Match on action

Match on action refers to a technique used when trying to give the impression of a passage of time in a scene. This is achieved by filming two shots from the same scene of action and cutting them together. These shots may have in fact been filmed hours apart… The character will often begin the action in one shot and carry it through into completion in the next; this distracts the viewer from noticing the jump in time or the fact that there is a “continuity error” between the two shots.

This effect can also be achieved by letting a character exit a frame in the first shot and then entering the frame  in the same direction (exiting from left to right and then entering from the left)… This continues the rhythm of the screen direction.

 

Preliminary task filming

We used a varied range of shots in this piece, from close up to wide shot, trying to keep the boom pole out of the shot at the same time (which we didn’t manage in one frame). We tried to make sure that each shot followed in to the next one so that we could be sure that the storyline was easy to follow.

We started by filming a pen tapping on the table and then Lucy standing outside of the door and followed by filming her hand turning the door handle. Next we showed her entering there room and then panned her walking towards the desk but cut this journey short and skipped to a close up of her sitting on the seat. Throughout the piece we recorded the sound of the pen tapping with the microphone so that we could later edit out the camera audio, and put this in over the top of the visuals. We used point of view shots from behind both characters shoulders to capture the dialogue.

Overall, as a group, we managed to fulfil all aspects of the task at hand, and in this way I feel that we were successful; at the same time making the dull piece mildly interesting. We do still however, have to edit the film clips together in order to complete the work.

Preliminary task planning

Given the inside knowledge that the important aspect to focus on were the camera work and the positioning of the microphone, we began to plan how we would use the camera and microphone in our piece. Our story line consisted of a girl walking in to the room sitting opposite another character and then having a boring simple four line conversation with her. As simple as this sounds, i know, we did of course add in some details such as close ups of characters mouths, a pen tapping and wide shots featuring both characters. Also, during the planning sage of the process, we decided on our four line conversation:
“Hi, how are you?”
“Not too good, you?”
“I’m fine. What’s up?”
“Doesn’t matter.”

Added to this, we planned out each frame for each shot and how these would link in together (fingers crossed)…

Preliminary task instructions

Yesterday I started the first filming part of my AS Media course. We were given a task to fulfil and 45 minutes in which to complete the filming side, and additionally to be actors in a partnering groups project. In order to complete the task successfully, we had to film one person walking in to a room, sitting down opposite another person and then them having a four line conversation.

Welcome

Jazzmin Fotherby is the name and Media Studies is my game.

During the next year, at lest, I will be blogging regarding topics linked to my A-level media course. I look forward to sharing the pre production, production and post production elements of my projects on my blog, as well as other parts of my course.

I expect that a large quantity of my blog material will be made up of my reviews and opinions on films and new music that i have discovered. My media interests include listening to music, particularly 80s rock (absolute 80s radio is a way of life) and watching TV.