What does "over-the-shoulder shot" refer to?

What does "over-the-shoulder shot" refer to?

• A. A shot focusing on the character's face
• B. A wide shot capturing multiple characters
• C. A shot filmed from behind one character
• D. A shot that includes background details

Answer: (C)

The term "over-the-shoulder shot" specifically refers to a shot that is framed from behind one character, typically showing their shoulder and the back of their head, while focusing on the subject or action they are looking at. This type of shot is commonly used in conversations to create a sense of intimacy and perspective, allowing the audience to see the character’s point of view while also establishing the spatial relationship between characters. In this context, the shoulder of the character in the foreground acts as a framing device, which helps to emphasize their emotional responses or reactions to the ongoing interaction, thereby deepening the viewer's engagement with the scene. The other options do not accurately define the over-the-shoulder shot, as they focus on different aspects such as character expressions, group dynamics, or background elements, which do not capture the specific purpose and composition of the over-the-shoulder technique.

The term "over-the-shoulder shot" specifically refers to a shot that is framed from behind one character, typically showing their shoulder and the back of their head, while focusing on the subject or action they are looking at. This type of shot is commonly used in conversations to create a sense of intimacy and perspective, allowing the audience to see the character’s point of view while also establishing the spatial relationship between characters.

In this context, the shoulder of the character in the foreground acts as a framing device, which helps to emphasize their emotional responses or reactions to the ongoing interaction, thereby deepening the viewer's engagement with the scene. The other options do not accurately define the over-the-shoulder shot, as they focus on different aspects such as character expressions, group dynamics, or background elements, which do not capture the specific purpose and composition of the over-the-shoulder technique.