Post 3-Continuity

Section A

Continuity editing is a style of film editing in the post-production process of film making. The purpose of this editing technique is to smooth over the inherent discontinuity of the editing process. Also, it is used to make a shot appear more realistic and it stops any jumpiness occuring.

There are two types of continuity editing, one is called temporal continuity and the other is called spatial continuity.

There is more information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuity_editing

The rules and shots of continuity editing

The 180 degree rule

This rule refers to the idea that there is a 'line' which cuts through the middle of a scene, from side to side with respect to the camera. So if you break this rule and cross this line, then it changes the viewer's persepctive and causes confusion. So to avoid breaking this rule, the camera should stay on the side of vision that it started on and not move beyond that.

A link to show a clear explaination of the rule: http://www.mediacollege.com/video/editing/transition/reverse-cut.html

This diagram show the 180 degree rule. As you can see, crossing the line switches the people into different positions and causes confusion.

The Shot-Reverse shot

This type of technique is where one character is shown looking at another character, usually off-screen, and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. So the characters are shown looking in different direction, it is made to look like they are looking at each other to the viewer.

For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_reverse_shot

Match-on-action

Match-on-action means when something is happening in the scene, and then there is a cut, the same action must be occurring. This technique is really important for the viewer so they understand continuously what is happening.  It portrays a continuos sense of the same action, rather than matching two separate things.

I found a clear explanation here: http://www.slideshare.net/joe940/match-on-action-180-rule-shot-reverse-shot

My examples of 180 degree rule and Match-on-action

The picture above and below show when the 180 degree is broken. As you can see, if you go beyond 180 degrees, the positions of the people change, which then confuses the viewer.

The picture above and below show match-on-action. So someone opening a door is then continued into the next shot,