Invisible Editing/ Continuity

Brianna Bosco

Invisible Editing/ Continuity

            Invisible editing is editing that intentionally hides the technical process of editing. It is inevitably unnoticed editing. The editor makes the edit seem virtually invisible. This is used in commercial film and television but it was originally used in Hollywood cinema. Invisible editing creates a smooth and seamless transition between cuts. And to us it looks nearly invisible.

            There are many methods for invisible editing and continuity. The first would be match cuts. Match cuts are cutting on an action or movement. Significant movement ought to be one of the first things and editor sees when screening the dailies. The editor should be able to see where the movement is and should be able to match one cut with the other to make them invisible. “A key element of the continuity system is the 180-DEGREE RULE, which states that the camera must stay on only one side of the actions and objects in a scene” (Donaldson). When editing a scene, all angles must remain within a 180-degree semi-circle. This semi- circle is based on an imaginary line created by the characters eye-lines; also known as the line of action. A scene would not make sense if the characters are not making eye contact throughout the entire scene.

Donaldson, Peter. "The Continuity System--Film Editing." The Continuity System--Film Editing. Film Lexicon, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015. scene” (Donaldson).