The Great Train Robbery (1903) was an early silent western film directed by Edwin S. Porter that experimented with film techniques like continuity. It told a story of a train robbery and was filmed on an actual moving train before green screens. The film established scenes, followed the 180 degree rule by keeping characters on the same side, and used match on action between shots to seamlessly continue the narrative.
2. Introduction
• This is a silent western film. Which was directed by Edwin S. Porter in
1903.
• This was filmed on a moving train as the green screen was not
invented until 1933.
• Edwin S. Porter was experiencing with different types Continuity.
3. Establishing Shot
This is an establishing shot to show where the main
parts of the film will be shoot. This also sets the scene
to show that there's a robbery taking place.
4. 180 degree rule
This is an example of the 180 degree
rule as you can see all the characters
in the scene are on the same side of
the imaginary line. This keeps
everybody on one side so it doesn’t
confuse the audience.
5. Match on action
• Match on action is when one shot goes into another which
portrays the action of the first shot.
• As you can see here the robbers are taking the money and
they head for the top of the train. In the next scene you see
them on top and get into a brawl.
