Middle School Media

Continuity editing, favoured during the golden age of Hollywood, is sometimes called ‘the invisible style’. It has the following features:

 

Shot progressions in the classical Hollywood style — ELS, LS, MS, CU

 

Continuity cutting — for example, cutting on action or movement to distract the viewer

 

Matching techniques to hide cuts — for instance, eyelines are matched

 

Transitions such as dissolves to smooth the remaining joins where necessary

 

Simultaneous time/parallel editing (cross-cutting) Point-of-view shots — shot/reverse shot when filming conversation

 

Application of the 180 degree rule

 

Use of standard three-point lighting to naturalise appearances

 

Use of music that is subservient to the story, reinforcing the meaning.