Match on Action

Match on action is where you have an action in one shot for example a woman picking up a pen the first shot of her would be her reaching to get the pen, then the next shot would be of her  continuing to pick up the pen in a new angle or shot length.

shot 1. pen.
shot 2. pen and woman.

This next example is from anchorman. here we see Ron get a lighter out and light it.

He then puts the lighter up to the flute and lights the alcohol inside creating a flame thrower effect.

 

 

The interesting thing about this shot is that we do not know what is about to happen, and it also cuts from a close up to a medium long shot, instead of the usual match on action cut where you go from the bigger pictures to the closer details.