Original subtitles

What happens when actors suddenly acknowledge

the existence of the camera and our presence as viewers?

It really depends on the plot, but it certainly breaks the illusion

that we are simply witnessing the events and become part of the story.

The term fourth wall comes from theater.

Since the stage is traditionally a three walled box.

The audience sees the play from the imaginary wall at the front of the stage.

In cinema, the camera effect

becomes that fourth wall.

What is interesting about this technique from a storytelling perspective,

is that the characters seem unaware of the fact

that they are fictional characters within the story.

We know the wall has been broken when a character acknowledges the audience.

This could either be in knowing glance towards the camera

or a monologue to the viewer sharing what he or

she thinks about a situation that has just occurred.

Great examples of breaking the fourth wall successfully

can be found in Flight Fight Club, Annie Hall and Emily.