Continuity Evaluation and Video:

Continuity Exercise and Evaluation:

In class we were asked to produce a short film sequence demonstrating the use of continuity and how it allows scenes to flow gracefully alongside one another. Whilst filming our short film sequence we were asked to include a short segment of dialogue and display how to open and walk through door ways in numerous shots/takes. After watching back our first attempt of our continuity video, we realised that it did not flow as well as we would have liked, as some of the scenes kept jumping alongside each other. However, after much hard work in the media pod we managed to adjust a few scenes and edit sections of the dialogue so that the continuity film ran more smoothly. Thankfully, we managed to produce a well equipped film sequence.

1) What do you think was the point of the activity?

One might say that the aim of this activity was to understand the use of continuity and how it is used in today’s media industry and how this technique is used numerous times in films, TV and so on. We were asked to practice on our filming and editing abilities so that we could produce an effective continuity film sequence. In our movie, we were asked to capture one of the two characters opening a door and walking through it into the next room. We had to consider which camera shots/techniques that we were going to use and which shots would enable us to create a clean continuity sequence. Additionally, we had to think about the location where we wanted to film our scene and where about we could attract enough lighting.

2) In regard to your finished sequence what worked well?

It may be said that our continuity sequence came together successfully for the reason that each scene flowed continuously alongside each other gracefully without any hiccups or problems. The camera shots were extremely clean/neat as it followed from one scene to the next. For example, when our actor opened the door and walked through it, we were able to capture a fluent shot which demonstrated the use of continuity. We filmed the shot as a long shot, and the camera tracked the character as she walked down the corridor. When we filmed the scene where both characters were having a conversation, we included a variety of camera shots such as a face to face shot, a reaction shot, an over the shoulder shot and a close up/point of view shot (POV). Apart from some disruptions and background noise when filming, I believe that our finished sequence came together successfully as we took our time and effort to produce a well equipped continuity film sequence.

3) What would you aim to improve about your sequence? What continuity mistakes did you make?

If I was given the opportunity to re-film our continuity sequence, I would definitely want to edit the last scene of our film, for the reason that in the last few seconds of the scene the camera seems to jump as it tracks the characters movements. Unfortunately, this creates an unprofessional, unclean camera shot. Additionally, when filming each segment of the film I would make sure that the camera keeps rolling for a few more minutes before ‘cutting’ the scene. This allows us, the directors/editors to add more chunks of the scene into different areas of the film if we are in desperate need of a couple more minutes of footage.

4) What did you learn from this activity?

This activity, allowed me to have a greater understanding of how important continuity is and how it allows scenes to flow more elegantly alongside one another. Furthermore, I was given the opportunity to learn how to edit the scenes which we had filmed on a software called ‘Final Cut Express.’ Additionally, I learnt how to use different camera shots and which ones worked best when filming certain scenes, for example when we filmed the scene where both characters were deep in conversation we often used a ‘reaction shot’ as this would illustrate the expression on the character’s face. What’s more, is that the activity taught me that when you’re filming a character walking or running, the camera should always be tracking the actor/actress so that you do not lose the character in your shot, this also highlights the use of continuity as the character moves from one scene to the next as if no time has passed during the film.

5)  Compared to ‘The Accident,’ how would you rate your pre-production, production and post production this time around? Justify/Explain.

Compared to ‘The Accident,’ our continuity sequence was extremely successful and impressive for the reason that our sequence flowed gracefully alongside one another and demonstrated the use of continuity, whilst ‘The Accident’ lacked continuity and jumped between each scene making our film look unprofessional and amateurish. Our pre-production for our continuity sequence was well thought out, as we planned what camera shots we were going to use, in which order we were going to film our camera shots and lastly, how we were going to link our shots together to produce a successful film sequence. The production of our continuity sequence flowed efficiently as it took us no time at all to film each scene of our movie, as we already knew what type of camera shots we wanted to use. Post-production, was exceedingly easy for us as we only had to edit and shape up a couple of seconds at the beginning and ending of each scene so that the continuity flowed alongside each scene of the film sequence gracefully. Realistically, the pre-production, production and post-production of our movie successfully enhanced the continuity in our film.

Continuity Exercise and Evaluation