Twilight Zone: Continuity Editing

What is Continuity Editing?
A way of breaking down a scene into a series of shots.

Why 'Continuity'?

• Creates coherence and helps spectator orientation;
• Way shots are edited must permit the viewer to piece them together like a puzzle;
• Techniques of continuity editing enable the viewer to create a continuous picture from the shots presented on screen
• Connect characters, connect time. 

Continuity Editing - Key Techniques

Observing the 180 degree rule 

• The viewer is positioned on the same side of the scene or action (i.e. the invisible 4th wall).
• A film edited using continuity editing orients the viewer by placing them on one side of a 180 degree axis line of action. 
• Axis of Action, Director's Line
• Line between characters and camera can only stay on one side
• Helps to use a wide shot or establishing shot 
• One character looking to screen right, the other looking to screen left
• Camera has to move if you want to cross the line to show the movement visually
• Directors may intentionally break this rule to create disorientation.

The Eyeline match

• A character in one shot glances at something off-screen (out of frame) and a cut reveals the object the character is looking at. 
• The line of the character's glance has matched the two shots together, creating coherence. 

Point of view Cutting

• Variant on the eyeline match.
• Character looks offscreen, cut to the object the character is looking at. 
• Object is shown from the character's POV, through the character's eyes.

The match on action cut

• Cut from one shot to the next where the action is continued from one shot to the next. 
• Continuity of the same action across the shot creates coherence. 

Directional continuity 

• If a character exits the shot from the right of the screen, he should enter the next shot from the left of the screen.

The Establishing shot

• To make transitions smooth
• Used at beginning of stories or beginning of new scenes within the narrative
• A re-establishing shot may be used after many cuts to remind viewer of spatial context. 

Parallel cutting / Cross-cutting 

• Editing that alternates shots of two or more lines of action occurring in two different places, usually simultaneously 

Transitions

• Jump Cut - an abrupt transition between shots, sometimes deliberate, which is disorientating in terms of the continuity of space and time. Helps with the passing of time.
• Traditionally as seamless as possible
• Can be more creative e.g. 
• Dissolve - the first image gradually disappears while the second image gradually appears; Can be used as a straightforward editing device to link any two scenes, or in more creative ways, for instance to suggest hallucinatory states. 
• Only use Fade, Dissolve, Straight Cut

Rhythm

Why edit? Why risk disorientating the viewer? Why not just use long takes and deep focus photography?

• Because only have one shot with no movement is boring, and you want to direct your audience to look at what they need to look at. Help their understanding progress, help the story progress. 
• Gives director complete control over events and actors
• Gives viewers optimal access to the unfolding events
• Helps to prolong suspense
• Allows viewer to be more involved in action rather than focus on character psychology or actor's performance
• Eliminates unnecessary time and space

Needs element of chase. Film cannot be any longer than 4 minutes.