras stay on one side.
WS Group shot · Eye level · Static

Master. All three placed in the room.

MS Two-shot · Eye level · Static

Two-shot of the pair that carries the scene.

MCU Over the shoulder · Eye level · Static

Over the third person onto the pair.

MCU Single · Eye level · Static

Dirty single on A.

MCU Single · Eye level · Static

Dirty single on B.

CU Single · Eye level · Static

Clean single on the one who listens and says little.

ECU Insert · High angle · Static

Inserts: the table, the papers, the cups.