Lesson 6 · 8 min read
Shots are words — sequences are sentences
One cool shot is a photo. A story needs shots that answer questions in order: where are we, who is it, what do they want, what happens? Plan the order and your video suddenly feels like a real movie.
For any moment, shoot it wide (where), medium (who), and close (what they feel or what their hands are doing). With three sizes you can cut smoothly. With one size you're stuck.
Try it at home: Film someone making a sandwich in three sizes, then cut them together in order.
A shot list is just numbered lines: '3. Close-up of hands opening the box.' A storyboard is stick-figure drawings of the same thing. Both take ten minutes and save you an hour of standing around confused.
Cut while something is moving and the audience barely notices the edit. Also keep eyelines pointing the right way — if she looks screen-right in one shot, he should look screen-left in the next, so it feels like they're facing each other.
Move the camera for a reason: follow a person, reveal something, or push in as feelings grow. Random swooping looks amateur. Slow and short beats fast and long every time.
Try it at home: Do one slow push-in on someone's face while they say one sentence. Feel how it adds pressure.
Practice project
Tell a complete small story — someone finishing a task — using exactly six shots and no dialogue.
Open the printable card →Tap an answer — you'll see right away if it's correct.
Why shoot wide, medium, AND close of one moment?
The smoothest place to make a cut is usually…
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