shot

A shot is the basic building block or unit of film narrative. A shot refers to a single, constant take made by a motion picture camera uninterrupted by editing, interruptions, or cuts, in which a length of film is exposed by turning the camera on, recording, and then turning the camera off. It can also refer to a single film frame (such as a still image). A "follow-shot" is when the camera moves to follow the action. A "pull-back" shot refers to a tracking shot or zoom that moves back from the subject to reveal the context of the scene. See also "scene" and "sequence." "Shot analysis" refers to the examination of individual shots. A one-shot, a two-shot, and a three-shot refer to common names for shooting just one, two, or three people in a shot.