Our first start at the preliminary task

In this attempt we had used the 180 degrees rule that allowed the audience to understand a sense of perspective for where the two subjects where located in the room throughout. We had also created a number of different clips to collaborate to ensure that each event doesn't seem to drag on for too long. However in this we had only used a short number of camera angles such as a neutral shot. This is risky because the use of multiple camera shots is vital to keeping your audience interested with the different senses of power and perspective of the people/subjects on camera. This piece is filled with continuity errors as they were made to give a bad example of the preliminary task that we were set.

better preliminary task

After using editing software and a re-filming of the short film we were able to produce a better example of a more successful video by following the essential rules of media. We avoided continuity errors in our final piece, we did this by using editing software to make the transition from door to room seem smooth and make sense. A continuity error is when something like a character that is holding a cup may not be holding it in the next and then maybe holding it again in the next. One of these rules of media is the 180 degree rule. This is the rule that you can not pass an imaginary line set in between the subjects of the shot, the purpose of the line is to make sure that both subjects are not looking like they are in the same area facing away from each other. We overcame this by making sure that we did not cross the 180 degree line. 

180 Degree rule

The 180 degree rule helps the audience know where everyone is in the scene. Imagine if you were watching this scene of dialogue from the side, you would need to understand where the blue and red people are standing whilst they talk. In order to maintain this understanding you must not ever cross the line that is drawn between the two people. This is important because if you do it will look like the blue person is on the right and the red is on the left via a sudden switch, which is of coarse not the case.

Match on action

Where the cut from one shot to the next is guided by some kind of physical movement in the fore ground. This is an essential component of editing as it helps form a smooth bridge between a cut in shots to potential continuity issues.