180-Degree System

When filming, there's a line that you are not supposed to cross with your transitioning film clips. When you begin a scene on the left side of someone, you cannot cross the 180-degree line and suddenly be on their right side. However, the key to working around this line is to use a b-roll insert and re-establish a new 180 line. In zombie films, jumping the 180-degree line can help establish a sense of awkwardness and disorientation for the viewers.

 

Establishing/Re-establishing Shot

An establishing shot shows the viewers where a scene takes place, and can be used to establish new locations.  With zombie films, using an establishing shot can show vast abandoned spaces, or largely-packed zombie landscapes.

 

Eyeline Match

Using an eyeline match can draw a parallel between what a character is looking at and what the viewer is looking at.

 

Match on Action

A match on action can draw a parallel between something happening in two different locations or scenes. For example, in zombie films, a match on action can be created when a zombie is eating someone's arm in one shot to another zombie eating someone else's arm in another shot.