You see sequences all the time in film and television without even realizing it. And for good reason: they help tell stories better. Consider the two clips on this page. Both have the identical dialogue, but one tells the story much better. The top clip shows the scene in just one shot. That’s OK, but the bottom clip is better, because it reveals more information.

This is accomplished by cutting to closer shots after the original wide shot. The wider shot answers the question “where is this happening,” while the closer shots provide detail about the emotions of the characters. For example, the lower clip highlights the angst in Joe’s face, and the confidence in John’s—because you can see them more closely.