Preliminary Task

Before we start with the main task which will take the course of the academic year, we have to complete a preliminary task, this is a continuity task which will consist of will be planning, filming and editing a video showing a person opening a door, crossing a room, sitting down and then exchanging a few lines with another person. This task will test our skills at continuity.

Continuity means making sure that all the details of a shot are the same throughout, such as hairstyles, positions of props and lighting therefore making it a believable narrative. This also relates to match-on action which is when the editor cuts from one shot to another and the view matches the first shot's action. when the characters are talking to each other it will also test our knowledge of the 180 degree rule which is the rule that two people in a conversation should maintain the same left/ right relationship with each other, when the camera passes this imaginary line connecting the two characters it is called crossing the line and the shot is called a reverse. Another continuity editing technique that is commonly used is the Shot/ Reverse Shot which is used when two characters are having a conversation, this is used to show the characters reactions and facial expressions to each others comments. This shot also links with the 180 degree rule as it helps with continuity and does not distorting the sense of location as they will stay on the same side of the screen and they do not switch sides.

A diagram of how the 180 degree rule works

An example of the shot/ reverse shot