Continuity Editing

What is Continuity Editing
This style of editing retains a sense of realistic chronology and generates the feeling that time is moving forward. the use of flashbacks or flash forwards maybe used but the narrative will still be seen to be progressing forward. within this style of editing there are many terms or ways of implementing the style. these affects can be used independently of each other to create desired affects

Eye-line match
in an eye-line match we see a character looking at something off screen and then wee cut to a shot of what they are looking at. This way the audience can see exactly what the character can see and what the director wants them to see. an example of an Eye-line match would be in Starwars when the stormtroppers are looking for princess Leia.


Match on action
in a match on action we see a character start an action in one shot and then see them continue it in the next. all this tells the audience is that when one shot ends another will pick up where the other left off making the reality of the film fluid and continuous. There is an example of this in the TV show friends.


Graphic match
in a graphic match you see 2 shots linked with similar shape or composition of an image. there are many examples of this one is in 2001 a space odyssey.


180 degree rule
the 180 degree rule is a basic guid line that states that two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other.