Continuity Editing Flashcards
Editing
in filmmaking, the task of selecting and joining camera takes
in the finished film, the set of techniques that governs the relations among shots
Cut
in filmmaking, the joining of two strips of film together with a slice
in the finished film, an instantaneous change from one framing to another
Fade-Out
a shot that gradually disappears as the screen darkens
occasionally, fade-outs brighten to pure white or to a color
Fade-In
a dark screen that gradually brightens as a shot appears
Dissolve
a transition between two shots during which the first image gradually disappears while the second image gradually appears
for a moment, the two images blend in superimposition
Wipe
a transition between shots in which a line passes across the screen, eliminating one shot as it goes and replacing it with the next one
Graphic Match
two successive shots joined so as to create a strong similarity of compositional elements (e.g., color and shape)
Constructive Editing
editing that suggests a scene’s space by providing only portions of it, without an establishing shot
Flashforward
an alternation of story order in which the plot presentation moves forward to future events and then returns to the present
Elliptical Editing
shot transitions that omit parts on an event, causing an ellipsis in plot duration
Overlapping Editing
cuts that repeat part or all of an action, thus expanding its viewing time and plot duration
Continuity Editing
a system of cutting to maintain continuous and clear narrative action
continuity editing relies on matching screen direction, position, and temporal relations from shot to shot
Axis of Action
in the continuity editing system, the imaginary line that passes through the main actors or the principal movement
the axis of action defines the spatial relations of all the elements of the scene as being to the right or left
the camera is not supposed to cross the axis at a cut and thus reverse those spatial relations
the axis of action is also called the 180 degree line
180 Degree System
the continuity approach to editing dictates that the camera should stay on one side of the action to ensure consistent left-right spatial relations between elements from shot to shot
the 180 degree line is the same as the axis of action
Screen Direction
the right-left relationships in a scene, set up in an establishing shot and determined by the position of characters and objects in the frame, by the directions of movement, and by the character’s eyelines
continuity editing will attempt to keep screen direction consistent between shots
Establishing Shot
a shot, usually involving a distant framing, that shows the spatial relations among the important figures, objects, and setting in a scene
Shot/Reverse Shot
two or more shots edited together that alternate characters, typically in a conversation situation
in continuity editing, characters in one framing usually look left; in the other frame, right
over-the-shoulder framings are common in shot/reverse shot editing
Eyeline Match
a cut obeying the axis of action principle, in which the first shots shows a person looking off in one direction and the second shows a nearby space containing what he or she sees
if the person looks left, the following shot should imply that the looker is offscreen right
Reestablishing Shot
a return to a view of an entire space after a series of closer shots following the establishing shot
Match-On-Action
a continuity cut that splices two different views of the same action together at the same action together at the same moment in the movement, making it seem to continue uninterrupted
Cheat Cut
in the continuity editing system, a cut that presents continuous time from shot to shot but that mismatches the positions of figures or objects
Crosscutting
editing that alternates shots of two or more lines of action occurring in different places, usually simultaneously
Montage Sequence
a segment of film that summarizes a topic or compresses a passage of time into brief symbolic or typical images
frequently, dissolves, fades, superimposition, and wipes are used to link the images in a montage sequence
What is editing?
the set of techniques that governs the relations between shots
What is a shot (in relation to editing)?
one interrupted static or mobile image
What is a cut?
an instantaneous transition from one shot to another
What is a fade-out?
gradual darkening to black
What is a fade-in?
gradual lightening from black
What is a dissolve?
the superimposition of the end of one shot with the beginning of another
What is a wipe?
a boundary line moving across the screen
What are the four formal relations between shots?
graphic relations
rhythmic relations
spatial relations
temporal relations
What is the non-binary approach to formal relations between shots?
shot transitions can exhibit any combination of these relations
What are graphic relations between shots?
the pictorial resemblances and differences between shots
What are rhythmic relations between shots?
the changes in shot duration
What are spatial relations between shots?
the changes in the depiction of space in the shots
What are temporal relations between shots?
the changes in the depiction of time in the shots
What is continuity editing?
dominant mode of editing in mainstream fiction film or television
main functions of continuity editing is the smooth flow of shot transitions and to maintain the spatial and temporal coherence of a scene or sequence
consists of set of rules that are used by editors when constructing scenes and sequences
What are the rules of continuity editing?
the 180 degree system
axis of action
screen direction
the eyeline match
shot/reverse shot
match on action
analytical editing
What is the axis of action or 180 degree line?
an imaginary line that passes through the main actors
What is the 180 degree system?
the stipulation that the camera should stay on one side of the axis of action to preserve consistent spatial relations
What is screen direction?
the right-left relationships in a scene, often set up by an establishing shot, and maintained by eyeline matches
the preservation of right or left movement by adhering to the 180 degree rule
What is eyeline match?
the principle in which the first shot shows someone looking in one direction with the next shot revealing what the character sees
if a character in the first shot is looking left, then the character in the second shot should looking right
What is shot/reverse shot?
two or more shots edited together that alternate between characters, usually in a dialogue situation
What is match on action?
a cut that occurs while a character is in the midst of an action, where the subsequent shot reveals the completion of that action, while appearing continuous
What is analytical editing?
the breaking down of the space of a scene into progressively smaller camera distances to control viewer attention upon what is narratively salient
often commences with an establishing shot to establish setting
