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Over-the-Shoulder Shot

Frames one subject from behind the shoulder and head of another, creating depth and establishing eyeline between characters. This shot grounds conversations in spatial reality and maintains screen direction. It's the foundation of continuity editing in dialogue scenes, creating a visual ping-pong between perspectives.

Over-the-Shoulder Shot - cinematic example

When to Use

  • Dialogue scenes requiring clear eyeline and spatial relationships
  • Building tension through confrontational face-to-face conversations
  • Maintaining screen direction and continuity in shot-reverse-shot
  • Creating depth by layering foreground and background subjects

Famous Examples

The Godfather (1972)
Michael and Kay's restaurant conversation
Goodfellas (1990)
Henry Hill's interrogation scenes
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Clarice and Hannibal's prison cell conversations

Related Techniques

Two-ShotClean SingleDirty SingleReaction Shot

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