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What is this type of shot called?

P

Protaganist

What is the name of the shot in a film where you are trying to give background information about a character without any dialogue?
For instance, I have an extra who is a drug dealer. I want the audience to know what he is doing without having to spend any time thinking about it. So in the shot, to explain what he is doing, I have him standing at a post collecting money and handing off something in exchange, while checking his surroundings to make sure he's not being observed. His wardrobe is sketchy an anonymous in nature.
Does anyone know the technical term for this shot?
 
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Hmm, not sure it would be an establishing shot if you're just cutting away to show that an extra is also a drug dealer.

Is there a reason you need the technical term? I'd just refer to it as a cutaway or a pick-up...
 
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jax_rox said:
Sounds to me like it's not a shot at all, it's an action. That action could be covered with a number of various shots.
Click to expand...

+1

Seems to me like what the OP is asking about is something that should be written into the script. And then the director and DP will decide how to shoot it. This isn't a shot, this is just stuff happening.

As has been stated, an establishing shot shows the audience where we are. Wide, or extra wide shot establishes location, before camera comes in more tight to see the real action.
 
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if I read your description right, which was a bit vague, you want an establishing shot that shows this dealer in the background, then you want a close-up of him.

This shot is aptly named "Close-Up"
 
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It depends on how you shoot the shot. If you do a wide shot that is shot from a distance, of him dealing the money with the other person, than it's a master shot. If you do a close up of him, intercutting with a close up of the other person, than they are two close up shots. If they are over the shoulder shots of both, than they are two OTS shots. Or you can mix and match types of shots, when doing this scene, or do it all in one type of shot only.

Am I right?
 
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