What Is It?
Match-On-Action is the ability to stitch several shots together to create the illusion of verisimilitude. This is most commonly used when trying to make something seem like one continuous action, such as walking down a corridor, reading a book or making a drink.
For example, the video below shows an example of match-on-action, where our character is filmed making a cup of tea.
How Is It Done?
A sequence is shot through a number of different ways. For example, for the above video, all of the midshots were filmed first, to minimalise non-continuity. The close-ups of the tea were filmed afterwards, then were stitched together in post-production.
It can also be done thorugh cut-editing. A shot of a character walking towards the camera would be done, followed by one of the character still walking the same way, this time shot from behind.
The actor would have to stop at the right point, just before walking past the camera, and then the shot would cut. The action at the end of the first shot would have to also be the same action at the beginning of the next shot, to create continuity. The camera can be moved around as long as there is the golden rule applying:
If a character is walking towards the camera on the left, they must walk away from it on the right. Otherwise, the shots do not stitch continuously and the effect is ruined.
They also use jump-cuts - where there is no transition between each shot. Otherwise, the scene would not be continuous.
Why Is It Done?
Match-On-Action is used to film continuous scenes, such as chases or walking down a corridor. It also be used in fight scenes, to make a scene seem more realistic, therefore creating verisimilitude. This therefore means nobody gets hurt and the film does not lose any quality in filming.
No comments:
Post a Comment