Continuity and the 180 Degree Rule

On our first Media Lesson, we learnt about the use of the 180 degree and continuity. To the left, is an image of the 180 degree rule. Basically, it states that you cannot cut across the line of dialogue during a scene, or it will confuse the audience and continuity will be broken.

http://www.tv-handbook.com/Editing%20and%20Program%20Continuity.html

Continuity is making sure that each time the scene is cut, the slightest details remain the same e.g. if a character is drinking from a cup then the drink will be at the same level when the shot is changed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP8pHDxVOLk

In this video there is a lot of bad continuity. at the beginning she is walking to the left side of the boy, but then when it cuts to a mid shot she switches to the right. It then cuts again and her hand changes from the right side of her head to the left. Next there is no car in the road and when it cuts there is suddenly a black car which then changes to a white car.

Alex and Jordan