Structures, Formulas and Devices.

Continuity Editing:

This is a style of editing that requres the director to try to make the film reality as much like the audience's reality as possible, trying to make it easier on the audience to comprehend and understand the action happening on screen. With an clear establishment of Cause & Effect, it produces logically and steadily.

Within this style of editing there are many terms or ways of implementing the style. These affects can be used independetly of each other to create desired affects:

Establishing Shot:

This is a basic shot that is used a lot. This shot is usually wide angled showing the setting in which a scene is taking place. It helps the audience maintain a sense of where the action of the film is taking place and places a smaller part of the film as a whole inside of a specific place.

Eyeline Match:

This employs the audience’s ability to assume things. This series of shots usually shows someone looking at something and then what exactly they are looking at. In this way the auience can see exactly what the character is seeing and what the director wants them to see.

Match on Action:

In order for a series of shots to make sense, the director must manipulate the camera as if the film reality he/she is creating exists when not in view of the camera.

180 Degree Rule:

The rule of line-crossing is sometimes called the 180° rule. This refers to keeping the camera position within a field of 180°.

Enigmas:

An enigma refers to something inexplicable or initially incomprehensible that leaves the audience asking questions, it is often a riddle or a difficult problem that the protagonist has to figure out.

Red Herrings:

A Red Herring is often used to misguide the audience from the truth, it works to create suspense later on. An example of a red herring is the 'dead' body in the centre of the bathroom in Saw.