Today we explored basic filming rules including the rule of thirds and the 180 degree rule. I found this lesson very interesting as it allowed me to understand how much planning and detail goes into a simple shot of two people talking. As well, one of my goals for this year is to gain more knowledge about cameras and how they are used to their best ability and I felt this lesson helped to improve my understanding. Furthermore this lesson will be useful when my group start filming for our continuity task.
Match on action – This is an editing technique where one shot cuts to another shot portraying the same action from the first shot. This creates a sense of continuity and makes a continuous scene maintain flow, which draws the viewers attention rather than separate shots.
180 degree rule – This acts as a filming guideline for actors in a scene. It helps to maintain the realistic nature of a conversation between actors by showing the left – right relationship and presents a greater sense of location.
Shot reverse shot – This is another editing technique that is used in conversations between characters looking at each other. The first shot shows what the other character would see whether that is a point of view shot or an over the shoulder shot, followed by a reverse angle shot of that same character looking at the other person. This ties in with the 180 degree rule as they are both used to maintain consistency.
Shot types:
- Extreme long shot – Furthest distance from subject and emphasises background. Biggest distance out of all the different shot types.
- Long shot – Shows a characters full body length and some surroundings.
- Medium shot – Usually presenting a character from the waist upwards.
- Close up – A detailed view of a persons face/ body part or an object filling up the entire frame.
- Extreme close up – A shot focusing on only one part of a person in a very large scale, for example the eye.
Camera angles:
- High angle – A shot placed a bit above eye level.
- Low angle – A shot placed below eye level.
- Birds-eye view – Looking directly down above something.
- Worms-eye view – Looking directly up at something.
- Wide angle shot – A broad shot taken with a wide angle lens.
- Tilted shot – When a camera is tilted on its axis so the vertical lines appear slanted to one direction.
- Two shot – A shot of two people together.
- Point of view shot – A shot made from a camera position close to the line of sight of the actor.
Mise en scene – In its simplest term means the arrangement of props and actors on a set/stage. It is split into setting/location, costume, lighting, props, colour, position, body language and facial expressions.
Rule of thirds – This acts as a basic guideline for taking effortless photographs. It can compose an image to create a sense of balance without looking too structured. The tool presents a grid of nine boxes that you can use to align objects within the frame depending on what you are trying to achieve. A top tip when using this tool is to have the main subject positioned either in the left or right region, not in the direct centre. When capturing a landscape you usually align the horizon with the upper or lower third of the frame as it appears more dramatic. Additionally you can have off centre shots which portray movement or motion, for example a bird taking off. I tested out the rule of thirds for myself and here were my results:
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