Shot size is the first field a crew reads after the shot number. If your board does not name it, they will guess, and they will guess differently from you.
The sizes that actually get used
A longer glossary of boarding terms lives at /glossary.
| Abbreviation | Name | What is in frame | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWS / ELS | Extreme wide / establishing | Geography, building, landscape | Open a scene, show scale |
| WS | Wide | Full body plus setting | Blocking, action, group |
| MWS | Medium wide | Knees or thighs up | Walk-and-talks |
| MS | Medium | Waist up | Dialogue default |
| MCU | Medium close-up | Chest up | Intention, product + face |
| CU | Close-up | Face, product, hands | Emotion or sell |
| ECU | Extreme close-up | Eyes, logo, detail | Emphasis, insert |
| Insert | Insert | Object only | Evidence, phone, prop |
Pick size for information, not for variety
A board that cycles WS–MS–CU on every line looks like a student exercise. Stay wide while geography or blocking is still being taught. Go closer when the information is a face, a product, or a decision. Cut back wide only when someone enters, exits, or the space changes.
Write why, not only what
“CU — she sees the logo” is a shot. “CU” is a label. The why is what stops a director and a client from arguing about a drawing they both like for different reasons.
Pair size with lens and distance
A wide shot on a 25mm from two metres is not the same picture as a wide on a 50mm from five. You do not need a full lens package on a first-pass board, but once the DoP is in the room, put millimetres on the frame. That field belongs on the shot list as well as on the drawing.
FAQ
How do I mark shot size on a frame?
Write it in the frame footer: scene, shot number, size, movement, duration. Example: 1A / MS / static / 2.5s. CineoBoard stores those fields on the frame so the list view cannot drift.