Continuity Editing is the predominant style of film and video editing. The purpose of continuity editing is to ensure temporal and spatial continuity as a way of advancing narrative, using such techniques as the 180 degree rule, Match on Action, and Shot,Reverse Shot. It was developed by early European and American directors, in particular D.W. Griffith in his films such as The Birth of a Nation. Continuity Editing is important as it helps to retain a sense of realistic chronology and generates the feeling that time is moving forward. It doesn't mean you can't use flashbacks or flash forwards, as long as the narrative will still be seen to be progressing forward in an expected or realistic way.
The first type of continuity editing is Match on Action. This is when you start an action in one shot and finish it in the the next. A filmmaker may use this as it creates a continuous shot and you can film the same shot twice and then put them together. By doing two shots you can change the position of the camera without altering the continuity of the shot. An example would be when someone walks through a door. The camera can be placed outside the room filming the character going in, then in the next shot you can move the camera into the room and watch the character entering the room. When using Match on Action, the camera operator and the character must ensure that everything is in the same position in both shots. If a filmmaker didn't use Match on Action to film a shot like this, it would create a jump shot, and therefore it will not be continuous. The audience are likely to get confused if they do not see the full extent of the action.
Another type of continuity editing is Eye Line Match. This is when you see the character looking at something off screen, leaving the audience to wander what they are looking at, then in the next shot the camera cuts to the person or object the previous character was looking at. Filmmakers may want to use this as it creates a sense of mystery within the audience as we are left wandering what the character was looking at. They may also want to use it to create an element of shock and tension. If the audience can't see what the character is looking at then they begin to question the situation and start to formulate their own understandings. If a filmmaker didn't use Eye Line Match then the scene wouldn't create as much tension as we'd be able to see the whole scene just as the characters can.
Shot, Reverse Shot is also a useful style of continuity editing. This type of shot is usually used in scenes where a conversation takes place. It's when the camera changes between faces and we see a shot of one character looking at another character, then we are shown the other character looking back. A filmmaker might want to use this as it makes the audience feel like we are the ones talking to the characters, creating a sense of empathy. Changing the shot creates a focus on the particular characters rather than being shown the whole scene. It keeps the audience engaged with what is going on to. If filmmakers didn't use Shot, Reverse Shot then the audience may start to become bored as it would be one continuous shot throughout. Also, if it isn't used then the audience may not hear important information and this may lead to confusion further on in the film.
The last technique of continuity editing is the 180 Degree Rule. This is the positioning of the camera in scenes where we see different characters, usually communicating with each other. During this communication the camera operator must make sure that the camera stays on one side of the imaginary axis ensuring that the characters on the left and right stay on the left and right sand don't switch places. Filmmakers may use the 180 Degree Rule to enable the audience to visually connect with the movement happening around the characters. If a filmmaker didn't us it then the scene would create disorientation and confusion within the audience as the perspective is altered. The only time it is suitable to break the rule is if the director purposely wants it broken to enforce confusion and disorient in the audience to foreshadow danger or change.
An example of when this 180 Degree Rule is purposely broken is in The Shining.
The first type of continuity editing is Match on Action. This is when you start an action in one shot and finish it in the the next. A filmmaker may use this as it creates a continuous shot and you can film the same shot twice and then put them together. By doing two shots you can change the position of the camera without altering the continuity of the shot. An example would be when someone walks through a door. The camera can be placed outside the room filming the character going in, then in the next shot you can move the camera into the room and watch the character entering the room. When using Match on Action, the camera operator and the character must ensure that everything is in the same position in both shots. If a filmmaker didn't use Match on Action to film a shot like this, it would create a jump shot, and therefore it will not be continuous. The audience are likely to get confused if they do not see the full extent of the action.
Another type of continuity editing is Eye Line Match. This is when you see the character looking at something off screen, leaving the audience to wander what they are looking at, then in the next shot the camera cuts to the person or object the previous character was looking at. Filmmakers may want to use this as it creates a sense of mystery within the audience as we are left wandering what the character was looking at. They may also want to use it to create an element of shock and tension. If the audience can't see what the character is looking at then they begin to question the situation and start to formulate their own understandings. If a filmmaker didn't use Eye Line Match then the scene wouldn't create as much tension as we'd be able to see the whole scene just as the characters can.
Shot, Reverse Shot is also a useful style of continuity editing. This type of shot is usually used in scenes where a conversation takes place. It's when the camera changes between faces and we see a shot of one character looking at another character, then we are shown the other character looking back. A filmmaker might want to use this as it makes the audience feel like we are the ones talking to the characters, creating a sense of empathy. Changing the shot creates a focus on the particular characters rather than being shown the whole scene. It keeps the audience engaged with what is going on to. If filmmakers didn't use Shot, Reverse Shot then the audience may start to become bored as it would be one continuous shot throughout. Also, if it isn't used then the audience may not hear important information and this may lead to confusion further on in the film.
The last technique of continuity editing is the 180 Degree Rule. This is the positioning of the camera in scenes where we see different characters, usually communicating with each other. During this communication the camera operator must make sure that the camera stays on one side of the imaginary axis ensuring that the characters on the left and right stay on the left and right sand don't switch places. Filmmakers may use the 180 Degree Rule to enable the audience to visually connect with the movement happening around the characters. If a filmmaker didn't us it then the scene would create disorientation and confusion within the audience as the perspective is altered. The only time it is suitable to break the rule is if the director purposely wants it broken to enforce confusion and disorient in the audience to foreshadow danger or change.
An example of when this 180 Degree Rule is purposely broken is in The Shining.
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