Which abbreviation is commonly used to describe an over-the-shoulder shot?

• A. CU
• B. OTS
• C. MS
• D. ECU

Answer: (B)

Understanding shot abbreviations and how we describe framing helps you read and communicate a scene more clearly. An over-the-shoulder shot captures the perspective from behind one character’s shoulder, so you see the other character or subject in the frame while also keeping a sense of where the viewer’s eye is located in the conversation. This shot is abbreviated OTS. It’s especially common in dialogue because it reinforces who is looking at whom and preserves the spatial relationship between characters while still conveying the viewer’s point of view.

In contrast, a close-up focuses tightly on a subject’s face or a specific detail; a medium shot shows the subject from about the waist up; an extreme close-up isolates a tiny detail. These other options describe different framings, not the perspective behind a character’s shoulder.