three rules

We were introduced to the preliminary task where we had to focus on continuity, the 180 degree rule (see attached image) and match on match action and shot reverse shot.

Match on match action is where you cut from one shot to another which keeps the same pace as the first shot; this creates an image of continuity although the shots may be filmed weeks apart. If the character completes the action in one shot and completes it in the next, a visual bridge is created which disguises cut to cut.

Shot reverse shot is where you take a shot with one camera from one side of the scene and then swapping to another shot which is taken from the other side with a different camera.

We then, made a story board of what we were going to do in the preliminary task, this allows us to visually conceptualise the flow of action and to work through the practical details, at some point we will probably depart from the storyboard as we may have thought of something better than the shot we drew on the story board.

We filmed the preliminary task and had to focus on the three things detailed above to create continuity, we then went and filmed to a timed schedule so we would get used to filming within a schedule. We then edited what we'd filmed so it was in order and so we could get used to the editing software, we needed to put the shots in the order which they should be in as we didn't filmed in the order the sequence should be in.

We felt we were successful as we had steady shots throughout and we had continuity with the shots being in the same room and the actors being the same, we used all three rules so this is also a success as we were told we had to use all three of them. We could improve the costumes that were on the actors as we had to film during school time and we don’t have time to keep on getting changed every time we film as we would not have enough time to film and edit what we needed told to do, however, the pre-lim task was really a focus on filming techniques and skills. The key things we learnt were the 180 degree rule, match on match action, shot reverse shot and that we must keep continuity as it makes it look more professional.