What term dictates the relative distance between shots?

The term that dictates the relative distance between shots is "shot scale." Shot scale refers to the size of the subject in relation to the frame and is crucial in visual storytelling. Different shot scales, such as extreme close-up, close-up, medium shot, and long shot, influence how the audience perceives the scene and the characters within it.

For instance, a close-up shot focuses tightly on a character's face, allowing the audience to see their emotions and reactions clearly, which can create an intimate connection. In contrast, a long shot displays a broader view of the setting, placing characters in context and showing their relationship to the environment. This careful consideration of shot scale enhances the narrative impact and emotional resonance of a scene, making it a vital element in film and video production.

In this context, frame composition relates more to the arrangement of elements within the shot, while subject matter describes what is being filmed. Camera angle pertains to the position from which the camera captures the subject but does not inherently dictate distance in the same way that shot scale does.