Tag Archives: Media

Continuity Editing Techniques – Match On Action, 180° Rule, Shot / Reverse Shot

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During our preliminary exercise we must be able to demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule. This post is an explanation of each of those techniques.

 

 

The 180-degree rule is used to ensure the shots make sense…

180 rule

The green arc is the only place the camera can be in. It can be in any position within the 180 degrees, but when it enters the red section, the footage would appear to be backwards. The shots done within the green arc would have the man in orange on the left and the man in blue on the left. If the camera crossed over to the other side of the room, the scene would appear to be backwards. In a shot of a single person (if shot/reverse shot was used), it would seem as though both characters were facing the same way. The 180 degree rule makes the editing seamless and helps with continuity.

Match on action is the filming of one action in two shots. For example, opening a door; if the camera was behind a character opening a door, and the next shot showed him walking through it from the front, the positioning of the door would have to be perfect so the shot didn’t ‘jump’. To help explain, I’ve enlisted the help of some ‘Friends’…

Shot / reverse shot is best described using two people. This technique is often used for long conversations between a pair. Usually, the person talking is the one in the shot, but this can also be used for reaction shots.

Person A is shown in the shot. This then skips to show person B in the conversation as they deliver their line. Then back to person A, then person B, then person A, and so on.

About the AS Media Studies course

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This year I will be doing AS media studies. It is a one year course which is also 50% of the A2 grade. It is assessed by both coursework (a portfolio and a blog) and an exam in May, both of which are worth 50% of the overall AS grade.

The first 50% of the grade is the coursework. There are 100 marks available for the coursework portfolio, which is separated into three sections:

1) Research and Planning (20 marks) Research and planning includes a continuity exercise which involves filming and editing a short clip of someone opening a door, crossing a room, and sitting across from another character, and the conversation they have. This is should show the ability to use things such as match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.

2) Main Exercise (60 marks) The main exercise is the making of the titles and opening of a fiction film. It should last around two minutes. This will all be scripted, filmed and edited by us.

3) Evaluation (20 marks) The evaluation includes creatively answering the following questions:

  • In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
  • How does your media product represent particular social groups?
  • What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
  • Who would be the audience for your media product?
  • How did you attract/address your audience?
  • What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
  • Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

This will all be completed on the blog.

The other 50% of the AS grade is a two hour exam, which takes place at the end of the year in May. The two hours includes 30 minutes for viewing and making notes on a short clip.

Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation (50 marks) (Analyse and respond to a film extract from a contemporary one-off drama or series or serial drama programme showing on British television.)  The question is currently worded “Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of [something] using the following: Camera shots, angles, movement and composition, editing, sound and mise-en-Scène”.

Section B: Institutions and Audiences (50 marks)  This question will be based on a case study which we have studied in class. (Answer one compulsory question based upon a case study undertaken in class about the film industry.) It will be testing our ability to demonstrate understanding of contemporary institutional processes of production, distribution, marketing and exchange/exhibition at a local, national or international level as well as British audiences’ reception and consumption.