Continuity Editing is one of the main styles of editing used throughout Cinema & Television. The main point of continuity editing is so that you can’t tell discontinuity between shots of different angles. Four main points of continuity editing is Shot Reverse Shot, Match on Action, 180 Degrees Rule & Eyeline Match.
- 180 Degree Rule: This is a basic rule of continuity editing; two characters in a scene should always have the same position (left/right). If this is broken by the camera crossing an imaginary axis, then it’s called a reverse angle.
- Shot Reverse Shot: This is a common thing used in film. It’s where one character is show looking at another character, then that character is seen looking back or talking to the first character. With them in opposite directions, the audience assume there looking at each other.
- Eyeline Match: Known as a popular editing technique Eyeline Match is based on the audience seeing the same as the on-screen character. Usually the character would be looking off-screen then there’s a cut to what he/she is looking at.
- Match on Action: Match on Action is a useful technique that allows you to shoot the same piece of material but then put it together using different camera shots. For example, someone may be walking down a corridor and in one shot the cameras behind them and in the next its next to them. Although it’s switched shots, he’s still in the same place and doing the same movement.
