Match on Action180° Rule

Continuity EditingShot Reverse Shot

Charlotte Thistle

Vicki Cole

Emma Young

Match on Action• Also known as Match on Match• Is defined as: ‘A cut made on action or movement

between two shots in which the action has been overlapped either by repetition of the action or by the use of more than one camera.’.

• An example of the interpretation of a match on action shot is where a character would throw a ball and while its in the air there would be a cut to the same action but from a different angle so it would follow the ball to where it lands. The action would appear seamless however this may have been shot on more than one occasion.

• Here is a further example from the film Traffic:

180° Rule• This is the principle that there is an

invisible axis drawn, over which no camera shots are taken.

• If there are two characters, facing each other, talking, they are always shown from the same side, as in character one is always showing their right side to the camera and the left side of character two is seen.

• Furthermore, if the 180° rule was to be use by two television presenters they would always be shown on the same side of each other whenever in shot. For example Christine Bleakley and Matt Allwright, from the one show, are always shown sitting next to each other on the same side each week. (Christine on the right of the screen, Matt, on the left)

Continuity Editing• Continuity editing is defined as “A system of cutting to maintain

continuous and clear narrative action.” • This means the audience is passive nothing is left to the

imagination; Action is shown to be constant and the way shots are edited together presents the audience with a ‘logical coherence’ of shots.

• Continuity editing is typically used in soap opera’s, as the majority of the storylines of the storylines are based around

dialogue seqences; a typical example of when continuity editing is used.Continuity editing is also typical of live television, such as when showing a football match.

Shot Reverse Shot• This is commonly used during a dialogue sequence

when cutting between the characters who are speaking. The audience are shown one character talking to another character. The camera then cuts to the other character’s reply. The audience are positioned to think the two characters are talking to each other (in addition to their responses) even if they are not.

• An example of this is from Notting Hill near the end in the book shop between Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant: