Arc
arc shot
An arc shot moves the camera around the subject along part of a circle while the lens stays aimed at them. A quarter or half orbit is enough: the axis of the scene changes without a cut, and the background slides.
Narrative function
Use it to reorient. A booth, a kiss, a standoff can turn from front to profile to reverse without a cut, so the relationship is rewritten by parallax.
The subject can stay put; the world is what orbits. A full 360 is a different promise.
If you only need a new eyeline, a quarter circle is cleaner. If nobody's position in the room matters, an arc is empty decoration.
How it works
Lay track or a circular dolly, or walk a steadicam on a curve of constant radius, camera facing inward. Height usually holds (eye or chest).
Foreground posts, chairs, or extras should shear faster than the far wall. Prompt: Arc around [Subject], camera traveling a curve while facing them, background sliding, a quarter or half orbit.
When to use it
Change the axis without cutting: a table that becomes a two-shot, a reveal of who stands behind. Do not arc 180 degrees on every line; save the curve for a real change of power.
Compared with similar shots
Arc Left and Arc Right name the direction of travel. 360-Degree Orbit completes the circle and usually inspects a body in space.
A Pan only yaws from a fixed point, so the background does not parallax the same way.
In film
Goodfellas often arcs around a booth or a table as alliances shift. Atonement uses curved travel inside longer takes to reorient a scene without a cut.
Use them as grammar for changing axis, not as frames to copy.
Prompt it
Name the curve, the facing, and how much of the circle. Still: Arc around [Subject], camera traveling a curve while facing them, background sliding, a quarter or half orbit.
Video: The camera arcs around [Subject], always facing them, background sliding past. Say quarter or half.
Forbid a pan from sticks.
What usually goes wrong
The usual wrong cousin is a pan. The tell: the camera body never moves, only the head yaws, and near objects do not shear.
The fix: travel a curve, keep the lens on the subject, and let the background slide.
Questions
What is Arc in film?
An arc shot travels the camera along part of a circle while facing the subject, so the background slides and the axis of the scene changes without a cut.
Arc vs 360-Degree Orbit
An arc is a quarter or half circle used to change axis. An orbit-360 completes the loop and treats the figure as something to walk around.
When should I use Arc?
Use it to reorient a scene without cutting: a table, a standoff, a reveal behind the subject. Do not use a full spin when a quarter will do.
How do I prompt Arc for AI image or video?
Write a curved travel that always faces the subject, and name a quarter or half orbit. Example: Arc around [Subject], camera traveling a curve while facing them, background sliding.
Melies can generate this Arc
Melies is the AI filmmaking workspace. This Arc opens with the camera path and prompt already loaded, so you generate the move instead of describing it from scratch.