A
master shot is a
film recording of an entire dramatized scene, from start to finish, from an angle that keeps all the players in view. It is often a
long shot and can sometimes perform a double function as an
establishing shot. Usually, the master shot is the first shot checked off during the shooting of a scene—it is the foundation of what is called
camera coverage, other
shots that reveal different aspects of the action, groupings of two or three of the actors at crucial moments,
close-ups of individuals,
insert shots of various props, and so on.