What Is Coverage in Film? Masters, Singles and Inserts
Coverage is the set of shots a production takes of a scene, usually a master plus singles, over-the-shoulders, two-shots and inserts, so the editor has the angles to cut it together.
Also called: scene coverage · shot coverage · covering a scene
Every angle costs a setup
Each new angle usually means moving the camera and relighting, so coverage is where the shot list meets the schedule. A dialogue scene covered in a master, two over-the-shoulders and two singles is five setups; the same scene played in a single moving shot is one.
Directors who cut in camera plan less coverage and commit to the order of shots. Others shoot more so the edit has options. Neither is wrong, but the schedule has to know which it is.
