Match On Action

Match on action is an editing technique in continuity editing in which one shot cuts to another shot from another position portraying the action of what’s happening in the first shot.

This creates more seamless shots and gives a larger impression of continuity. The action in the scene creates a visual bridge which draws the viewers attention away from cuts.

This differs from a graphic match or match cut, as it portrays better continuity of the same action rather than matching two separate shots.

180 Degree Rule

The 180 degree rule is when a camera is placed somewhere inside 180 degrees on one side of the invisible line of a shot containing two people filmed in sequence.

If the camera crosses the line, it will create confusion for the viewer, because it makes it look like the people are switching places as one watches the film.

180 degree allows the audience to have a greater sense of location in the scene in terms of what may be off-screen in some shots, for example in shot reverse shots.

Shot Reverse Shot

Shot Reverse Shot is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character, and then the other character is shown looking at the first character.

Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other. Normally we we see the outline of one of the characters head or shoulder to show its their POV.

Shot reverse shot often ties in with the 180 degree rule to keep continuity by not distorting the audience sense of location of the characters in the shot.