Task 7: Understanding Continuity Editing

Continuity Editing

Continuity editing is the main element of film and video editing. the purpose of continuity editing is to ensure temporal and spatial continutiy as a way of advancing narrative, using such techniques as the 180-degrree ruke, Match on Action, and shot, reverse, shot. it was developed by ealy European and American directors, specifically, D.Q. Griffith in his films such as The Birth of a nation.continuity editing is important as it helps to retain a sebse of realistic chronology and generates feelinh that time is moving forward. it doesnt mean you cant use flashbacksor flash forwards, as long as the narrative will still be seen to be progressing forward in expected or realistic way.

The rules.
Shot, reverse shot
180 Degree rule
Match on Action
Eye-line match

shot, reverse shot.

Shot, Reverse Shot is likewise a valuable style of continuity editing. This kind of shot is generally used as a part of scenes where a discussion happens. It's the point at which the camera changes in the middle of faces and we see a shot of one character looking at another character, then we are shown the other character looking back. A filmmaker might want to use this as it makes the audience feel like we are the ones conversing with the characters, making a feeling of compassion. Changing the shot makes an attention on the specific characters instead of being demonstrated the entire scene. It keeps the audience engaged in with what is happening to. If filmmakers didn’t use Shot, Reverse Shot then the audience may begin to wind up exhausted as it would be one consistent shot all through. Additionally, if it isn’t used then the audience may not hear critical information and this may lead to confusion further on in the film.

180 degree rule

This is the positioning of the camera in scenes where we see different characters, usually communicating with each other. During this communication the camera operator must make sure that the camera stays on one side of the imaginary axis ensuring that the characters on the left and right stay on the left and right sand don't switch places. Filmmakers may use the 180 Degree Rule to enable the audience to visually connect with the movement happening around the characters. If a filmmaker didn't us it then the scene would create disorientation and confusion within the audience as the perspective is altered. The only time it is suitable to break the rule is if the director purposely wants it broken to enforce confusion and disorient in the audience to foreshadow danger or change.

Match on action

Match on action is a technique of filming used in many sorts of film. This is when you start an action in one shot and complete it in the following. A filmmaker may use this as it makes a continiuos shot and you can film the same shot twice and then put them together. By doing two shots you can change the position of the camera without adjusting the continuity of the shot, a case would be the point at which someone walks though a door, the camera can be put outside the room recording the character going in, then in the following shot you can move the camera into the rom and watch the character going into the room. at the point when using Match on Action, the camera operator and the character must ensure that everything is similarly situated in both shots. in the event that a movie producer didnt jump shot, and thusly it wont be consistent. the audience are likely to get cobfused if they dont see the full extent of the action.

Eye-line match

The last technique pf conitnuity editing is eye line match. This is the point at which you see the character looking at something off screen, leaving the audience to wander what they are looking at, then in the next shot the camera cuts to the person or object the past character was looking at. Filmmakers may want to use this as it creates a sense of mystery within the audience as we are left wandering what the character was looking at. They may also want to use it to create an element of shock and tension, if the audience can't see what the character is looking at then they begin to question the circumstance and begin to detail their own understandings. If a filmmaker didn't use Eye Line Match then the scene wouldn't make as much strain as we'd have the capacity to see the entire scene generally as the characters can.