Continually Confusing - Part One

Sources of information on film continuity rarely define the term, moving instead to describe the techniques involved.

Noun: continuity 1.     The unbroken and consistent operation of something over time. Synonyms: continuousness, uninterruptedness, flow, progression -       A state of stability and the absence of disruption -       A connection or line of development with no sharp breaks Plural noun: continuities Synonyms: interrelationship, interrelatedness, intertextuality, interconnectedness, connection, linkage, cohesion, coherence 2.     The maintenance of continuous action and self-consistent detail in the various scenes of a film or broadcast. Definition from www.google.co.uk

Considering Continuity

Why do we need to consider continuity in film making?

If our films were to comprise a single shot from one camera angle, much like a single scene taken from a traditional stage play, continuity would be guaranteed, unavoidable. The audience would experience the entire story from a single, consistent angle with no break in the action. This was the technique used by the earliest film makers believing, as they did, that splicing together different shots would confuse the audience.

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It would not take long for the early pioneers to discover that the audience would accept editing and that it could be used to great effect. Shots from differing angles and positions could be juxtaposed to move the story forward while maintaining the attention of the audience. The moments deemed unnecessary to carry a story could even be removed altogether.