Continuity Style Editing
• Jump Cut: edits that reveal or present themselves as discontinuous jumps
in time, action, or space
• Whenever possible vary the horizontal field of view between successive
shots. When Shooting events & activities think: wide shot, medium shot,
close-up. Your first shot should typically be a master, cover, or
establishing shot, then tighten your shots as you continue to tape.
• TV is a close-up medium. My beginning shooters frame shots too wide
and include too much headroom. Always try to capture close-ups of
events, but also be conscious of the hazards of shallow depth of field,
framing & composition, and excessive camera shake.
• While varying the horizontal field of view, also attempt to vary the angle of
approach.
• Repeating actions, or shooting repetitive actions varying the horizontal
field of view and the angle of approach allow you to build matched action
edits.
• Adhere to the 180 degree rule to avoid action mismatch problems.
Remember to cross shoot interviews, conversations, and reaction shots.
• Use cutaways, B roll, and reaction shots.
• Let subjects in motion move into and out of stationary frames.
• Shots with secondary movement (panning, tilting, arcing, dollying,
pedding, trucking) should begin and end at rest.
• Classical editing stratregies:
o Eyeline match edits
o Split edits (L & J edits)
o When editing dialogue allow for proper breath space
o Cut in and cut out edits
o Parallel scene edits
o Flash back edits
o Cutting to the beat
o Cutting on dialogue
o Montage
o Dissolve, fade, wipe transitions
o Compositing and collage