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.