Film Sequence Deconstruction

Little Miss Sunshine
(Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, Starring Abigail Breslin)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CthB71GqYa0)

Deconstruction of sequence and continuity techniques used:
- From 0:12 to 0:26 shot reverse shot is used to show the action of Olive talking and the reaction of the audience. The 180 degree rule is also kept to, as the audience are always looking to the left of the frame and Olive to the right
- From 2:49 to 2:50 match on action is used as Olive runs through one shot to the next. It is timed so that her movements look continuous and smooth
- 2:54 to 3:02 shows CU's and WS's of the family running on stage. They have been edited together to make sure the characters are in the right place at the right time, even when they are in the background (match on action). This action is also broken up by showing reaction shots of the mother, judges and audience
- 3:38 to 4:38 continues to show the match on action during the whole family dance. They have cut the action up with reactions of the audience and shown different angles of the dancers but they are always matched up to make the movements look smooth and make sense. The cut away of the dancers and audience also stays with the 180 degree rule, so the audience are always looking left to avoid confusing the viewer
- Throughout the sequence, only cuts are used to keep the fast pace of the actors movement. This also avoids complicating the sequence, so the audience can understand what is going on
- There is an establishing shot (master shot) of the stage and the audience at the beginning. This sets the scene and allows the camera to zoom in to the characters later with the viewer still understanding where they are and the distances between the characters
- The 30 degree rule is never broken as when the camera cuts to the same character, it is always from a different angle or direction. For example, from 2:52 to 2:58 it cuts from LS in front of the father, then a MS hand held forward track behind him, then a MLS from his side