Shot Reverse Shot

Continuity Editing

What is it?

The shot, reverse shot is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is looking back at the character. As the characters are shown facing opposite directions, the viewer assumes they are looking at each other. The shot, reverse shot is used to add intensity to the scene because it focuses on facial expressions and the way they position themselves which can be captured by a mid shot. Shot reverse shot is a feature of the "classical" Hollywood style of continuity editing, which deemphasizes transitions between shots such that the spectator perceives one continuous action that develops linearly, chronologically, and logically. It is an example of an eyeline match- wikipedia

The shot, reverse shot uses the 180 degree role (You can see this on Amy's Blog Post), the eye line match rule and the rule of change among others. The standard elements for the shot, reverse shot is a three camera set up. The shots you should have for a basic shot reverse shot are: a two-shot of the characters usually in wide or medium shot; an over the shoulder shot on character A; and an over the shoulder shot on character B.

Click here to see how we used Shot-Reverse-Shot in our storyboard and planning for our Prelim task


Below you will be able to see a visual image of how the technique is used:

Here is a short explanation clip of how SRS is used and the affects it has on a viewer and/or what type of sequence it appears in: