Wide Shot vs Medium Shot vs Close-up

--> The wide shot is when we listen to our partner.

That’s your establishing moment. It’s not your close-up, not your big chance to dazzle. It’s your chance to live fully in the world of the scene—to explore relationship, power dynamics, space, proximity. Each shot is potentially a different exploration as we listen to our scene partner(s) and the director to keep it fresh from take to take. We are finding the STRUCTURE of the scene and that is a collaborative effort. And this structure is what will continue to serve us for the rest of the shoot.

--> The medium shot is when we surprise our partner.

This is where chemistry happens. You’re in the room together. This is your dance floor. Your tug of war. In mediums, the framing is close enough to read thought, but far enough to still live in more full-bodied responses. When you genuinely affect your scene partner—when you stop focusing on being a good scene partner and instead decide to win the war—we start to believe this world is alive. This is where your choices start causing ripples. (And when you surprise THEM, they will inevitably surprise YOU.)

--> The close-up is when we surprise ourselves.

This is where the magic lives. In the close-up, we’re watching your inner world. Not the words. Not the performance. The moment between thought and action. You've been immersed in this scene for hours, potentially. It's time to trust that it's in your bones. It’s not about control. It’s about discovery. The close-up is the camera daring you to let go of your plan and trust that something human will show up instead. Letting go, listening with fresh ears, trusting the body to get from milestone to milestone, and being open to new surprises smacking you in real time.

Too many actors try to deliver close-up intensity in the wide or play to the room in the close-up. But what if you used the frame as a map instead of a hurdle?

When you understand this, it will not only serve you on set but also your self-tapes. By understanding what each shot asks of you, your scene work deepens. Your connection to your partner deepens. Your impulse strengthens.

You stop chasing the idea of “getting it right” and start chasing curiosity instead.

-J