Continuity editing

Continuity editing is just simply keeping everything smooth and flowing in time. For example it would not be continuity editing if there was a bad edit in the clip. This would be if there was a cut off but you see a scene that was not supposed to be kept in the actual clip.

This can also be making sure everything is the same for different sessions. For example if on the film the person is wearing a red shirt then it says "1 hour later" then it shows the person wearing a blue shirt. This is bad because it is really logical.

An example of bad continuity editing could be in the film war of the worlds. This was when Tom cruises daughter was crouching under the table then the scene is shown again and both of the actors have moved position.

Another example could be the moment in the film Mars attacks. When the "president" does he tie and button up and looks smart. In the next scene it skips to him having his tie and button undone again so it has skipped form one thing to another. This leaves the audience thinking "Was that supposed to happen?"