Part of Lesson Plan: Shooting a Chase Scene

Activity Overview / Details

When shooting for action scenes, it's important to remember how this will be cut in editing. It's important to understand how the finished scene will look even before it's shot so it can be planned properly. Show the cutting on action scene.

When finished, set up a camera and tripod, connect to monitor or projector if possible so entire class can see. Set up a wide shot of a classroom (easy enough) and ask a student to enter the shot and make his way to an empty desk, sit down and prepare for class. Then set up a med shot of desk (from same angle) and ask student to repeat the action. Ask students where the cut is made in editing. Some may still say that it's before or after they sit down but the idea is to make the cut "invisible" so show them how it's important to cut on the action, which would be when the person is in the act of sitting down.