CONTINUITY

It is important to make sure the audience understands what is going on in a movie. When the camera cuts from shot to shot it is essential to keep the narrative continuous and clear. Directors and editors use many techniques to make sure of this:

• Camera shots – Long, mid, close-up shots, in that order! If the camera suddenly cuts from a long shot to an extreme close-up, it can confuse the audience.

• Editing – post-production editing allows the footage to be cut down to what is really needed and each scene or frame to be ordered. This is where the story really starts to make sense in terms of chronology.

• Transitions, such as fades, cuts, wipes or dissolves are used to create a smooth change from shot to shot. Sudden cutting confuses the audience and interrupts the narrative.

• Transitions can also be used for effect – to create a fast-paced action sequence or slow, romantic scene.

• When editing, it is important that the cuts do not give two frames within 30° of each other, to avoid jumps.

• The 180° rule ensures that the placement of characters is clear to the audience. The concept refers to an imaginary line, where the cameras can only shoot from one side, and never cross the line. This is used a lot in conversation scenes or scenes where direction of the character is important.

• Match on action – it is important that a character does not seem like they have gone backwards or forwards when they are moving between cuts.

• Master shots, or establishing shots, are used to show the audience where all the characters are in relation to each other. This helps the audience to understand what is happening.

• Sound editing ensures that the sound matches up to what is happening on-screen.

• Lighting is an important factor in establishing the setting, atmosphere and tone of the film. This helps the audience to believe in the action.

Continuity editing is an editing process that ensures that the film makes sense to the audience. Suture is a process that ensures that the audience can ‘suspend their disbelief’, i.e. believe in the made up story of the film (especially in fantasy!). The aim is that the audience do not realise the editing techniques and feel as if they are seeing the events unfold in real life, with their own eyes.

When I come to make my own film, it will be necessary to ensure that it makes sense, and that the story flows smoothly. The cuts must not be obvious, to ensure that the audience can ‘suspend their disbelief’. To help the audience to believe in the story, I will need to use the relevant lighting, sound and framing to convey the right atmosphere.