Continuity shots and editing techniques

Continuity shot refers to arranging the sequence of shots to suggest a progression of events.the common type of shots that we studied under this category included the 180 degree shot, L-cut, shot reverse shot, eye line match, buffer shot and match on action.

Understanding these shots seemed a bit difficult to me in the start however later,through practice i did understand the usage of these shots and what meaning is created through using these shots.

• According to what we learnt, 180 degree shot is one in which the camera is placed at a 180 degree on the same axis to record 2 people. To what i understand the basic reason behind using this shot is to keep audience orientated. Eg the following scenes taken from 'The Vow' Can help illustrate this concept.

       

• transitions shots are those shots that transit one scene to a totally different scene. EG

in this scene the couple is going in a car which later transforms into the scene where we see the actor laying on the hospital bed.

• similarly, L-cut is another type of continuity shot where the director deliberately di-synchronizes 2 shots to attract audience attention to what is being spoken rather than what is being showed.
• shot reverse shot is similar to a 180 degree shot where the camera is continuously shifting from one person to the other (eg in an converstaion) to get the action and then the reaction.
• eye-line match occurs whereby the first shot establishes a character's position while the following shot establishes the character's action.
• buffer shot is a post production shot. Basically it functions as a shot that is added to cover up for mistakes made in the film.
• match on action shot is the one that is used to complete an action.

·         Fast cutting is an editing technique that fastens the shot to show hyperactivity

• Slow cutting is the opposite of fast cutting where one  scene is longer than 15 seconds. eg

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