Basic Training: Editing 101 (page 2)

A jump cut is typically a long static shot with a middle section cut out. It's called a "jump" because while the viewer is looking at the shot, an actor may jump from one place to another instantly. Filmmakers such as Woody Allen have intentionally used jump cuts for effect, but it's usually an error you want to avoid. One easy way to avoid a jump cut is to paste a cutaway over the edit; a cutaway can be almost anything - a close up, a shot out the window, the face of another actor. The idea is that the viewer isn't "looking" when the jump in continuity happens.

One of the most famous continuity errors is in the 1977 film Bullitt, where Steve McQueen is chasing a black Dodge Charger and passes the exact same green Volkswagen five times. My friends all laugh and shout every time we watch this movie: 'There's that green VW again!' Obvious gaffes made by a filmmaker are the delight of some fans that spend hours logging them into Web sites like www.moviemistakes.com, but they're the bane of a director's existence. Imagine being Peter Yates and having people constantly ask you if you've passed any green Volkswagens today.

You can avoid continuity errors by being meticulous about your shots. Professionals use a dedicated continuity person who takes hundreds of Polaroids for comparison between shots. You can review your video and keep an eye out for things that change from shot to shot. How full should that glass be? Where was the dog sitting? At what point in the dialog did a particular character stand up? Was the character wearing glasses? Paying attention to continuity helps your viewer believe the story that you are telling.

Beginning editors often make the same mistakes. With a few tools, some attention to detail, and knowledge beforehand, you can avoid many and be on your way to good editing technique the first time around.

Kyle Cassidy is a visual artist who writes extensively about technology.

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