What is a close-up shot?

• A. A wide shot of a landscape.
• B. A sequence showing many shots in rapid succession.
• C. A shot that focuses on an actor's face, allowing viewers to see their expressions and emotions.
• D. A shot taken from a high angle.

Answer: (C)

A close-up shot is when the camera frames a small area tightly, usually the actor’s face, so viewers can see precise expressions and emotions. This tight framing lets us notice subtle cues—the look in the eyes, a quiver of the lip, or a brow furrow—that reveal how a character is feeling without needing dialogue or the surrounding environment. The description that focuses on a shot of an actor’s face to reveal expressions and emotions matches this idea exactly. The other descriptions describe different techniques: a wide shot shows the scene or landscape, a rapid sequence of shots is a montage or fast-cut editing, and a high-angle shot refers to camera position rather than how close the frame is.