Continuity Editing

Continuity editing

Continuity editing is the ability to film a number of different camera shots taken from the particular scene; then edit them and put them together so the scene created has a natural and continuous flow.

You can shoot with one camera and give of the illusion that you have shot with 10 cameras, this is a factor can persuade your particular audience that they are watching a real story take place and they are non-participant within the action. There are ways of getting this done and how it should be done within continuity editing.

1. MATCH ON ACTION
2. 180 DEGREE  RULE
3. REVERSE SHOT

Match on action is an editing technique for continuity editing. It is implemented when one shot cuts straight into another shot portraying the action the subject is involved in during the first shot. This creates the impression that the scene is continuous. This will draw the viewers’ attention from slight cutting and continuity issues. It portrays the cuts of the same action rather than matching two separate scenes.

The 180 degree rule is a filming guideline that is used when there are participants within the scene. They should have the same left-right relationship to one another, with filming should only taking place within the 180 degree. For example this could be obtained during a conversation. The audience can see each person’s perspective in the conversation; also they getter a better sense of location. With the 180 degree rule we will not confuse the audience. If we must break this rule then the camera should follow the change with it.

Shot reverse shot is used for conversations or when characters are simply looking at one another. Shot reverse shot has a link to the 180 degree rule that has the same continuous motion that does not distraught the audiences sense of location of the characters involved in the same shot.