Continuity

What is continuity and why is it so important?

Continuity is "the unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over time". Continuity is very important when creating any sort of television programme or film as it adds a sense of realism to the production. If the production lacks continuity the viewer is often left distracted and confused.

Ways to keep continuity    

1. Make sure that each character has a specific look. If characters are constantly changing the way they dress or the way they style their hair, the audience can get confused about who each character are and they spend time trying to figure out who's who, possible resulting in them missing out on important parts of the plot. 

2. Make sure the weather is consistent in each scene. If one second it is the middle of the day and the next its the middle of the night, the film loses all continuity and the viewer is left completely confused. To avoid this possible continuity problem, each specific scene of a production should be filmed in one filming sessions. This will make sure that the weather remains the same and so the audience can imagine the action happening in real time. 

3. Any prop used must be held in the exact same every time. If in one shot a prop is held horizontally and in the next shot it is held at an vertically, it looks as if the prop has almost magically changed position all on its own.

Conclusion

Maintaining continuity can be a difficult task but it is a vital part of any film making; without it the production loses any sense of realism and the audience feel distanced from the action that is happening on screen.

In contrast, when continuity is perfect, the viewer can feel as if they are in the film and part of the action. All film producers aim to do this.

James Dredge