Continuity Editing

Designed to make the fragments of film knit together invisibly and coherently so that the viewer understands the action and is not disrupted by the changes from one shot to the next.

The following are elements of continuity editing:
- The 180 Degree Rule
- The Establishing Shot
- Shot/Reverse Shot
- Eye-line Matching
- Matching on Action
- Re-establishing Shot

THE 180 DEGREE RULE - 'The axis of action' is the term used to describe an imaginary straight line drawn between protagonists in a scene. The camera position is planned around this lone. The purpose of the 180 degree rule is to ensure spatial continuity so that the viewer understands the overall space in which the action takes place and to maintain consistency of screen direction.

THE ESTABLISHING SHOT - In the continuity system a scene will start with an establishing shot, which is a long shot showing the overall space in which the scene is to take place.

SHOT/REVERSE SHOT - Conservation between characters is usually presented using a shot/reverse shot, sometimes called an over the shoulder shot because the shoulder of one character is often within the frame.

EYE-LINE MATCHING - This is where the first shot shows a character looking off screen at something/someone and the second shot shows the object/character being looked at from the first character's point of view. This ensures that even if characters are not in frame together we are sure of their whereabouts.

MATCHING ON ACTION - The first shot might show a character starting to walk across the room, the second shows the same character arriving at the other side of the room. The middle part has been cut out but continuity is maintained because the action is consistent.