Continuity Task Planning

Continuity Task Requirements:

Continuity - the predominant style of editing cinema and television.

The purpose of continuity editing is to smooth over the discontinuity of the editing process and to establish a logical coherence between shots. It emphasizes smooth transitions of time and space.

Must have :
Match on action.
Shot reverse shot.
180 degree rule.

Match on action - When some action is occurring before the cut is picked up exactly where the cut left it by the shot immediately following (only showing a different time).
E.g. A shot of someone tossing a ball can be edited to show 2 different views, while maintaining continuity by being sure that the second shot shows the arm at the same stage of its motion as it was left when cutting from the first shot.

Shot reverse shot - When one character is shown looking (often off screen) at another character, and then the other character is shown looking "back" at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the view unconsciously assumes that they are looking at each other.
E.g. 2 people at a dinner table. Close up of first person looking past the camera is followed by a close up on the second person, looking again past the camera.

180 degree rule - A basic film editing guideline that states that two characters (or objects) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other.This will mean that they are following narrative and avoids any confusion.



Continuity Film - summary, props, script, shooting schedual

Summary of Stituation -
A man is seen walking down the street, he looks angry. He gets a text message and looks at his phone, it says 'Come home now.' It cuts to him walking in the house and slamming the door shut behind him. His wife is sat down waiting for him, they talk and she tells him she wants a divorce. A close up of his eyes is the match on action, he is standing on top of a bridge ready to jump.

Props -
Mobile phone

Script -
Location 1: A street. Man walks down the street. He gets a text message, it reads 'Come home now.'
Location 2: Lauren and Stuarts house. It then cuts to him walking in his house and slamming the door. His wife is already sat down, he sits opposite her.
Lauren - (pause) Have you calmed down now?
Stuart - (shouted) Calm down! (pause) How can I calm down?! (quietly) You cheated on me.
Lauren - (pause) (quietly) I want a divorce.
Stuart - (pause) You what?
Lauren - I'm moving out with him. (pause) This time I'm gone for good.
Close up on his eyes - match-on-action - he's standing on a bridge ready to jump.

Shooting Schedual -
1. Man walking - wide shot - 4 seconds
2. Gets his phone out of pocket - medium shot - 4 secondss
3. Message is shown - big close up - 4 seconds
4. Door slams, he comes in and sits down - wide shot - 8 seconds
5. (shot reverse shot) Woman speech - medium close up - 3 seconds
6. (shot reverse shot) Man speech - medium close up - 5 seconds
7. (shot reverse shot) Woman speech - medium close up - 3 seconds
8. (shot reverse shot) Man speech - medium close up - 2 seconds
9. (shot reverse shot) Woman speech - medium close up - 6 seconds
10. (match-on-action) Mans eyes - big close up - 3 seconds
11. Man on bridge - wide shot - 5-7 seconds