Preliminary Task (Editing)

Media Studies

Editing techniques

Match on action- This means that when something happens in a scene is stills carries on when there is a cut. This is an example of continuity editing and is very important in helping the audience continually understand exactly what is happening.

Shot reverse shot- This is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another and then shown the other character shown looking back at the first character. As the characters are shown facing in the opposite directions, as a viewer you assume that the characters are looking at each other.

Shot reverse shot is a feature of the classical Hollywood style of continuity editing.

180 degree rule- It is an important aspect of the film grammar, the directors template has a tool for drawing in the 180 degree axis and it is worth getting into the habit of drawing it.

When crossing the axis it can then become very confusing to the viewer since the direction established has changed.

Another aspect to the 180 degree axis is that the closer to axis the camera the more the viewer’s point of view resembles the characters which then encourage the important identification with the characters which the viewers should feel.