This document outlines a film continuity exercise for students to familiarize themselves with basic filming and editing techniques. Students will work in groups of 3-4 to film and edit a scene where one character opens a door, crosses a room, sits in a chair, and exchanges a couple lines of dialogue with another character. The task aims to demonstrate techniques like match on action, shot/reverse shot editing, and following the 180-degree rule. A 3 step process is provided: 1) create a storyboard, 2) write brief dialogue, 3) film the scene.

1. AS Media
Film Preliminary
exercise
COMPULSORY

2. • Purpose: To enable students to become
familiar with basic filming and editing.
• Duration: 2 lessons
(1 to plan/ storyboard and film, 1 to edit)
• Work in groups of 3 or 4

3. THE SET TASK:
• Continuity task involving filming and editing a
character opening a door, crossing a room and
sitting down in a chair opposite another
character, with whom she/he then exchanges a
couple of lines of dialogue.
• This task should demonstrate match on action,
shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.

4. EXAMPLE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CSlLSRxyhk

5. Match on action
• To use this technique, cut from one shot to
another view that matches the action and pace of
the first shot. This creates an impression of
continuity.
• If a character begins an action in the first shot
and completes it in the next, a visual ‘bridge’ is
created which acts to disguise the cut from one
to the other.

6. Shot reverse shot
Shot reverse shot is a film technique wherein one character is shown looking (often
off-screen) 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 unconsciously assumes that they are looking at each other.

7. 180 degree rule
The 180° rule is a basic film editing guideline that states that two characters (or other
elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to
each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it
is called crossing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side, is known as a reverse
angle.

8. Step 1: STORYBOARD
Storyboards are essentially basic, cartoon versions
of what each shot will look like when filmed and
edited.
Each storyboard frame should indicate:
• the action (especially where each character is positioned in
relation to each other)
• the mise en scene (background, the props, lighting)
• the shot type (close up, extreme close up, long shot, mid shot)
• any movement (pan, zoom, tilt, track)

10. Step 2:
Write the DIALOGUE
Keep it brief to a couple of lines
only

11. Step 3: GET FILMING!
As part of the transition from AS to A2 you must walk into a room and sit down. This
activity is the first part of you A2 coursework and must be completed by all students.
Work in a group of no more than 4 students. All students must produce their own
storyboard and edit their own version of the footage
Roles
Actor 1
Actor 2
Director
Camera operator
Shots
Close up
Extreme close up
Medium shot
Long shot
Match on action
Shot reverse shot
Two shot