Limbo Films (Group 16)

Continuity in Film

Continuity is a set of rules that are put in place to ensure that the shots fit together and look natural. The same scenes and lines must be filmed several times in order for the shot to fit perfectly together once you have edited it to what you need.

Continuity is used to stop films from having mistakes from shooting the same scenes at different times. for example the mistakes could be as simple as holding an object in the opposite hand or wearing different clothes.

A film that is produced with a higher budget has more continuity in it than a film produced at a low budget. For example there will be a big difference in continuity between The Big Six and an Independent film company such as Warp Films.

Continuity is a system of editing that allows the final scenes that have been cut flow continuously even if the shot is out of the sequence. It refers to the degree in which it is cut without error.

A continuity error is known as a blooper.

There are three rules in continuity 180 degree line, match on action and shot reverse shot.

180 degree line:

With this rule you can only film one way so that it keeps continuity flowing because is you film on the other side and you break the 180 degree rule then the objects and characters will look the opposite way around. Also if the rule isn't broken then it will intrigue the audience more because the film will flow.

Match on action:

Match on action is film editing and video editing techniques where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shot's action. For example a man walks up to a door and reaching for the knob you would get a long shot of him walking up to the door and then a close up of him turning the door handle and opening the door.

Shot, reverse shot:

This is when you have two different shots of the same conversation between two actors, once you have cut and edited the shots and put them together it will look like you have filmed between both of the actors. This rule has the 180 degree line rule within it because you have to stay on the same side of the line in order for it to work and fit together.