Continuity Editing

Students to print out and add to their folders

Task: Working in your groups take photographs to illustrate the following rules of continuity editing. These photographs, alongside definitions and possible diagrams or links, should be added to this post.

ESTABLISHING SHOT

  

 An establishing shot is a long shot or an extreme long shot, it usually consists of loose framing, it is often used to make the audience familiar with the location before the characters arrive. Establishing shots show spatial relations between the important figures, objects and setting in a scene.

Establishing shots were more common in the classical era of film making than they are now.Today film makers tend to skip the establishing shot in order to move the scene more quickly.

 

SHOT-REVERSE-SHOT:

  

A shot reverse shot is when two shots are edited together that alternate characters, typically in a conversation. Usually characters in one frame look left and in the following frame the the character looks right. This is so it looks like the characters are having a conversation with one another. It is essential when framing for shot reverse shots there is lead room and a good eye line match.

Shot-reverse-shot may not be filmed in the correct order but will be edited together afterwards to ensure it looks continuous.

180° RULE

 An 180° rule is when the angle between any two consecutive shots should not exceed 180°, in order to maintain a realistic relationships between people and objects in any given sequence of shots.

The 180° rule is a principle which underpins all TV and film production and ensures we do not to cross the 'line of vision' between two characters otherwise the viewer may not be able to make sense of the scene. When using this rule an imaginary line called ‘The axis’ connects the characters, by keeping the camera on one side of this axis.  If the camera passes over the axis, it is called jumping the line or crossing the line.


The same rule applies to a moving subject: keep to one side of the direction of motion. 

30° DEGREE RULE

The 30° rule is the angle between any two consecutive shots that should not be less than 30° to maintain the spatial relationships between people and objects in any given sequence of shots.
The 30° change of perspective makes the shots different enough to avoid a jump cut. However, if there is too much movement around the subject then it can violate the 180° rule.

Following this rule may soften the effect of changing shot distance, such as changing from a medium shot to a close-up or extreme close up.

CROSS-CUTTING

Cross-cutting is the term used when a piece of editing alternates between shots from different scenes occurring simultaneously.

This is done when the camera 'cuts' away from one action to another action; although it suggests that the scene are simultaneous, this isn't always the case. Suspense may be added with cross-cutting, it is built through the expectations that it creates and in the hopes that it will be explained with time. Tip - This is good for creating enigma in your OTS.

MATCH ON ACTION

Is when the camera shot changes size and position (and possibly angle and movement), but maintains the flow of the action.


                                                                 EYE LINE MATCH

An eye line match is a shot which consists of the character looking at something off-screen, followed by a cut to the object or person they are looking at.

The second shot shows the person looking back in the direction in which the person was talking to him in. This enables the audience to identify who or what the character is looking at. Sometimes over the shoulder shots are used for this as it helps establish the person whom our character is talking to.

                                                           RE-ESTABLISHING SHOT

A re-establishing shot is a shot which returns to a shot of the location after a character has engaged in a conversation. The purpose of a re-establishing shot is to give the audience a sense of surroundings of the character. For example an establishing shot may be used after a couple were having a conversation in their house and after that scene it shows a long shot of the house itself (re-establishing shot)