What Is a Wide Shot in Film? How Directors Use Wide Shots in Filmmaking

Whether used to establish a scene or to move the story along, the wide shot is a filmmaking staple used in nearly every movie and television show.

What Is a Wide Shot?

A wide shot, also called a long shot or a full shot, is a shot that shows the subject within their surrounding environment. A wide shot tells the audience who is in the scene, where the scene is set, and when the scene takes place. Wide shots allow actors to utilize their physicality and give the director a lot of space in which to work.