Common Coverage Angles

Most scenes need at least three angles: a wide establishing shot to set the location, a medium shot for the main action, and a close-up for detail or emotion. Skip any of these and you will feel the gap in the edit bay. Add a fourth angle (like an over-the-shoulder or insert shot) when the scene needs extra flexibility.

• Wide / Establishing: Sets the scene. Shows the full environment.
• Medium: The workhorse. Captures body language and action.
• Close-Up: Faces, hands, objects. Carries emotion and detail.
• Insert / Cutaway: Small details that help with pacing and continuity.
• Over-the-Shoulder: Conversations and interviews with spatial context.

Mistakes That Cause Reshoots

The most common problem on shoot days is not getting enough coverage. You think you have enough footage, then in editing you realize you have no cutaway to hide a jump cut, or no wide shot to establish where the scene happens. Planning every angle on paper first saves hours of regret later. Another common issue is not noting lens choices ahead of time, which leads to inconsistent looks between shots that should match.

• No establishing shot for location context.
• Missing cutaways or insert shots for edit flexibility.
• Inconsistent lens choices between matching shots.
• Forgetting to capture room tone and ambient audio.
• Not planning B-roll until after the main shoot wraps.

Single-Day Shoot Tips

When you have one day to get everything, grouping shots by location is the single biggest time saver. Shoot every scene at Location A before moving to Location B. Within each location, group by camera setup so you are not constantly moving lights and changing lenses. Use the location grouping in this planner to organize your day. Build in 15-minute buffers between major setups for unexpected delays.

Shot List Conventions

Keep your shot cards short and specific. "MCU, 50mm, slow push-in" tells your camera operator exactly what to do. Avoid vague notes like "get a good shot." If a shot needs a specific prop, actor position, or lighting note, write it down. Your future self on set will thank you. Number your shots within each scene so the whole crew can reference "Scene 2, Shot 4" without confusion.