Grammar of the Shot, 2nd Edition

The Profile Two-Shot

Perhaps the most common variety of two-shot, the profile two-shot, is used quite often to help set up a dialogue between two people in a scene. A long shot or medium long shot will most successfully cover all of the action during the meeting of the two characters. As the figures are smaller and the environment is more prominent, the setting can be established and larger body movements may be covered from these shot types. Common scenarios where the profile two-shot may be appropriate might be a meeting of two old friends on a street (Figure 2.28), a confrontation between two feuding characters, or a romantic dinner for two over a small, candle-lit table (Figure 2.29).

When using a tighter framing to compose a profile two-shot, ...