Research - Continuity

What is "continuity"?

Continuity is the maintenance of continuous action and detail in the various scenes of a film or bradcast, typically these details are kept the same in order to better tie scenes together or help them make sense. For examp, a continuity error leads the audience to realise that the piece they are watching is not as real/convincing; continuity errors can even go on to potentially spoil the immersion provided by certain pieces.

The consistency of the characteristics of people, plot, objects, and places seen by the reader or viewer essential for maintaining a believable or effective piece. It links into making a nicer flow for the audience or generally making sense of the situation.


Avoiding Continuity Errors

Shooting for television and film is typically non-linear, making continuity especially difficult; due to the importance of continuity in certain media, it is easy to understand why supervisors are hired in order to look out for continuity errors - attention to detail playing a major role in this.

Filming all the shots for a particular scene (and consecutive scenes) together; the scenes taking place together, with no break between them in the film's timeline, can be edited together easily. Actors are able to remain in costume, character, and the same location to prevent issues.

Linking into the idea of lighting, it is ideal to shoot on a set or in a studio as they provide more control over lighting and environment - unlike the weather which can change.


The 3 Main Rules

There are 3 main things to look out for, in terms of continuity, when shooting a film. You should mainly look out for:

• Action match
• Shot/Reverse shot
• 180 degree rule

These tend to help the audience remain 'spacially aware' of the scene. Firstly, the 180 degree rule ensures that the characters involved all maintain a reasonable flow of contact - looking in the same direction during a particular sequence as to establish where other characters are. The shot/reverse shot is typically used during conversations and can be used with an over-the-shoulder shot in order to better immerse the viewer. Finally, the action match can be used to better build dramatic tension and similarly they can be used to point out certain bits of symbolism; certain objects or actions can be highlighted or stand out if they occur across 2 shots (or more) - for example if a door was being opened.