Preliminary Task Explanation

We did a preliminary task to practice using the new camera angles that we have learnt over the past few weeks in lessons and to get some experience with script writing and location scouting. Our brief was:

"A continuity filming and editing task, which involves a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchange a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot, and the 180-degree rule. The titles and the opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes. All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source. Both preliminary and main tasks may be done individually or as a group."

To begin with, we made sure we knew what the three shots we had to include were, how to use them and how to incorporate them into our preliminary video. We researched each shot, and then took a picture with each shot in mind before we began filming to see how our scene would look.

Shot/Reverse Shot   

A shot reverse shot is a camera angle where one character is shown looking at another character, who tends to be offscreen or the view of them is very restricted. This is then reversed, so we see the other character talking to the character who was previously in the shot. As the characters are shown facing opposite directions, the viewer can tell that they are looking at each other. This could also show characters who are in conversation, and presumably are familiar with each other. 

Match on Action

A match on action is where the clip cuts from one shot to another view with matches the actions in the first shot. The best example of a match on action is where someone walks towards a door, then the scene cuts to the person with their hand on the door handle, then the person opening the door, and then the person entering the room. This emphasises the action and task that the character is completing. 

180 Shot

There is an imaginary line called the axis, which is used to connect the characters. By having the camera on one side of this axis for all the shots, the same character is on the same side constantly. When the camera passes over the axis, it's known as jumping the line or crossing the line. If you break the 180-degree rule, it is known as shooting in the round.