RESEARCH: Shot Reverse Shot

Shot Reverse Shot

Definition: Shot reverse shot is a feature of the "classical" Hollywood style of continuity editing, which deemphasizes transitions between shots such that the audience perceives one continuous action that develops linearly, chronologically, and logically. The technique in a typical situation involves 2 characters, one looking one way and the second looking the other. The cuts are filmed seperately but placed together inturn making it seem as though they two characters are looking at eachother for example talking, therefore the impression given is that they are having a conversation.

How It Is Used: This technique is used to creat an impression that two characters are having a conversation; this can be very useful in circumstances such as arguments or just a chit chat in any visually recorded stretch of footage.

Why It Is Used: The shot-reverse shot is used because for example in movie when directors want to give the impression that two characters are having an indepth conversation they use this technique because the shot type used in shot reverse shot is usually a close-up therefore the veiwer can easily interpret any emotion (giving a more intense effect on the conversation) which is more captivating.

Here are some examples of shot-reverse shot editing:

(from YouTube Amst109's clip)

(Made by my AS Media group)