How to Use an Over the Shoulder Shot in Film and Video
The over the shoulder shot (OTS) is a mainstay of modern film and video. Instantly recognizable, it’s traditionally most used for narrative scenes where two or more characters are talking. But with very little adjustment, the traditional OTS can be used by any video creator, from YouTube to TikTok.
What Is an Over the Shoulder Shot?
There are some keydifferences between traditional cinematography and videography, such as crew size and amount of equipment. But certain shots, such as the over the shoulder, are relatively straightforward and easy to achieve with any crew size.
To begin, we first need to establish what an over the shoulder shot is and how it’s typically set up. For this, we’ll be using a conversation scene provided byCinestudy.
In an OTS shot, the camera is placed over the shoulder of a character that is either slightly on screen (called a dirty over) or completely missing (called a clean over). In the case of our example above, which would be considered a dirty over, the character in the foreground remains out of focus on the edge of the frame.
It’s a simple and effective technique that filmmakers use when they need to capture not only the person speaking, but the reactions of the person they are speaking to, while maintaining both characters in the frame.
Why Would You Capture an OTS Shot?
An OTS shot’s main purpose is to give the viewer a sense of the physical space that the actors are inhabiting and where those actors are in relation to each other in the scene. In our example, with no other visual cues, we are able to tell that the two actors are seated across from each other in a restaurant booth.
Of course, not every videographer is making a movie. What about vloggers and YouTube presenters, for example?
While not usually traditionally narrative, both YouTubers and presenters can make use of the OTS shot by using it alongside their traditional POV shots, such as in the example below.
There is no second person in the shot on the right, but there is a second point of focus, the man’s phone. Both images effectively convey the same thing, but the shot on the right adds an element of physical space to the shot that lets the viewer get a sense of where the man is in relation to his environment.
How to Nail an OTS Shot
There are almost endless online resources andYouTube channels to help improve your videography skills. But let’s go over a few tried and true tricks to make your OTS shot truly stand out and say what you want it to say.
Make Your Footage Cinematic With an OTS Shot
Whether for YouTube or for the big screen, there are a host of ways that filmmakers and videographers can add a more cinematic feel to their projects. When used correctly, common shots such as the OTS are a valuable part of any video maker’s toolkit.
Shooting video and want it to look as cinematic as possible? It’s difficult to achieve, but here are some tips to help get more cinematic footage.
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