Shot-Reverse-Shot Cutting

Hello, and how are you today? Good, I hope.

I wanted to say that I've become very interested in a film technique known as "shot-reverse-shot cutting." This is a technique I have used in many of my masterpieces, including The Adventures of Rupert Murdoch and the Master Shunzy Spinoff.

Basically, it is used when characters are conversing. There will be a wide shot that shows both characters A and B. Then there will be a shot behind the shoulder of person A, showing his view of person B as person B speaks. Then there will be a shot behind the shoulder of person B while person A speaks. Eventually, there will be close-ups of persons A and B as they speak.

I don't know what it is, but I find this technique fascinating, and I always pay attention to how it's used in films.

Here is an example I have created so you can be aware of the shot-reverse-shot cutting technique.

Here is the wide shot, in which both characters are seen

The shot behind the character's shoulder, usually while the other character is speaking

The shot behind the other character while the other character is speaking. This might go back and forth a few times, until eventually there are close-ups of the characters

Close-up

Close-up

Anyway, I don't know why I think about this, but I do. Pay attention the next time you see a film. Hopefully it will include Christian Bale opposite Woody Allen. Batman 3? Annie Hall 2?