Post 18: Media language: editing

180 Degree rule

When filming the 180 degree rule is a basic guideline between the on-screen relationship between a character and another character or object within a scene.

An imaginary line called the axis connects the characters and by keeping the camera on one side of this axis for every shot in the scene, the first character will always be frame right of the second character, who is then always frame left of the first.

 If the camera passes over the axis, it is called crossing the line or jumping the line.

The diagram below shows this.

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 back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.
Here's a helpful link for information and concept on shot-reverse-shot: 

get loads of information about shot-reverse-shot here 

Match-On-Action

This is when something happens in the scene then when there is a cut the same piece of action must also be going on. This is also an example of continuity editing and this is also very important in helping the audience understand exactly what is happening throughout.

Cut: This is putting two shots together. This is done by the editor in the finale stages before a film is released. Between sequences the cut marks a rapid transition between one time and space and another, but depending on the nature of the cut it will have different meanings.



Cross-cutting: Cutting between different sets of action that can be occurring simultaneously or at different times, (this term is used synonymously but somewhat incorrectly with parallel editing.) Cross-cutting is used to build suspense, or to show the relationship between the different sets of action.


Jump cut: Cut where there is no match between the two spliced shots. Within a sequence, or more particularly a scene, jump cuts give the effect of bad editing. 


Continuity cuts: These are cuts that take us seamlessly and logically from one sequence or scene to another. This is an unobtrusive cut that serves to move the narrative along.



Editing: Editing refers to how shots are put together to make up a film. Traditionally a film is made up of sequences or in some cases, as with avant-garde or art cinema, or again, of successive shots that are assembled in what is known as collision editing, or montage.


Fade in: A punctuation device. The screen is black at the beginning; gradually the image appears, brightening to full strength. The opposite happens in the fade out.