What is Continuity Editing?

Continuity editing uses a combination of combining shots and rules of framing in order to help the audience make sense of what is going on. It is an active two way process in which the audience are meant to decode signs without thinking. The audience are not supposed to notice the techniques used, for example the ‘180˚’ rule or the’ crossing the line’ rule. The 180˚ rule is set-up so that there is no confusion over narrative time and space. The editing process uses ‘cuts’ in order to have a smooth transition from one piece of dialogue, location or action to the next. It is intended to provide a ‘realistic’ set of events. However, texts can go against the rules of realistic editing in order to cause a disorientating or discontinuous narrative for the audience (Tarantino for example!).

The ‘180˚’ rule -dictates that the camera should stay in one of the areas on either side of the axis of action. There is an imaginary line drawn between the two key elements A and B in a scene, usually two characters.

A few examples of editing techniques that help create different meanings when used.

Cut- a single unbroken strip of film.

Establishing shot- a shot used at the beginning of the scene, to show the audience the location or the relationship with other aspects that follow.

Close up- a shot that is close to the object, face or subject. Usually reveals detail

Extreme close-up- a shot that shows the subject in a lot of detail, for example writing in a book.

Jump cut- is a shot that breaks the continuity of time.

Pan- the rotation of the camera on a vertical axis.

Dissolve- the shots merge together through an edited almost fade technique.

Point of view shot- is from the view of a character on screen or for the audiences understanding of an important subject, what they want you too see through their eyes.

Montage -scenes whose expressive impact and visual design are achieved through the editing together of many brief shots.

Tilt- the camera is fixed but tilts up or down.

Text and the City

‘Wales Millennium Centre opened in 2004 and has already established its reputation as one of the World`s iconic arts and cultural destinations. The vision of the Centre is to be an internationally significant cultural landmark and centre for the performing arts, renowned for inspiration, excellence and leadership.’ (www.wmc.org.uk)

The centre is an arts centre located in Cardiff Bay; it hosts performances of theatre, dance, opera, comedy and musicals. The calligraphy on the building is part Welsh ‘Creu Gwir fel gwydr o ffwrnais awen’ which translates ‘Creating truth like glass from the furnace of inspiration’, the other part is in English ‘In These Stones Horizons Sing’, composed by the welsh poet Gwyneth Lewis. Lewis explains that she chose the Welsh words in order to reflect the buildings architecture and the English words as the front reminds her of the sea, in which the Welsh port has allowed the world to come in and out of Cardiff. What is intriguing and clever, is that the huge letters are formed by windows which look out from an upstairs bar, in which they are illuminated at night. It is interesting that they have used two languages, it connotes that they are proud of being Welsh but also that they are proud to share another language with the rest of the world. The decision to use the poetic lines instead of the ‘Millennium Centre’ on the front entrance is artistic and contemporary and undoubtedly significant in relation to the nation of Wales.



Becky Ingram's chosen image.



Becky G's chosen image.

Who is Banksy?

Banksy is an unknown artist to but a few of his trusted friends. For years his identity has been a closely kept secret as he travels the world and leaves his iconic trade marks on buildings and public places. His work magically appears overnight, leaving everyone questioning why he keeps his identity such a secret.

Banksy’s work first became famous in the early 90’s, in which his well-known ‘guerrilla’ art appeared in Bristol, thought to be his home town and in London. Since then he has travelled to many cities such as Los Angeles, Palestine and Israel where he has become a well-known graffiti artist.

The reason his work gains so much controversy is because it often mocks political and cultural topics. He started out as a freehand graffiti artist as one of Bristol’s DryBreadZ crew, he starting using stencils as it was a quicker way of completing his work and avoiding being caught by anyone. His images are also humours and contain slogans about subjects of anti-war and anti-capitalism. His work has included spoofing British £10 notes by replacing the Queens head with a picture of Princess Diana’s head. He also replaced Paris Hiltons CD in shops around the UK, with a remake of his own, including song titles ‘Why Am I Famous?’ and ‘What Am I For?’ along with images of her topless and with a dogs head!

He has held many exhibitions but his recent one was at the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, where it was the first show in which Bansky said ‘taxpayers’ money is being used to hang my pictures up rather than scrape them off’. He was involved with the exhibition but the staff did not know who he was amongst the crew of people who set up. www.banksy.co.uk

‘Banksy previously believed to be one Robert or Robin Banks and born in 1974/5 in Yate, Bristol.
He doesn't do interviews very often but was interviewed in 2003 by Simon Hattenstone, a reporter for the Guardian newspaper. He described Banksy as looking like a "cross between Jimmy Nail and Mike Skinner of the Streets" and turning up wearing scruffy casual jeans and t-shirt, sporting a silver tooth, silver chain and silver earring.’ (banksyunmasked.co.uk)