Film Continuity - Student

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Film Continuity - Student Version

What You Will Learn:

  • What film continuity means and why it’s important in storytelling.
  • The different types of continuity in movies (like movement, action, and look).
  • How to spot and fix continuity errors.
  • What the “script supervisor” does to help keep movies smooth and realistic.

Lesson Length: 2-3 days

Day 1: Getting Started

1. Warm-Up Activity
Look at a photo, short video, or listen to a sound. Write a short story about what might be happening just outside the frame. This helps train your imagination and attention to detail!

2. What is Continuity?
We will watch a video that shows funny or confusing mistakes (called continuity errors) in popular movies. Then, we will talk about why they matter and how they can distract or confuse the audience.

3. Do Some Research
Pick your favorite movie and look up continuity errors online (try moviemistakes.com). Were you surprised by any?

4. Group Work
Together, we’ll make a list of different types of continuity:

  • Continuity of Information: Small details that need to stay the same.
  • Continuity of Action: Movements need to match from one shot to the next.
  • Continuity of Look: Camera angles and character positions should stay consistent.
  • Continuity of Movement: Objects and people should move naturally between shots.
  • Continuity of Convention: Scenes should make logical sense (like traveling in the right direction).

Day 2-3: Make a Short Film!

1. Group Project
You and your group will create a short film (1-3 minutes) showing a scene like a dinner party or team meeting. It should have props (cups, notebooks, etc.) that you need to track carefully.

2. Keep It Real
Use your new skills to make sure everything makes sense from one shot to the next. Watch out for things like:

  • A glass that’s full in one shot but empty in the next.
  • Someone standing up without us seeing them move.
  • A shirt sleeve rolled up, then down.

3. Watch & Reflect
After filming, we’ll watch the short films in class. Each group will point out where they worked to keep continuity, and other groups will give helpful feedback.

Your Goals (Outcomes):

  • Understand what continuity in film means.
  • Know who handles continuity on a film crew.
  • Be able to name and use different types of continuity.
  • Spot when a movie breaks continuity and suggest how to fix it.

Why This Matters:
Good storytelling keeps the audience focused and involved. If there are mistakes in how things look or happen, it can break the illusion. Learning continuity helps you become a better filmmaker, storyteller, and observer.

Extension Questions:

  • Can storytelling mistakes sometimes help a story?
  • What happens when a story has a gap or jump in logic?

How You Will Be Graded:

  • Your participation in class discussions.
  • Your work on the short film (planning and editing).
  • How well you can explain and use continuity in your project.
  • How clearly you explain your thinking when reviewing your own or your classmates’ films.

Get ready to spot movie mistakes like a pro—and to keep your own stories clear and connected!