Rules of Continuity in Filming

  There are five main rules to follow during filming in order to create the impression of one continuous scene, and to not confuse and disorientate the audience. These rules are: the 180 rule; shot/reverse shot; the 30 degree rule; match on action and the rule of thirds.

The 180 Rule

  The 180 rule is the idea that the camera should never go past an imaginary line between the two main subjects in the scene, aka the line of action. This is to not disorientate the audience and to give them a sense of space in the scene. You can see this in the clip, as the camera never passes the white line on the floor.

Shot/Reverse Shot

  Shot/reverse shot is the basic idea of cutting between two characters during dialogue to make the conversation seem real and to make it understandable to the audience. It can also be used without dialogue to show what or who a character is looking at. In the clip it is used when the characters are looking into each other's eyes.

30 Degree Rule

  The 30 degree rule is the idea that, when returning to a similar shot, the angle should be at least 30 degrees different. This is to stop the new shot from looking like it is unsuccessfully trying to replicate the previous shot; and to make the repeating shots more interesting for the viewer. You can see it in the clip when the two different camera shots are used on the subject to keep it interesting.

Match on Action

  A match on action is when the camera cuts to a close up shot of something happening on the screen, such as the slamming of a door or checking of a watch. It is used to show the audience something important or give them a better sense of what is happening within the scene. In the clip it is used when the woman lights her cigarette.

Rule of Thirds

                                    

The rule of thirds is the idea that, to make a composition look good, the points of focus should be placed along one of the lines of thirds on the screen. This helps to make the scene look more natural and interesting to the viewer. In the video you can see how much better the image looks once the rule of thirds has been applied to the landscape.