What type of shot is used to show the emotions and reactions of a character?

The close-up shot is particularly effective in conveying the emotions and reactions of a character. By framing the character's face prominently, a close-up allows viewers to see subtle details such as facial expressions, eye movements, and even slight changes in mood. This engagement draws the audience into the character's emotional state, fostering a deeper connection and making the storytelling more impactful.

Other shot types, such as medium shots or wide shots, while useful for establishing context and relationships between characters and their surroundings, do not focus as intently on individual emotions. A medium shot includes part of the background and might show more than just the character's face, potentially diluting the impact of a specific emotional moment. Similarly, a wide shot portrays the environment and spatial relationships but can significantly distance the viewer from the character's internal experience. An extreme close-up zooms in even tighter than a standard close-up, often enhancing specific features or details, but can sometimes be so intimate that it loses broader context, which may not always serve to express a general emotional reaction.

Thus, the close-up is the most powerful choice when it comes to highlighting and communicating the emotional nuances of a character.