Prelim Task - Post 3 - Continuity

Continuity refers to the consistency of everything within a scene as well as technical details, such as camera positioning and equipment settings.When filming a scene, workers will look out for any details which will effect any continuity and so related shots will match up in the editing stage, thus making the film flow without any errors.
More information on continuity.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuity_(fiction) 

The rules and shots of continuity editing 

The 180 rule°

This rule states that there is an invisible 'line of vision' between any two actors in a film, this line of vision sets up the scene, showing who is on the left and who is on the right in the scene. The rule uses this line as its basis, stating that the camera must stay on the side of the line of vision that it started on, only being able to move 180°. This means that the characters in the film do not suddenly swap positions in the camera view, thus confusing the audience. 

Diagram of the 180° rule:








For more information:
http://www.solutioneers.net/cinema/axis.htm 

The Shot-Reverse shot

This is a film technique that involves showing a shot of one character looking at another character and then another shot of that character looking at the first character. This shot indicates that the characters are looking at one another, even though the viewer can't see that they are. 

Diagram of the shot-reverse shot:










For more information: 
http://www.artoftheguillotine.com/index.php?page=shotreverseshot 

The Match on Action shot

This shot occurs when consecutive shots match up an action, in the first shot, an action with start and in the next shot (or multiple shots) this action is completed. As an example, in the first shot, someone goes to sit down on a chair, the next shot is the chair being moved into position and the next is the character sitting down on the chair. 


For more information: 
http://www.infoplease.com/cig/movies-flicks-film/cutting-for-content.html