Continuity Editing

Continuity Editing

What is Continuity?

Continuity is when the audience is immersed in the film and they aren't disrupted by things being out of place or the fact that the something has changed since the last scene.

180 degree rule

In the 180 degree rule you must not move the camera 180 degrees from one side to the other. If the 180 rule is broken when the camera changes position in a cut, continuity is broken meaning the audience will no longer be immersed in the film. The 180 degree rule can be broken if the audience is guided across the 180 degree barrier.

30 degree rule

In the 30 degree rule the camera must not move more than 30 degrees during a scene. If the camera moves more than 30 degrees continuity will be broken. This rule may be ignored if the audience is guided by the camera around the scene.

Crosscutting

Cross cutting is when the camera cuts from one scene to another scene and back to the first scene. This is used to show two different sequences in different places at the same time.

Match Cutting

Shot Reverse Shot

Rule of Thirds
In the rule of thirds the screen is split into three equal sections vertically, the main focus of the scene must be in one of the thirds and not in the middle.

Media Project Why are you here?

Short Film

This is our first media project that we have filmed and edited ourselves.

Rush Opening Scene Analysis

Rush Opening Scene

At the beginning of the opening scene there are lots of close ups of a F1 race car. This instantly tells us that this film is going to involve racing. It then slowly moves up to show the driver's face which is looking up at the sky with a serious face. This gives us the impression that he is thinking deeply about something. In the next scene there is a two shot of two drivers side by side with their cars. The driver on the left is having lots of pictures taken standing next to women and he is smiling. This tells us that that driver is quite relaxed, confident and possibly reckless because he is so relaxed. The driver on the right is sitting in his car looking up at the sky. This tells us that this driver is more serious about the race.

50 First Dates Trailer Analysis

50 First Dates Trailer

In this trailer you can tell its a romantic comedy because many of the different romantic comedy conventions are included in the trailer. In this trailer the main character falls in love with a girl who keeps forgetting what happens the day before. This means the main character has to keep asking the girl to go out on a date. In the trailer there are loads of scenes where the main character is hurt or things don't go his way and there are funny consequences. This tells us that this is a romantic comedy film.

Bridget Jones's Diary Trailer Analysis

Bridget Jones's Diary Trailer

You can tell from the trailer that Bridget Jones's Diary is going to be a romantic comedy film because the trailer shows scenes where the main character is doing ridiculous things like standing on a table while smoking and singing. There is also a love triangle in the film, this leads to the main character having to decide between two men. Movies involving a triangle usually contain a punch up between the two male lovers which is shown in the trailer.

Romantic Comedy Genre Analysis

Romantic Comedy Conventions Mind Map

These are some of the main conventions for a Romantic Comedy Film.

Animation Genre Analysis

Spirited Away Trailer

In this trailer for Spirited Away you can instantly tell its animated. Further into the trailer the main character encounters a character, Haku, who tells her to leave immediately. This builds tension in the audience. In the scene afterwards the atmosphere completely changes because everything is suddenly very dark and there are ghosts floating around the town. This continues to build tension in the audience and makes the audience ask "What is going on?" The music played at the beginning of the trailer is mysterious and perfectly matches what is actually happening in the trailer because a family has entered an unfamiliar place and are curious. Towards the middle of the trailer the music changes to drums. The drums vary in loudness throughout the rest of the trailer and adds to the tension in the audience. The trailer finishes off with the music changing to a more uplifting tune. The movie title is then revealed with sparks and flashes which attracts the audience to watch it because the sparks and uplifting music connote fantasy and happiness.

Sci-Fi Genre Analysis

Avatar Trailer

In this trailer you can clearly see that Avatar is a Sci-Fi movie because it contains aliens and lots of futuristic military equipment. The trailer also shows scenes containing aliens which is also a common thing found in Sci-Fi movies. There are also lots of scenes showing the home of the aliens which is lit up with bright neon lights. This tells us that it is set on a different planet. The sound used in the trailer is also very dramatic. This makes the trailer build tension in the audience a lot better because the audience will feel more immersed in the trailer. The editing in the action scenes are also fast paced making it more exciting for the audience to watch.

Scream Opening Scene Analysis

Scream Opening Scene

In the opening scene of scream there is a girl in her house alone. The phone rings and she picks up the phone to a mysterious person who says he has dialled the wrong number. After the girl hangs up on the phone the mysterious person continues to phone the same number saying he just wants to talk. We can tell this is a horror film because the character on the other end of the phone says he will kill her. There are scenes showing the outside of the housing making us think that someone might be outside the house. There is no sound at the beginning of the opening scene until the mysterious person starts to threaten the girl, then there is tension building music.

In this scene the girl is talking on the phone with the mysterious person. This is shown using a close up shot. Close up shots are used to show a person's facial expression in detail. In this scene it is used to show the girl talking on the phone as well as the glass door behind her. This creates tension in the audience because its dark outside and it makes the audience think that something will appear or jump out at them.

In this scene the camera has changed to view the outside of the house. This is shown using a long shot. A long shot is used as an establishing shot so the audience knows where the scene is set. In this scene the long shot of the house creates tension because there are lots of dark shadows making the girl inside the house seem vulnerable.

In this scene the girl is looking through the window in her front door. This is shown in a first person perspective. This makes the audience feel like they are in the character's shoes. In this scene it also creates tension because the mysterious man on the phone could jump out from anywhere and scare the audience.

Jeepers Creepers Opening Scene Analysis

Jeepers Creepers Opening Scene

In the opening scene to Jeepers Creepers there is a couple in a car and they are driving down a road. When they pass a creepy house and mysterious man they are chased by a rusty truck who tries to run them off the road. From this opening scene we can immediately tell that the film will be a horror film because it contains a mysterious character dumping a body into a hole.

In this scene one of the main characters is shown looking nervously at his rear view mirror. This is shown using a close-up shot. Close-up shots are used to show a characters emotions in detail. In this scene the close up shot is used to show how nervous the main protagonist is. This close up also shows the car that is following them but it is distant and blurred making the antagonist mysterious.

In this scene the main protagonists drive past an old house and see a mysterious man dumping what seems to be a dead body into a hole. This is shown using a long shot. Long shots are normally used to establish where the scene is set but in this scene it is used to show the mysterious man from a distance. This makes it seem like you are in the main character's position looking at the mysterious man from afar.

In this scene you see one of the main protagonists looking nervously through the back window of their car. This is shown using a low angle close up shot. Long angle shots are usually used to make a character look important but in this scene it is used to make the main protagonist look scared. This is also a close up shot which is used to show a character's facial expressions in detail.

The Expendables 2 Opening Scene Analysis

The Expendables 2 Opening Scene

In the opening scene to the Expendables 2 three armored trucks go into an enemy base to rescue someone. During this there is lots of guns, explosions and blood which instantly tells us that this film is going to be an action film. The editing in these action scenes are also fast paced making the scene more dramatic. The music used in the opening scene is non-diegetic and is fast paced to build tension in the audience.

In this scene the driver pushes an iron beam on the front of the bumper revealing the words "Knock Knock". This is shown using a close up. Close ups are usually used to show a character's emotion in detail. In this scene it is used to show the words clearly on the iron beam. This is an example of a cliche because after he pushes the iron beam forward they smash through stone walls into the enemy base.

In this scene the audience can see the three armored trucks driving towards the enemy base. This is shown using a long shot. Long shots are normally used to show the audience where the scene is being set. In this scene the long shot camera shot is used as an establishing shot. This shot can also be used to make the characters look small against the massive enemy base which can make the opening scene more dramatic as it is a couple of men against a large group of enemies.

This scene is after the main characters drove a motorbike into the windscreen of the helicopter. The picture above is when the helicopter comes crashing down into a building. This is shown using a long angle shot. Low angle shots are usually used make a character more superior to the audience because the character is viewed from below. This scene uses a low angle to make the helicopter look bigger when it comes crashing down so the scene will be more dramatic as the characters have brought down something enormous.

The Mechanic Opening Scene Analysis

The Mechanic Opening Scene

In the opening scene to The Mechanic there is an assassination. This instantly tells the audience that this film will contain other violent scenes. It also tells the audience that this film is an action film. At the beginning of the opening scene there is no music. This builds tension because the audience is waiting for something to happen. When the person is grabbed under water dramatic music suddenly starts to play making the scene more intense. The music is non-diegetic because the characters can't hear the dramatic music.

In this scene the person who is about to be killed is swimming in his indoor pool. This is shown with a high angle shot. High angle shots are usually used to make a character look vulnerable because the audience will be looking down on them. In this scene the high angle shot is used to make the character look vulnerable and small in a large open area.

In this scene it shows expensive looking watches in box on a table. This is shown using a close up. Close ups are normally used to show a character's facial expression in detail. In this scene the close up is used to make the audience focus on the expensive watches. This tells the audience that the place they are in is wealthy and the person living here is rich and might be of high importance.

In this scene the main protagonist is shown getting away with the crime he just committed. This scene is shown using a long shot. A long shot is usually used to establish where the scene is set. In this scene the long shot is used to show the main protagonist successfully escaping down the river holding onto a boat.

Action Film Genre Analysis

Action Film Conventions Mindmap

In this mind map it shows some of the main conventions of an action film.