the scene. The cut-in/cut-out shot is another useful coverage shot. After the master shot is taken, a medium shot from the same angle is photographed. The editor can cut back and forth between the two shots. The cut-in or cut-out helps to cover the edit when dialogue is edited out ("compressed"), can be used by the director or editor to choose the best performance by an actor, and can even serve as a form of match cut that serves to place action in context. While coverage is generally thought of in terms of shots and angles, coverage may also include the use of different focal lengths. Example Editor Conrad Buff has discussed the use of coverage in a critical scene in the 2004 motion picture King Arthur. The scene involved a battle between two large armies on a frozen lake. During the battle, the ice breaks up and one of the armies falls into the frigid water. A lack of time and other issues left the director just two days to film what should have taken seven to ten production days. The first day was spent filming panorama shots of the approaching armies. The second day was spent filming the battle. Buff discovered that although principal shots of the main actors had been filmed, little other coverage was included. Close-ups of the main actors, shots of ranks of archers firing arrows, volleys of arrows in flight, medium and close-up shots of men in battle, soldiers dying in battle, and even the ice breaking apart were missing. None of the shots in the dailies were in narrative order. Buff was able to piece together a rough cut using what limited coverage he had. Buff then indicated to the director shots that were missing: Needed close-ups, point-of-view shots, reaction shots, and more. Luckily, the main unit was able to schedule time to film the close-ups and reaction shots against a greenscreen. The second unit filmed medium shots on a soundstage with a water tank, using extras and stunt performers to capture battle scene and ice break-up elements. The visual effects team then spent extra time and money transforming these shots into acceptable coverage. References Notes Citations Further reading Film and video technology Film and video terminology