Shot

A single run of the camera, from start to stop. The word of film; everything larger is built from it.

The shot is film's word: one run of the camera, one continuous claim on attention. Everything larger, scene, sequence, film, is syntax built from these units, and the length, size and movement of each shot is a choice of diction: clipped or flowing, plain or ornate.

Thinking in shots disciplines any visual work: what is this one unit saying, and is it one thing? A shot asked to say three things says none. Storyboards exist to have this argument cheaply, one drawing per shot, one intention per drawing. The film is written twice, and the first draft is a list of shots.