Continuity - Shot Reverse Shot, 180 Degree Rule & Match on Action.

Whilst researching the definition of continuity, I found this website which gives a description of many different possible meanings. The relevant definitions are located towards the top of the page, as it refers to continuity in media terms.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:continuity

I would define continuity as the consistency of aspects like the characteristics of the actors, the objects used by the characters or the setting in which the film is set in.

As I was researching the definition of the 180 degree rule, I found the following website which gives various descriptions that could be related to the 180 degree rule. However, the relevant meaning is towards the top of the page.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:180+degree+rule

I would, personally, define the 180 degree rule as a guideline that film directors use to ensure that the audience can easily follow the film by making sure that the characters don’t change positions when the camera moves to a different angle in a scene.

While I was researching the definition of the shot reverse shot, I found a website which describes the meaning of this term.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=define%3A+shot+reverse+shot&meta

Personally, I would describe the shot reverse shot as a camera technique that has been devised to depict, usually, two characters having a conversation, for example. This would be created by filming one character, then switching to the other character to make the audience perceive this as a conversation between the characters.

As I was researching the match on action technique, I discovered the following website which defines the meaning of this term.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=define%3A+match+on+action&meta

I would describe the match on action as a continuity technique which makes sure the movement of a character doesn’t appear out of place when the camera angle changes. An example of this would be a shot of a character walking down the stairs and after the camera angle changed, the character would have to be on the same step as before, on the same foot.

 

The following drawings depicts the shot reverse shot with an aerial diagram below to explain this shot and where the camera would be located so that the characters aviod appearing as though they have switched places during this type of shot.

Storyboard Drawing, Shot Sizes and Framing.

These images are figures that I have drawn to depict what is meant by each term, when referring to shot sizes.

These photo's also depict the features of each different shot size.

This picture was taken using the extream close up shot (ECU)

This shot size is refered to as the close up shot.

This photograph portrays the medium close up (MCU) shot.

This shot size is described as the medium shot.

This shot size is know as the 3/4 shot as it reveals 3/4 of the character.

This photograph was taken using the medium long shot (MLS).

Finally, this photo was taken using the long shot size.

The rule of thirds is a technique that involves dividing an image into nine equal sections. Important elements should be arranged within these lines as, apparently, aligning a subject based on the rule of thirds creates more interest in the composition than simply centering the subject would.
However, positioning important elements on the intersection of 2 lines, sometimes referred to as the power or crash point, can work equally as well.

The main use of the thirds rule is to prevent a horizon appearing which splits the picture or to discourage the typical arrangement in which the object is placed in the centre of the image.
A link to a website which describes the rule of thirds is as follows:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds

The following photos are a few images which I took whilst abiding by the thirds rule. 

 The effectiveness of the thirds rule is demonstrated in this image as the subject clashes with the crash point as it is positioned on top of the intersections. It is also positioned away from the centre. As a result of this, there is more space in the lower half of the photograph which sets the scene perfectly due to the amount of background that is revealed. 

This image also depicts the success of the thirds rule because, again, the subject isn’t conforming to the traditional idea of a photograph as it isn’t centralized and the important element is also positioned on the crash point.

 

Finally, this image is one that doesn’t conform to the thirds rule, and surprisingly works equally as well. The subject matter is more central and the viewer’s attention is more directed, however, this can become a tedious layout which is mainly why the thirds rule can be very successful.  

Preliminary Task Introduction

The task that has been set for the preliminary task consists of filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom they exchange dialogue with. To end the task, one of the characters should then leave the room.