Continuity Editing

Continuity editing is a system of cutting that is used to maintain continuous and clear narrative action by following editing rules such as match on action, 180° rule, 30° rule, and shot reverse shot. The benefits of using continuity editing allow the shot sequences to seamlessly flow into each other. In addition to this, it makes it easier for the audience to watch the film due to a flowing structure. If the one the rules are broken it may confuse the audience because of the disoriented and messy editing.

Match On Action 

Match on action is an editing technique where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shot's action. - Wikipedia

This is an example of continuity editing and also vital in helping the audiences constantly understand exactly what is happening in the film.

 30° Rule

The 30-degree rule is a basic film-editing rule that states the camera should move at least 30 degrees between shots of the same subject occurring in succession. If the 

rule is broken a jump cut occurs which may cause the audience to become distracted and confused due to the error in the filming technique. In addition, the 30-degree rule change of perspective makes the shots different enough to avoid a jump cut. - Wikipedia

 

Shot Reverse Shot

Shot reverse shot is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), 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. - Wikipedia

180° Rule 

A rule stating that a camera should be placed somewhere inside 180 degrees on a particular side of the invisible line of a shot containing two people filmed in sequence.  If the camera crosses the line, confusion results for the film viewers, because it makes it look like the people are switching places as one watches the film. 

-Creative Glossary

Romantic Comedy Trailer Analysis: Things I Hate About You

 

10 Things I Hate About You is a rom-com mainly targeted at teenage girls. From the trailer, the audiences know to expect humor when watching the film. This is because the trailer starts off with a list of 10 things the main character perhaps hates about a character in the movie.

The trailer begins with an introduction of the two female characters that are sisters. Fist the audience is introduced to Bianca Stratford -popular younger sister then the older sister Kat that it is the total opposite.


To the target audience, 10 things I hate about you is appealing because they can relate. Within the trailer, it consists of every teenage girl's experience in high school for example boys, prom, relationships and the “popular one” most teen girls desire to be.


Furthermore, the scene cuts to the character Bianca expressing her feeling towards her dad about not being able to date.In the trailer, the dad is portrayed as humorous however also very protective too. This subverts the stereotypical father in most romantic comedy, due to the character having rules and values set for his daughters e.g. no dating. Normally, the mum is shown as the strict and pushy parent in rom-com. As the trailer continues  we then see a change of heart slightly “you can date when your sister does”.

In addition, further into the trailer we meet a male protagonist. He has the potential to be Kat’s boyfriend set up by Bianca’s love interest. It's expected in rom-com, to begin with, the female protagonist despising the male protagonist. However, she later discovers and develops feelings for the male protagonist and ends up falling in love.

Throughout the trailer we see the male protagonist embarrasses himself numerous of time as an attempt to gain the love of the female lead. This is a usual convention in the plot for rom coms. Likewise, the story is told from a female’s point of view, which is a generic convention in the genre.

Non-diegetic music that is played through the trailer is upbeat, loud and intense. This creates an atmosphere of excitement and makes the movie look dramatic and entertaining. Furthermore, there is a narrative introducing the characters and explaining the basic outline of the film. By having the narrative at the beginning of a film it allows the audience to guess the main theme and the plot.

Various camera angles are used in the trailer for 10 things I hate about you.  Mostly close up shots are used in order to show the clear detail image of the characters faces so the audience can later recognise them in the movie. Likewise, a medium shot is also used for example to introduce the character, Bianca. This type of camera angle shows the viewers the movement/ gesture of the character, however, the camera still remains close for the audience to see the emotions expressed by them.

Romantic Comedy Trailer Analysis:Bridget Jones's Diary

In the trailer for Bridget Jones, it begins with a voice-over and upbeat music to introduce the female lead, Bridget.

The female protagonist seems to be unsuccessful, lost in life and a total mess. However, the character then decides to start fresh and get a grip on her life by throwing away any bad habits and writing a diary.

This is appealing to the target audience because it’s relatable. The worries/struggles the character Bridget has with her appearance; the desire to find the perfect man is experienced by all females. In the audience’s eyes, this makes the female lead likable and gains our support.

Shortly, after we then meet two male characters that could potentially be Bridget’s significant other. The inappropriate archetype love interest that Bridget fantasies over and thinks is her perfect man; the totally opposite to what Bridget’s like but doesn’t know that he is the one yet. As the trailer continues we see a build up to a love triangle that ends with the two male characters having a fistfight on the streets. The use of dramatic irony is very effective because the audience knows key information that the main female lead has not yet discovered.

Bridget Jones's Diary contains the typical conventions of a Rom-Com, for example, it’s based on a female point of view, confession, and conflict between two males that like the same girl.

There are a few stereotypes in Bridget Jones's Diary. Firstly, men are shown as aggressive and rough because the consultation between the two male love interests resulted in violence. In addition to this, the female lead is shown as indecisive and confused when having to choose between the two male characters.    

The prevalence in the trailer is given to the character Bridget. This tells the audience that the movie is based around Bridget and is told from her perspective. In the trailer there are close-up shots used to introduce characters; also to show the object in detail, for example, the alcohol bottle and cigarettes. By using this type of camera angle the subject takes up most of the frame. There is also a high angle shot used to show the location of where the characters are in the scene.

The non- dietetic music used in the trailer is upbeat and happy, which is perfect to set the tone for the movie. This is because while the music is played throughout the trailer the dietetic sound like Bridget's dialogue makes her character look determined to complete her list of goals.

Romantic Comedy Trailer Analysis: Notting Hill

Notting Hill is a Rom-com we know this due to the clear indicators in the trailer. The trailer begins with a narrative that introduces the main protagonists, female and a male character that are polar opposites.  The character Anna Scott is portrayed as famous, popular and loved, however, the character Will Thacker is shown as an ordinary guy who is not quite successful. This is a typical convention of a romantic comedy because the plot consists of two potential partners that live worlds apart. But through an unusual encounter, they meet and release they are perfect for one and other. 

Further, along into the trailer, we are then introduced to a new character the quirky and annoying best friend of the main male lead  .In rom-com, the best friend is often an obstacle to the happiness of the main leads. This is because due to the being idiotic and humorous they sometimes mess up leaving the lovers in jeopardy.   The best friend of the male leads tends to be funny and a slob; the female leads best friends tend to be understanding and very supportive. In addition to this, we also meet the parents of the male lead the pushy but lovable mother and the befuddled father.

Despite that in the trailer for Notting Hill the encounter of the two protagonists in set in an urban environment, the Travel Book Store, where the male lead works.  From the intro, the male protagonist is described as “least successful shopkeeper”. This is a common convention of the genre as he is shown as an ordinary person lost in life, which makes it relatable to the audience that may be the same position.   


In addition, there are many classic rom-com clichés. In the trailer for Notting hill, there is a generic convention where the character Anna expresses her thoughts and feeling towards the character Will. This appeals to the target audience as it allows us to fell empathetic towards the character because she is likable; can relate with the target audience who want to find true love and their own prince charming. However, in the trailer, it also shows a disagreement between the main male and female character. By including the argument scene it makes the audience want to watch the movie; question if they are truly made for each other or if they will even end up together. But as it is a rom –com we know there will be a happy ending either way because it’s a generic convention.  

Romantic Comedy Trailer Analysis: 50 First Dates

50 first dates is a rom-com we know this because of the trailer, which contains the common generic convention, found in the genre.

Firstly, the trailer begins with the usual voice over introducing the characters and explaining a bit of back-story. We then meet the male protagonist named Henry Roth who is scared of commitment until one day he meets the female protagonist Lucy in a café that appears to be the women of his dreams. However, we soon discover his ideal woman has short- term memory loss. This meaning the female lead tends to forget everything within the next day.

Further into the trailer we see the character Henry attempt countless of times to gain the love of the female lead (50 dates) despite her memory loss.
This is a common convention in the genre because the theme of true love conquers all is included in the film.
The reason why this film is appealing to its target audience is because of barriers and struggles the lovers goes through for their happy ending and true love in the film. In addition to this, it gives the audience hope in finding their own prince charming and their own happy ending every woman dreams of.

Furthermore, in the trailer, Henry is portrayed as the typical male character in rom-com clumsy and goofy. But lucky for the male character the female lead always tends to fall for that.

We then meet some of the male leads friend’s who are usually the main source of humor in the rom-com film because they are funny stupid and foolish. Despite that they come in handy whenever the main lead needs a bit of support and help when getting the girl. 

Unlike other rom-com this movie is told from a male’s point of view, however, still contains a love story with a happy ending like other movies from the same genre.

The opening of the film begins with an establishing shot of the sea and land. This shows the audience that the movie is set on an island. There are also close up shots and medium shots used in the trailer to show the main leads as they are given prevalence. Through a long shot, the audience gets to see the first encounter of the male and female protagonist in an urban environment.

Mise en scene is used to hint the movie is rom-com because of the use of vibrant colours as it’s set on an island. In films islands suggest love because it’s where most people go for a vacation with their partners. The lighting used in the movie is very bright which implies that the plot in the movie consists of entertaining scenes.

The non-diegetic music that can be heard in the background of the trailer for “50 Dates” is very upbeat and sets the mood of the rest of the film.    

Target Audience For Romantic Comedy

Romantic Comedy Conventions

 

Action Film Opening Analysis:The Expendables 2

The Expendables 2 begins with an establishing, which shows the audience the setting of the film where all the action will be taking place.

Straight away we can tell the genre of the film is action through the use of mise en scene such as tanks, guns and explosions are all part of a generic convention of an action film. This it appeals to the the target audience who are mostly men because it keeps them at the edge of their seats. As the movie continues fast paced editing between shots is used, in the opening scene, to keep the audience engaged in the movie.

Camera shot such as close up is used to show the facial expression of the characters in the tank/ vehicles. The look on each of the characters face is very serious and focused this makes the audience intrigued to find out why they are so determined. The fact they are given prevalence hints that they are important characters in the film perhaps the good guys. In addition, there are medium shots also used to show the characters, in black uniforms inside tanks, feel no remorse after killing/shooting others. This suggests they have become totally immune to committing such acts that they find it funny to kill their opponents. However, in the minds of the audience, this makes us feel empathetic towards the other team who look unequipped and unprepared.  There are multiple camera shots of the tanks with cheesy action film lines for example “knock knock” engraved in a tool used to breaks down walls. This type of dialogue is commonly featured in all action films to add humor.

The use of camera angels is very important in action films. as it contains huge explosions and intense fight scenes like in this movie because that’s what the target audience wants to see. To archive this point of view shots, long shots and medium shots are used to capture the moments.         

Furthermore, the non-dietetic upbeat music used is very intense and dramatic especially in the beginning of the opening scene. This indicates to the audience that an extreme fight scene is going to occur or some form of action with violence. In addition to this gunshots can be heard and seen throughout the opening of “The Expendables 2.” The guns/ weapons confirm the genre of the film because they are typical indicators of an action film. Likewise, the antagonists in this film are foreign we know this due to the fact they are speaking a different language. Usually, in action films the plot consists of hero’s vs. villains where the English-speaking character is associated with good and a foreigner is portaged as the bad guys. 

Despite that dietetic sound effects used in the movie allows the audience to feel present in the scene, as it adds a naturalistic feel. This allows the target audience to put themselves in the character shoes and escape from reality.

Overall all four technical elements are used in the opening scene of the Expendables 2 to indicate the genre of the film.