Continuity Editing

Continuity Editing

Film and television is rarely shot in one continuous take. It is composed of a variety of different shots, angles and can be made up of shots from different takes. This means that the illusion of continuity needs to be achieved through the edit and needs to look realistic and invisible to the people watching the film. Continuity is done so that the shot runs smoothly and that everything is accurate in the shot.

Bad example of continuity as she is going to grab the cup
with her right hand but is then holding it in her left hand in the
last shot

180 Degree Rule

The 180 degree rule is used when normally filming conversations between two people. This is used as it doesn't confuse the audience about the scene, the characters look like they are looking at each other with an accurate eye line. Half of a circle is 180 degrees, there is an imaginary eye line which marks where half of the circle is, the camera must not cross this line, it can only move 180 degrees around the subjects. If the cameraman does choose to cross the imaginary line then this needs to be shown in the shot with it moving to the other side of the subjects. This doesn't confuse the audience as they can see the camera movement from one side to the other.

Match On Action

This is an editing technique for continuity in which one shot cuts to another shot portraying the action of the subject in the first shot.This creates the impression of continuity as the action continues even though the shots have changed. By having match on action the film will look accurate and every movement will match up to the shot making it look continuous.  

Shot Reverse Shot

Where the shot goes back and forward, normally between a conversation. Over the shoulder shots can also be used for this type of technique. This allows the audience to see which person is talking and what reactions the opposite person gives as a response. This technique often ties in with the 180 degree rule to retain continuity by not distorting the audiences sense of location of the characters in the shot.