Editing Techniques

Continuity Editing

The Rules

1. Establishing Shot - An establishing shot in filmmaking and television production sets up, or establishes, the context for a scene by showing the relationship between its important figures and objects.

2. Shot/Reverse Shot - Shot/reverse shot is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character, and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.

3. 180° Rule - The 180 rule is a filmmaking technique that helps the audience keep track of where your characters are in a scene. When you have two people or two groups facing each other in the same shot, you have to establish a 180 degree angle between them.

4. 30° Rule - The 30-degree rule is a film editing guideline that states the camera should move at least 30 degrees relative to the subject between successive shots of the same subject. If the camera moves less than 30 degrees, the transition between shots can look like a jump cut, which could jar the audience and take them out of the story. The audience might focus on the film technique rather than the narrative itself.

5. Crosscutting - In film editing, crosscutting describes the video editing technique of switching back and forth between scenes, often giving the impression that the action occurring in different locations is unfolding at the same moment.

6. Match On Action - matching on action refers to film editing and video editing techniques where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shot's action. An example could be; a man walks up to a door and then grabs the handle.

7. Eyeline Match - An eyeline match is a film editing technique which helps keep continuity. It is based on the premise that an audience will want to see what the character on-screen is seeing. An eyeline match begins with a character looking at something off-screen, followed by a cut of said thing they may be looking at.

8. Re-establishing Shot - A re-establishing shot is very similar to an establishing shot, but a re-establishing shot is usually shown to reming the audience where the location or characters are.