Insert Shot
Definition
An Insert Shot is a close-up shot of a specific object, detail, or action that is "inserted" into a scene to provide important information or emphasis. Common insert shots include close-ups of a character's hands performing an action, a letter being read, a clock showing the time, a weapon being loaded, or any other detail that the director wants the audience to notice. Insert shots are often filmed separately from the main scene coverage, sometimes by a second unit crew.
Contextual Usage
The director reviews the assembly cut and tells the editor: "I need an insert shot of the key being turned in the lock. The audience needs to see that the door is locked before the character tries to escape. Can you check the footage? If we don't have it, I'll need to schedule a pickup day to get that shot."
About this section
Production — or "principal photography" — is the phase in which the film or video is actually shot. It is the most visible and, typically, the most expensive phase of the entire process. Every day on ...
View all 76 terms