Continuity

Definition

Continuity (German: Anschluss or Kontinuität) refers to the consistency of all visual and narrative elements between successive shots. In editing, these shots must fit together seamlessly, even though they may have been filmed hours or days apart.

Types of Continuity

Spatial Continuity

• Actor positions
• Eyelines
• Left/Right orientation
• Camera axes (180° rule)

Temporal Continuity

• Time of day (lighting!)
• Season
• Chronology of the action
• Duration of actions

Prop Continuity

• Object positions
• Fill level of glasses
• Length of cigarettes
• Clothing and accessories

Movement Continuity

• Direction of movement
• Gestures (which hand?)
• Position within a movement
• Pace

The 180° Rule

The most important rule for spatial continuity:

 AXIS
 │
 ┌─────┼─────┐
 │ A │ B │
 │ │ │
 └─────┼─────┘
 │
 ─────┼─────
 CAMERA ZONE
 (one side!)

Rule: The camera stays on one side of the axis between the main characters. Crossing it confuses the viewer spatially.

Typical Continuity Errors

On Set

• Props moved
• Clothing changed (buttons, collar)
• Hair different
• Lighting changed

In Editing

• Jump cuts due to lack of angle change
• Eyelines don't match
• Movement is interrupted
• Sound doesn't match the image

The Script Supervisor

The Script Supervisor (formerly: Continuity) is responsible for monitoring:

Tasks

• Photos of each setup
• Notes on positions and props
• Monitoring dialogue
• Documentation for editing

Tools

• Polaroid/Digital camera
• Detailed notes
• Script with annotations
• Stopwatch for timing

Continuity Check on Set

Before the Take

1. Compare positions with the last take
2. Check props
3. Check clothing/makeup
4. Compare lighting (for exterior shoots)

After the Take

• Ask "Continuity okay?"
• If unsure: Video review
• Update photos

When is Continuity Unimportant?

Some directors consciously break continuity:

• Jump cuts as a stylistic device (Godard)
• Dream sequences with breaks
• Time jumps within a scene

Practical Tips

For the Director

• Plan coverage, don't improvise
• Adhere to the shot list
• When in doubt: more takes

For the Camera Department

• Pay attention to details
• Communicate with the Script Supervisor
• Shoot both sides of a dialogue scene promptly

For the Editor

• Review footage before editing
• In case of errors: creative solutions (cutaways, reactions)
• Sometimes errors are unavoidable

See also

• Script Supervisor – Responsible position
• 180-Degree Rule – Axis rule
• Match Cut – Seamless cut
• Eyeline Match – Matching eyelines