Continuity Editing

Definition: What is 'continuity editing'?

Continuity editing is a process of collecting shots and editing them to create and establish a continuous narrative, this is done through the use of various shots, angles, camera movements and editing techniques. For example if a man is hungry, and decides to eat a packet of crisps, there may be a point of view shot towards the crisps, and then would cut to a medium close up of him eating a crisp.

Why use continuity editing?

Using continuity editing will help to establish a narrative, and make the video that the director is filming feel natural and flow well. Using continuity editing will allow the shots to go well together, instead of being a collection of random footage which would be confusing for the audience. If a film is disjointed and has no continuity, it will not be a success at all.

What shots shall be used?

• Establishing shot
• Long shot
• Medium Close up
• Close up
• Extreme close up
• High angle shot
• Low angle shot

What editing techniques?

• Eyeline match

• Graphic match

• Fade
• Wipe
• Shot reverse shot
• Action match

Here is an example of continuity editing

Tripod Research

Script for my Preliminary Activity

Script

Bully: “What do you want?”

Christian: “Eugh-eugh, I don- sorry.”

Bully: “You better be, you drama nerd.” [Pushes]

Christian: “I don’t know why you pick on me, why don’t you leave me alone?”

Bully: “Because you’re a whiny little drama nerd.”

Christian: [sighs]

Bully: [hits him]

Christian: [grabs fist] [punches back]
Bully: [falls]

Bully: [on floor] “Ouch!”

Christian: [walks away]

Outline of Storyboard

Shot List

1. Crab of Christians feet - jump cuts
2. fade into establishing shot - Christian walking through the corridor, possibly 2 to 3 seconds. 
3. Panning in Close up/ extreme close up - Camera pans in to Christian's face, shows his shocked facial expression due to seeing the bully, 2 seconds. 
4. Cut to bully, low angle shot, tilt - shows bullies facial expression of anger, also establishes his power.
5. Over the shoulder of bully - 2 seconds 
6. Two shot of them both together - 1 second
7. Dialogue: "What do you have there?" - bully, Christian looks at book with a point of view shot - 2 seconds
8. Reverse shot to the bully and Christian matched with dialogue
9. Close up again of the bully's face, zoom in
10. Bully punches Christian - medium that cuts to extreme close up
11. Cut to close up of Christians face 
12. Eyeline match towards bully's hand 
13. Cut towards a medium close up of Christian
14. Long shot showing his fist punch the bully
15. Cut towards the fist
16. Jump cut towards bully on the floor
17. Fade into low angle shot of Christians face
18. Zoom into Christian's face 
19. Cuts to High angle shot down to the passed out bully, track out to signify the end of the action
20. Long shot of Christian walking away - fade to black

Ideas for the narrative of my Preliminary Activity

Young boy (of school age) is being bullied for his love of drama. 

Beginning: The boy is walking through the school when an older student walks up to him with an angry facial expression which sets up the confrontational nature of the rest of the scene, and helps to establish the bad relationship between the two characters.

Narrative: The older boy begins to verbally abuse the younger one, bullying him about his interests and deeply threatening him, the scene continues with the older boy constantly picking on the younger one until the younger boy's face changes from a look of horror to a look of anger.

Ending: The younger boy finally snaps, and hits the older one in the face, making him pass out and getting his revenge, the scene ends with the younger boy walking away.

Preliminary Activity - what the product must include

• An outline idea - what will it actually be about? The story?
• A storyboard/ animatic - illustrations to demonstrate what shots will be used etc.
• A script - the lines and directions for the actors within the video
• Two Characters - the people the actors are going to play
• A variety of camera shots/ angles and movements - how the camera will be used in the video
• Continuity Editing
• Dialogue between the two characters - what the characters actually say
• Titles/ Graphics - text within the video
• A soundtrack (composed in Garageband) - the music in the video