Camera techniques

Match on action 

This is a movie editing technique where the editor cuts one shot and immediately begins with another which matches the first shots action. Common examples of this technique is someone opening a door and opening the knob from one side, the shot then cuts to another shot of the door being opened from the other side. Although the shot may have been taken hours apart, the viewer is given the impression its a continuous flowing shot. Another example of this is a scene from friends below.

Shot reverse shot

This is another movie technique often used in films. It is where one character is shown to look at another character, often off screen, then the second character is shown looking back at the first character. This then gives the viewer the impression both characters are looking at each other. An example of this is a scene from the Hunger Games shown below.





The 180 degree rule 

This rule is a general guideline, in film making in regard to the spatial link between one character and another during a scene. Its almost an imaginary line keeping the camera on one side from the characters for all shots within a certain scene. However If the camera crosses the line the characters position within the scene becomes almost disorientated, despite this some film makers purposely do this for "dramatic effect". Below is an example from a movie.