Match on Action

Match on Action definition- 

Match on Action is an editing technique used in continuity editing that cuts two alternate views of the same action together at the same moment in the move in order to make it seem uninterrupted.

This allows the same action to be seen from multiple angles without breaking its continuity. It fills out a scene without messing the reality of the time frame of the action. 

The next sequence of events continues the film without the viewer being aware that the shots were taken at separate times.

For example a person opening a door and filming can be stopped. The following day filming could be continued as the same person enters a room. The viewer will not be aware that any break has taken place. But you have to make sure the character you are filming is:

         - Wearing the same clothes

         - Appears identical to the previous filming time

         - Lighting  (time of day/weather)

       - Also if person entering on the left they have to leave on the right

This activity we demonstrated a Match on Action Scene. Match on action is an editing technique for continuity editing, this is where one shot cuts to another shot portraying the action of what’s happening in the first shot. This creates continuity, the action carrying through creates a ‘visual bridge’ which draws the viewers’ attention away from slight cutting or continuity issues. It portrays a continuous sense of the same action rather than matching two separate things.

In the match on action activity our scenario was to show action of getting up from a chair and walking away, before the filming begun we sketched a script of where we was going to position the two cameras using tripods for a more affective still professional shot. As this was planned it was much easier to start the filming without the faffing around. The placing of the two cameras was important as we didn’t want to get a shot of the other camera in the scene, also we had two views of the same action which was filmed at the same time.

The simplest part of this activity was the filming, I was expecting the filming to take a few attempts as we wouldn’t of gotten the first shot right or there would have been a few minor errors that would have had to correct in the other shots but surprisingly first attempt we got the shot we needed without any mistakes. The most challenging part of the match on action activity was the editing, combining the two footages together on IMovie was quite difficult as we had troubles uploading the footage onto the computer, this challenge could have been overcome perhaps after a few uploading attempts, just a few more practice’s then it would have been fine. From this activity I learnt how to upload footage from a video camera to IMovie, although this did take some time and effort to get it right.

Demonstrating 180 Degree rule and Shot reverse shot

The 180-degree rule is essential in keeping the viewer focused and avoiding them confusion. Once a scene has been established, the camera must stay on one side of the action. If two people are facing each other, a line must be drawn to mark clear for the actors and camera crew, the line runs straight down the middle between the two people. Now the lines in place the camera can move anywhere as long as it stays on the same side of the line once filming has begun. 

Shot reverse shot is a technique where one character is shown looking (often off-screen) at another character, and then the other character is shown looking "back" at the other character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other. 

The footage demonstrates the 180-degree rule and shot reverse shot, i directed the scenes and also helped edit the footage that we uploaded onto iMovie. I directed the actors on how to gesture there body language right for the scene, told them what facial expressions to use on certain lines and what actions to pursue during the course of the filming. The body language, facial expressions, eye level and body actions are very vital and key as the audience can tell so much from them into what exactly is going on and how a character is feeling. I also helped with the editing, after uploading the footage from the video camera to iMovie.