Repeat of a shot after the first take — actor flubbed, camera drift, or lighting missed the mark. You'll do dozens per day.
The moment after "Cut" often decides more about the finished film than the shot itself. As soon as the camera is rolling and something goes wrong — the actor forgets a movement, the camera move jitters, the light falls incorrectly on the face — the command for a retake follows. This isn't a failure rate, it's normality. On every professional set, an average of three to five takes of a shot are filmed, often significantly more for complex scenes or sensitive emotional-psychological moments.
The art lies in knowing when to stop — and when to continue, even if it wasn't "perfect." The director primarily decides if the feeling, the performance, the authenticity are right. A good acting performance with a slight focus error can be valuable; technically flawless but emotionally empty is garbage. Experienced script supervisors log every take with numbers (Take 1, Take 2, Take 3-Audio Reset, etc.) so the editor can later find the best version. The DP communicates with the focus puller about micro-adjustments: correct exposure further? Pull focus? Or start over completely?
Retakes cost time and money. A delayed sunset for the golden hour shot means several planned scenes are cut. An actor loses energy after the tenth take — spontaneity crumbles. Some directors consciously work with limitations: a maximum of three takes, then move on. Others shoot until they can't stand it anymore. Both approaches work as long as they fit the production and the climate of trust. Transparent communication helps: telling the actor what specifically is wrong ("timing in dialogue too fast," not "somehow not good enough") makes retakes productive rather than frustrating.
The connection to coverage is important — multiple takes also allow for different camera options per take, so the editor can act variably later. And with an eye on the edit: the best take is often not the highest number, but the one with the best elements that can be combined from different numbers — which is why accurate logs are essential.