American shot

Calque of the French term "plain Américan", which was used because this type of shot was commonly used in American westerns.

American shot (plural American shots)

1. Synonym of medium long shot
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see American,‎ shot.
   • 2013, Ken Dancyger, The Technique of Film and Video Editing, page 117:

     Sturges did not use close‐ups; he favored the three‐quarter shot, or American shot.

   • 2014, Jennifer Fleeger, Sounding American: Hollywood, Opera, and Jazz, page 78:

     The film begins in an American shot; we are already closer to Talley than we were to Martinelli.

   • 2023, André F. Nebe, Humour and successful children's films, page 282:

     In total, the scene uses the American shot four times, close-up twice, longl ^[sic] shot once, and detail shot once.