Group vlog: pre prelim

Prelim task

First vlog!

The 180° rule

The 180° rule is a filming guideline which states that in a scene with two subjects present, an imaginary line should be drawn to connect both of the subjects. The camera can then move freely within this 180° arc to maintain the left-right relationship between both characters. If the camera cuts the line, the rule is broken and by filming from the 180° arc on the opposite side it would appear to the audience that the subjects have swapped positions. It is important to maintain the 180° rule so the audience does not get confused, and to ensure continuity in the scene. Filmmakers may break the 180° rule for effect, for instance in a movie about a character who has lost their sense of direction, breaking the rule may be appropriate to reflect how the character is feeling. This image demonstrates the swapping effect if the 180° rule is broken:

Shot reverse shot

Shot reverse shot, often used in dialogue sequences, is an editing technique whereby a character is shown looking off screen towards another character, and then a reverse angle shot is used to show the character looking back at the first character. This not only gives the audience a sense of continuity, but also helps establish the location of the shots and which characters are present in the scene without distracting the audience. An example of this can be found in this clip from Fruitvale station:

Match on action

Match on action, also known as cutting on action is an editing technique in which one action in a shot is continued into another shot. This technique creates a smoother transition for the audience, and gives the impression of continuity from shot to shot. An example of this can be found in this clip from the Wizard of Oz:

Filmmaking techniques