What is the abbreviation for 'over the shoulder' shot?

• A. CU
• B. OTS
• C. ECU
• D. MS

Answer: (B)

In film shorthand, shot types are abbreviated to quickly convey how the camera is positioned. The over-the-shoulder shot is abbreviated OTS. This setup places the camera behind one character’s shoulder, looking past that shoulder toward the other character, which helps the audience feel like they’re part of the conversation and preserves the spatial relationship between the characters.

Other common abbreviations describe different framings: a close-up focuses tightly on a subject’s face or a detail, an extreme close-up tightens even more on a small detail, and a medium shot shows a character from roughly the waist up and can include more of the surroundings. These do not provide the same over-the-shoulder perspective that defines OTS.