Continuity Editing ++ Sound In Films.

CONTINUITY EDITING
In our film, we must make effective use of continuity editing in order to convey the message of horror to our audience.

180 Degree Rule; The 180° rule is a basic film editing guideline that states that two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side, is known as a reverse angle. Stanley Kubrick was often known to break the 180 wall, sometimes a filmmaker will purposely break the line of action in order to create disorientation.

Shot reverse shot; (or shot/countershot) is a film technique wherein one character is shown looking (often off-screen) at another character, 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; this is generally used during conversations.

Axial Cut; An axial cut is a type of jump cut, where the camera suddenly moves closer to or further away from its subject, along an invisible line drawn straight between the camera and the subject. While a plain jump cut typically involves a temporall discontinuityy (an apparent jump in time), an axial cut usually does not.

SOUND
Sound is used extensively in filmmaking to enhance presentation, and is distinguished into diegetic ("actual sound"), and non-diegetic sound:
Diegetic sound: It is any sound where the source is visible on the screen, or is implied to be present by the action of the film:
Examples from horror movies include screaming, running, breathing, talking, phones ringing, creaking, doors banging.
Non-diegetic sound: Also called "commentary sound," it is sound which is represented as coming from a source outside the story space, ie. its source is neither visible on the screen, nor has been implied to be present in the action. Conventional non digetic sounds in a horror movie include, narration, chilling/tense music.

Here is an example of non-digetic sounds used in the final twist in the first Saw film. Charlie Clouser's theme; 'Hello Zepp' adds tension to the finale and the music builds up as the secrets and twists are further revealed.


Non-diegetic sound plays a significant role in creating the atmosphere and mood within a film.

Morgan Anderson