Shot reverse shot is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.

Context

Shot reverse shot is a feature of the "classical" Hollywood style of continuity editing

Continuity editing

Continuity editing is the predominant style of film editing and video editing in the post-production process of filmmaking of narrative films and television programs...

, which deemphasizes transitions between shots such that the audience perceives one continuous action that develops linearly, chronologically, and logically. It is an example of an eyeline match

Eyeline match

An eyeline match is a film editing technique associated with the continuity editing system. It is based on the premise that the audience will want to see what the character on-screen is seeing. The eyeline match begins with a character looking at something off-screen, there will then be a cut to...

.

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