A sequence of shots can explain an action more clearly than a single uninterrupted view. The five-shot approach is a planning tool for gathering enough visual material to show what is happening, who is involved and where the action takes place.
What the five-shot sequence covers
DW Akademie’s five-shot guidelines describe a sequence built around the following views:
- A close-up of the action: introduce the activity through a detail, such as a person’s hands.
- A close-up of the face: show the person carrying out the action and their response.
- A medium or wide view: establish the setting and the relationship between the person and their surroundings.
- An over-the-shoulder view: show how the activity is being performed from a position close to the subject’s perspective.
- An alternative view: add a useful detail or a fresh perspective on the same activity.
Why the sequence helps
Each shot adds different information. A detail can create interest, a face can connect the action to a person, and a wider view can make the setting understandable. Together, these views give an editor options for building a coherent sequence.
For example, a sequence about someone making coffee could move from their hands preparing the cup to their face, the wider kitchen, an over-the-shoulder view and a final detail. The sequence should follow what actually happens, rather than inventing a different order of events.
Use the approach with purpose
The five-shot sequence is a starting point, not a guarantee that a scene will work. Shot size describes how much of the subject is visible; camera angle describes the position from which it is filmed. A point-of-view shot and an over-the-shoulder shot are related ways of showing perspective, but they are not interchangeable in every situation.
Choose the views that explain the activity, record enough material for the edit, and review whether the changes in perspective help the audience follow the story. The aim is purposeful coverage rather than simply ticking off five shots.
Related posts: The Rule of Thirds and COM109 Video Interview.
This post forms part of my 2020 COM109 learning archive. Editorial revision: 4 October 2026.
Sources
DW Akademie. (2018). Media and information literacy: A practical guidebook for trainers — materials, ‘Five-shot rule’ (printed p. 148). Read the guidelines.
The video below was cited in the original 2020 post:
DW Akademie Africa. 2013. “Basic five shot sequence.” Uploaded on June 10, 2013. YouTube video, :36 sec. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz-5tsWBhH0
Source: SaleemBradley.com · By Saleem Bradley · Original on SaleemBradley.com · Reference: SB-WP-162
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