Shot Sizes and Coverage

Learning Objective

Understand how different shot sizes function narratively and how to use coverage effectively.

This Week

A wide shot establishes geography and context. A medium shot shows character and relationship. A close-up reveals emotion and detail. An extreme close-up creates intimacy or tension. Professional editors understand that shot selection is not merely aesthetic — it is a storytelling decision.

Daily Practice

Take a single scene and edit it three different ways: one version using only wide shots, one using only close-ups, and one mixing shot sizes strategically. (30–45 min)

Weekly Challenge

Edit a 2-minute scene from multiple angles, making deliberate choices about when to use each shot size based on the emotional content of the moment.