Preliminary Task
The 180 Degree Rule
The 180 degree rule is an important part of making sure a scene has continuity when two characters are exchanging dialogue and looking at each other. Imagine that there is a 180 degree curve that goes all the way around your side of the subject, in this case the two characters facing each other and talking. If you move the camera further than this 180 curve, the two characters could swap positions in the shot, or both be facing the same direction. This will mean as they talk the characters will no longer be looking toward each other, breaking the continual flow of the shot when constructing it in post production.
Preliminary Task Evaluation
When we filmed each shot we had to make sure that they followed one another. This was to reduce or eliminate potential continuity errors when sequencing the scene in post production. Therefore we planned out what we wanted to film beforehand, using a storyboard.
The scene shows Aaron walking through a door towards the bench where Will is sat. We then exchange two pieces of dialogue then leave.
As we filmed each shot, we made sure to place the camera almost at the point Aaron walked to.This meant that in post production, Aaron walking along appeared to continue. To properly achieve this seemingly continual scene is why continuity is important. For example if Aaron's costume had changed between shots, it would be obvious that the scene isn't continual.
Bad Preliminary Task Evaluation
In this version of the scene, we purposely added filters, music and continuity errors to illustrate bad editing practice. Firstly when Aaron walks through the door we see the door almost fully close, yet in the next shot the door is almost wide open. This emphasises that the shot were filmed separately. The following shot of Aaron walking is then not cut at all, meaning we hear Will and Thane criticising the shot and giving stage directions after, bringing us out of the narrative. The unneeded filters, music and sound effects also do this. If these post production additions don't relate to the scene, then they are really unnecessary! The shots then, where Aaron and Will exchange dialogue, deliberately break the 180 degree rule. This is where we see that the characters are not facing each other as they talk.