Filming Techniques: Match on Action, Shot Reverse Shot, the 180 Degree Rule

Match on Action

A ‘match on action’ is a type of film editing. This is when the editor cuts from one shot to the other view that matches the first shot’s action. This can be seen in the clip from TV show 'The 100' when Clarke runs to Bellamy and hugs him and his sister, Octavia. This is because they both match each others actions as they reciprocate the hug, therefore responding to the first action - Clarke hugging Bellamy - by Bellamy hugging Clarke back.

Shot Reverse Shot

The ‘shot reverse shot’ is another type of film editing; it is when a character is shown looking at another character, and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. This is also shown in the TV series 'The 100' when Clarke and Bellamy both look at each other. This in itself is a full description of the scene as both characters are looking at each other.

The 180^o Rule

Unlike the two clips above, this clip is an example of a camera position which is called ‘the 180^o rule’. This is when a scene is filmed on one side of the action. This means that the scene cannot be filmed from one side of the action to another as it would confuse the audience. This use of camera positioning can be seen in the clip above from the TV series ‘The 100’ when Clarke emerges from a tent with her mother, Abby to be greeted by Raven, a mechanic from the Ark that she befriended over time. Throughout the whole of the scene we stay on Clarke's right and never go behind Raven on her left. This means that the camera has stayed on one side therefore using the 180^o rule.