Typical Two-Shots

The most dramatically interesting medium shot is the two-shot, in which two players con front each other and exchange dialogue. The two-shot originated in Hollywood, and is known in France, Italy and Spain as the "American-shot." A famous director has stated: "Regardless of the size of the picture, whether it boasts a cast of thousands or a modest number, the action always winds up in a two-shot featuring boy and girl, hero and villain, or hero and his buddy."

There are numerous variations of the two-shot. The most widely used, but not always the most pictorially interesting, is that in which both players sit or stand facing each other with their profiles to the lens. Young people with clean-cut profiles and good necklines will generally photograph well. Older persons with jowls, puffy faces or double chins should seldom be filmed in profile. The main problem with the profile two-shot is that neither player can dominate the composition if each is equally well lighted. Dominance is achieved through dialogue, action or favorable lighting, which captrues audience attention at the expense of the less favored player.

Two-shots may be angled and played in depth, so that nearest player is turned slightly away from the camera and the farther player positioned so that he is filmed in a three-quarter angle. Or, one player may appear in profile and the other in a three-quarter angle or facing the camera.

There is an unusual variation of the two-shot in which both players face the camera: the nearer player looks off screen while the farther player looks at the nearer player's back. This allows both players to be filmed facing the camera, in a single shot. Although it saves additional camera set-up, it is dramatically inadequate because the players do not truly relate with each other. One is dreamily looking away, while the other seems to be trying to get his attention, such as:

The picture is from "lifed" made by Pixar in 2006.

The picture is from The Five C's of  Cinematography.

For instance, like the picture above, typical profile boy-girl seated two-shots. Neither player dominates the scene from composition or lighting standpoint. Each player dominates in turn, as he or she speaks or performs an action that captures audience attention. Eye appeal is lessened in a profile shot.

Reference:

Mascelli, J. V. (1965). The Five C's of  Cinematography. The United States: radstone publications.