What is a master shot?

• A. A close-up of a character’s face.
• B. A medium shot showing only part of the scene.
• C. A shot emphasizing the texture of objects.
• D. A shot showing where characters or objects are positioned in a scene.

Answer: (D)

A master shot is the wide, often long take that establishes the whole scene—the geography of the space, where characters and key objects are positioned, and how they relate to each other. It gives the audience a clear sense of where everyone is located and where the action will unfold, so editors can cut to closer shots later while preserving spatial continuity. This makes it different from a close-up, which focuses on a character’s face; a medium shot that only shows part of the scene; or a shot that highlights texture, which is about detail rather than overall layout. The master shot, by showing where characters and objects are in relation to one another, is the shot that maps the scene’s physical relationships.