Continuity Supervisor, 4th Edition

Direct and Indirect Continuity

We have examined the relationship of action, dialogue, props and costume within a scene. Now that scene must be related to others. Two forms of continuity are involved here: direct and indirect continuity.

Direct Continuity

Direct continuity means that actions are carried over from one scene to the next with no time lapse. Reverting to the Fred and Mabel scene, there was direct continuity between the end of Scene 1, with Fred walking out of the back door, dressing on his finger, and the start of Scene 2, with Fred coming through the door into the garden, dressing still on his finger. What is important to remember is that these scenes will not be shot consecutively – indeed Scene 2 may well be shot first, therefore ...