Moving Images, Understanding Media

16 Moving Images: Making Movies, Understanding Media

a b

Figure 1-21a–c Consider the two edits created by cutting to either Figure 1-21b or Figure 1-21c: in

which cut did the camera cross the axis?. (Courtesy of Carl Casinghino).

c

camera was moved to the other side, and the screen direction for the cut

from Figure 1-21a to Figure 1-21c looks odd: It is as if the ball is moving

from the wrong direction.

Visualize two people in a room, facing each other and talking. Now

picture a sequence of shots back and forth between them as they engage in

a conversation. If the camera is always placed on one side of the axis, the

actors will look like they are addressing each other, since the screen directions

will seem logical. In fact, the two actors could even shoot their close-ups

separately and never be together in the room!

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