Video Editing For Continuity: Definition, Tips, and Tricks to Keep Your Audience Engaged
Video Editing For Continuity is the art of creating a smooth and cohesive experience for video viewers. It involves putting together all the shots (scenes) in your film or video to make a flowing, cohesive story, which means paying attention to things like:
- Shot types (close-up, wide shot, etc.)
- Camera angles
- Continuity of action and movement
- Editing pace
- Sound and music
Good Video Editing For Continuity helps keep your audience engaged in the story you’re telling rather than jarring them out of it. Here are some principles to assist you with creating continuity edits in your work:
Use a Storyboard For Solid Video Editing For Continuity
A storyboard can be a few sketches on a piece of paper, or you can use specialized software like Storyboard That. Each storyboard provides a visual guide through the filming process, while the script provides a written guide.
Your storyboard makes it easier to explain what you want to have happen in each scene and how each shot will look. It also allows you to outline complex shots that would be difficult to explain verbally.
Plan Your Shots Ahead of Time
This pre-production step includes shot type, camera angle, and continuity of action and movement.
It is helpful to create a shot list, which is a document that outlines all of the shots you need for your video. You can make this shot list before or after the storyboard, but it’s essential to have both elements (as well as a script) before filming begins.
Pay Attention to the Rhythm of Your Edit
Rhythm means finding the right balance between too fast and too slow. Your editing determines pacing through shot duration, shot transitions, and the number of cuts.
If your shots are too long, the audience may become bored. However, if shots are too short, the audience may feel dizzy or confused. Finding the correct rhythm is a matter of experimentation and will be different for every project.
Eyeline Match
“Eyeline match” involves matching the direction someone on screen is looking with the next shot, which creates a smooth, cohesive experience for the viewer because it feels natural.
To create an eyeline match, line up the camera so that the subject in the next shot is looking directly into the lens. This process works by finding a natural break in the action, like when someone turns their head. Eyeline match makes it seem like the subject and the viewer are in the same room.
180-Degree Rule
The 180-degree rule is another technique that helps create a cohesive experience for the viewer. This rule states that the camera should always stay on one side of an imaginary line drawn down the center of the action.
Such positioning is important because it helps to orient the viewer. If the camera crosses over the imaginary line, it can be disorienting for the viewer and break their immersion in the story.
To keep to the 180-degree rule, plan your shots so the camera always stays on one side of the action.
30-Degree Rule
The 30-degree rule is similar to the 180-degree rule and states that each shot should be at least 30 degrees offset from the last shot.
This rule helps to keep the viewer engaged. The viewer can become bored if two shots are too similar. However, if the two shots are too different, it can be confusing.
Matching Action
Matching action ensures that the action in one shot converges with the action in the next. This approach creates a smooth, cohesive experience for the viewer because it feels natural.
To match the action, line up the camera so that the subject in the next shot is performing the same action.
An example is an actor extending his hand to someone he’s meeting. This action provides an opportunity to cut to a close-up. Structured continuity like this often appears in dialogue scenes.
Eye Trace
Eye trace gauges where the audience will be looking at a given moment. The eye generally moves to elements that have changed, like something brighter or in motion. An editor needs to know where the audience is looking when a cut occurs, which can also work to distract from potential continuity problems.
Effective Continuity Editing Increases Audience Engagement
Continuity editing is an essential aspect of filmmaking that helps to ensure the audience remains engaged and interested in the story. Using these techniques, filmmakers can create a smooth viewing experience that allows viewers to follow the plot without becoming confused or distracted.
Foundation Digital Media will professionally edit your video productions using our years of experience with cutting-edge techniques. Talk to our expert team today about creating a plan for your projects based in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and beyond.
