Continuity in film is the process of a technique such as cutting two shots, smoothly. This can be portrayed through an action an actor performs, for example sitting down, the editor can compose two shots next to each over, such as a long shot as the person is walking towards the chair and a medium shot sitting down. The editor positions the shots to look as though they flow and happen together, when they are actually two separate shots, repeated twice from different camera angles. Continuity happens as the shot transitions from one to another, without jumping/abrupt changes for the eye to catch out, therefore the movement appears as it would in reality, when the camera is actually switching across several angles. Continuity can only be successful if the same physical factors are kept, otherwise continuity is broken. For example objects which appear within the background must be kept there, otherwise it may catch the audiences attention, which applies the same for the clothing worn within the shot, for example if shots are taken at different periods of time, things must be kept the same as the last shot taken.
180 line of action
During filming a maintained conversation, you must focus on filming ONLY on the 180 degree line, meaning one side of the shoulders, for example of two people. The rule is a guideline put in place to ensure cast have a left to right relationship frontlines when being filmed. However, you can change the angle by changing the shot type for example, to a close up of the facial expressions of certain cast. Filming the other side can also break continuity, as the set is different on the other side, therefore changes the image the audience are seeing, flipping the side they are familiar with. Flipping the set, disengages the audience and makes them miss the plot of the film or certain parts to it, as they need to feel a continuous sense of direction and location.
Example of 180 degree line of action
Shot reverse shot
During a conversation being filmed, the changing shots from a shot of one person to another, or a shot of one object to another is called shot reverse shot. This is a continuity editing technique, which presents what the cast is supposedly looking at or the person they are talking to. This is alternated as they speak, or look at one another, from reverting to the person and a reverse angle shot back to another person. This technique ties in with the 180 degree rule, and retains continuity as it doesn't disorientate the audiences perspective on the sense of location and characters. The shot reverse shot routine has to have eye line match otherwise the audience perspective of location and who the character is talking to distorts.
Example of shot reverse shot
Match on action/match cut
This is an editing technique used to cut one shot to another, portraying some sort of action. This technique hides cuts, as the brain follows movement automatically, therefore by using movement to hide a cut, the audiences attention is grasped on the moving object/person rather than the slight jump/edit. For example, using a long shot as a person walks over towards a café and reverting the shot to a close up as they enter the door, it goes unnoticed as attention is paid to the movement, not the cut. This is draws the viewers attention away from continuity issues. This technique creates a continuous sense of action rather than placing a shot next to another shot.
Example of match on action
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