Continuity Editing

                                        Continuity Editing

Continuity editing is often used in narrative short films and in some TV programmes which is part of film and video editing during the post- production process of film making as directors and producers use the method for one main purpose which is to smooth the editing process and to install shots with logical coherence following a set of rules. 

Continuity editing consists of the establishing shot, shot reverse shot (180 rule), 30 rule, crosscutting, match on action, eye line match, cutaway/ insert shot, sound barrier and white balance. 

Some of these shots are used in my Job interview scenario continuity editing video below.  

Evaluation of My Contiunuity Editing Video

I feel confident that me and my group have used most of the continuity editing shots such as the estbalishing shot, crosscutting shot, sound barrier, cutaway/ insert shot, match on action shot, shot reverse shot (180 rule) and the eyeline shot which were asked to use in the assignment for the video. However i have pointed out that some of the camera shots we used in the continuity editing video where not effectively performed which i found when when reviewing the video. for instance the first establishing shot, match on action and the interview scene did not look effective in my point of view.

We used two establsihing shots in the beginning of the video. The first scene the camera was panning slowly to the left in a long shot (LS) which shows the mise en scene of the office buildings to represent the location of the next scene and to show the relationship of the objects which made it effective. However i felt that the filming was not proffessionaly done because the camera kept staggering when it was panning to the left which made it look rough towards the audience. The second establishing shot was perfectly achieved as this time the camera panning to the left was much smoother than the first and that it followed the movement of the client (interviewee) and showed the building where the interview will take place in a long shot which perfectly represetned the mise en scene of the human resources department.

The match on action shot that was used in the beginning of the interview sequence when the client enters the interview room was not professionally effective as the scene was meant to involve the client entering the room and then the completion of closing the door behind him with a close up shot (CU) of the door shut. Instead the sequence only showed the client entering the room and closing the door before shaking the hand of the interviewer.

The shot reverse shot and the eyeline match that was used in the interview scene during the conversation between the interviewee and the interviewer i felt was profesionally established and was perfectly performed along with the use of the over the shoulder shot (OTS) which suits the setting of the room and environment. However i also felt that it was presuminly repetitive throughout the whole scene which makes it look boring towards the audience.

The lighting however that was used in the interview room was quite unsual but i felt that it clearly suit the mise en scene of a interview room within the atmosphere which creates the nervousness of the interviewee character and the seriousness of the interviewer which made it look rather different from other intervier videos scene in movies, drama and programmes.

The dialogue of the interviewee however did not look effective as the character look like he did not know how to respond to any of the questions and looking down at the piece of paper was definetly not professional and independant along with the posture of the individual. On the other hand this was meant to represent the nervous state of the character .

Improvements of My Contiunuity Editing Video

If i was asked to redo the job interview scenario continuity editing video then i will improve the stability of the first establishing shot in order to recreate a smoother pan of the office buildings.

I will also improve the sequence of the match on action scene and redo the establishement of the interview scene with the shot reverse shot and the eye line match properly and include a couple of medium close up shots (MCU) in to the sequence.

I will definetly include a conclusion to the video of the interview scene to show the client shaking hands with the interviewer and then walking out.

Finally i will improve the dialogue and the posture of the client during the interview sequence.