A master shot is a filmic recording of an entire scene, start to finish, from an angle that keeps all the players in view. Usually, the "master shot" is the first shot checked off during the shooting of a scene--it is the foundation of what's called "coverage," the process through which all angles and shots will be covered that will be needed in the editing room. The master shot is ordinarily supplemented with other shots that reveal different aspects of the action - groupings of two or three of the actors at crucial moments, close-ups of individuals, insert shots of various props, and so on.
