Showing posts with label Definitions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Definitions. Show all posts

Thursday, 3 February 2011

Shot reverse shot

A shot reverse shot is a film technique which serves the purpose to de-emphasise the transitions of the shot as much as possible. A typical shot reverse shot example would be two characters (A & B) having a conversation and the camera constantly switching from character A and character B. Typically, character A would be talking to character B (who would be off-screen) and this role would then switch so that the camera is filming character B whilst character A is off-screen. This allows the audience to assume that the characters are looking at each other. This in turn not only creates a steady flow of conversation it also removes the need for a split screen.

Below is an example of a shot-reverse-shot. This image was taken from Google Images.

Match on action

A match on action shot, sometimes known as a match cut, is a cut from one scene to another in which the two elements of a scene (may it be people, objects or any other compositional part) graphically match so that a strong continuity of action is established. 

An example of a match on action cut is the picture below which is a photo from Google Images:


The 180 degree rule

The 180 degree rule is a basic and fundamental rule in the film making process. This rule states that two characters or objects that are in the same scene must always have the same right and left relationship to each other. There is an imaginary line that the camera should never cross, demonstrated with a picture below. 

 Wikipedia

This rule is especially important when using shot reverse shots: if the 180 degree rule is broken in this context then the two characters will seem to be facing in the same direction. With this is mind we can create an example: If Bob (orange) is facing Alan (Blue) and the pink camera is shooting then Bob will be on the right of the frame and Alan will be on the left. This should be a continuous pattern and should never change- if the grey camera were to start filming in continuation of the pink camera then Bob will now be on the left, and Alan will be on the right. This will clearly cause confusion to the audience hence the importance of the 180 degree rule.