When preparing for a scene some directors like to block the actors 1st and construct the scene from there. Others have an idea of the way they want the scene to play out and position and instruct the actors from there. These methods will be different with different types of films. Action films may be centred around elaborate camera sequences where actors will have specifically choreographed movements that play into the scene like the cogs in a clock. This is done in order to maintain a certain flow and consistency and keep the audiences attention. For more dramatic films the focus should be on the subject matter and story line. It is important to have the actors creating authentic and natural performances. They should essentially be living in the moment and following instincts in order to give a genuine and honest performance. It is therefore important that the camera works around them. In these scenes the footage, camera movement and editing should not be identified. It should be as subtle as possible and contribute to telling the story as honestly as possible.

A shot can be a difficult thing to give a definitive description. This article sums it up as ‘ what is being photographed between the words action and cut.’ It can be a single second consisting of a still shot or an elaborate 10 minute long shot with continual camera movement and repositioning. Both create very different effects and contain different amounts of detail but both are considered a single shot.