Basic Terms of Film and Continuity
Hello, this is Seokwon Park
We will learn about layout
and filmmaking during this time
The term "layout" might sound a bit unfamiliar
but you can simply think of it as camera shooting
First of all, with the transition to 3D animation
composing and shooting scenes has become almost identical in basic concept
and direction to shooting something
with a camera in live-action films
Therefore, knowing about filmmaking is the same as
knowing about the layout in animation
In the case of Pixar
the layout setup is done exactly the same way as
in live-action film shooting
You may have heard of Shot, Scene, and Sequence before
A Shot refers to
a continuous scene filmed in one take from a single camera
Usually, when the director says "action" and then "cut"
that makes one shot
And multiple shots can be composed at a specific location
And editing those shots together forms the whole
which is called a scene
A scene refers to multiple shots edited together to form a cohesive sequence
and it typically refers to events happening in a specific location or setting
And a sequence comprises several scenes stitched together to form a larger part of the story in narrative filmmaking
Usually, when you watch DVDs or similar media
sequence number one, two
that's typically what we mean by "sequence" in general terms
And there's a very important concept in filmmaking
There's the real world and the screen world
This might sound unfamiliar, but once you hear it, it's quite simple
What is the real world?
It simply refers to the world we live in right now
Simply put, when we ask how and where movies are filmed
it's done in the real world
That's the real world
Right now, I'm filming in the real world
I am teaching a class right now
Then, what would screen world be?
The screen world is what the audience perceives
when scenes filmed in the real world are shown on screen
It's the world that viewers recognize
through the screen
So, what's the difference between the real world and the screen world?
Let's think about it simply
Well, to me, in the real world, right directionality is here
But when people watch the filmed screen
they might perceive it as left
So, what that means is that
the way the real world and the screen world are perceived isn't always the same
For creators like us, whether making a film or an animation
which is more important between the real world and the screen world?
Of course, for filmmakers, the real world is very important because that's where filming takes place and where actual production happens
And the screen world is crucial because it's what the audience sees and experiences
But for the audience
they don't know what the real world is like
because they only see the screen world
For example, how do filmmakers use sets in their productions?
There are actors and a camera crew, but outside of what you see on screen, there are also crews
That's the real world for them
But in the screen world, those things aren't visible
So, as a filmmaker
what the audience perceives and sees is solely the screen world
Therefore, the screen world is very important
As I mentioned earlier
in the real world, there are directions like north, south, east, and west
There's the concept of space
There's east, west, north, and south
But how about on the screen world?
The concepts of east, west, north, and south don't exist there
On screen, there are only right, left, up, and down directions in a typical screen setup
We can't refer to those as east, west, north, and south on screen
So, the conclusion is that what the audience perceives is not the real world but the screen world
Therefore, for creators
how things appear in the screen world is the most important
Continuity and everything else are discussed based on the screen world
Then, what is continuity?
Think about it for a moment
Imagine you're watching a feature film
How many shots do you think would be edited into it?
How many shots do you think
would be edited together to create one movie?
Generally, around 1500 shots are filmed
which are then edited together to create a feature film
Think about it
Each of those shots is filmed
under different conditions and states
not necessarily in a sequential order
For example, think about filming a typical movie
Typically, filmmakers can shoot only about 3 to 4 shots per day
In reality
even if a movie depicts five minutes of continuous time passing
it doesn't mean it was filmed in just five minutes
That could take up to a week or even two weeks to film
When you combine
these shots together
the audience perceives it as
if there is a consistent
and seamless temporal
connection
So, in essence
movies require viewers to create a fantasy in their minds as they watch
and this fantasy needs to be maintained throughout the film
And continuity is the most important factor in
maintaining and focusing the audience's fantasy throughout the film
If continuity isn't properly maintained
viewers might feel a sense of disruption
when shots or cuts transition in the movie
Then viewers might lose concentration
if they lose concentration
the imaginative fantasy they're creating while watching the movie
can be disrupted
Then they can't watch the movie smoothly
it becomes disjointed
Continuity is a very important factor
in making films
that keeps the audience focused
and ensures they remain engaged
from the beginning to the end of the movie
So
there can be various types of continuity
Temporal continuity, spatial continuity, and directional continuity
I told you, didn't I?
In the case of live-action films
even an event that takes place over just 5 minutes in the story
can take several days to shoot
And, of course, the time will inevitably be different each time they shoot
However, when watching the movie
it should be made to feel
like the time is the same
That's why maintaining temporal continuity is crucial
This time, I intend to focus my lecture specifically on continuity
related to spatial and directional aspects
What about the spatial aspect?
Even in the same location, things can change continuously
For example, even if a scene takes place over just 5 minutes in the story
it could still take a month to film due to various reasons
So
each time filming changes
props and other things might change little by little
Therefore, when shooting and producing a film
it's important to accurately maintain
the positions of props and such
Geographical background settings and continuity
between preceding and succeeding shots should be meticulously maintained
to avoid inconsistencies
And above all, the most important thing is directional continuity
Directional continuity in film refers to maintaining consistent movement
and positioning of characters or objects as they move within the frame
It involves maintaining consistency in the direction characters or subjects move, whether it's to the right or left
and this directional consistency must be maintained consistently throughout
As I mentioned earlier, what's crucial in directional continuity is
the direction I feel
and the direction you all see me in
are different
To me, right is left for you all
Therefore, when shooting a film or creating animation
maintaining directional consistency on screen is more important than
the directional perspective in any production environment
First
let's start by understanding the fundamental concepts and basics
Have you heard the term "line of action" before?
In simpler terms, "line of action" can also be referred to as the path of movement
A person walks down the street
So, when someone walks down the street, their path of movement becomes a line of action
In filming, what's crucial for maintaining screen directionality is
whether something is on the right or left along this line of action
It's a vital element in ensuring continuity
in screen directionality
That line of action is also referred to as the Action Axis, Stage Line
or the 180 Degree Rule in filmmaking
The character moves
There is a line of action as the character moves from left to right
Now imagine the camera is positioned to the right of that character
And now, consider the scenario where the camera is positioned to the left of the character
What is the result on the screen? How is the directionality?
In the real world
the character maintains the same direction consistently
However
depending on whether the camera is positioned
to the right or left of the character
the screen directionality will
reverse accordingly
And as I mentioned earlier, which do you think is more important?
Of course, in the real world, directionality isn't as important as
what direction is depicted
on screen is crucial
When we typically stage
and create character movement
When we draw that character's movement as a line
If you set up the camera on one side
you need to maintain that setup consistently
to maintain the camera's directionality consistently
However, if you switch to the opposite side
the character's directionality will suddenly reverse
If
as shown in the diagram, you transition directionality from 1 to 2
then in between, a neutral shot
Therefore, you could insert a neutral shot where directionality isn't perceived
allowing for a smooth transition from 1 to 2
This is similar; it's an important case where maintaining the line of action is crucial
Earlier, we discussed how a line of action occurs when a character moves
In this case, two characters are facing each other
If the characters are not moving, how does the line of action occur?
The line of action occurs as the two people are looking at each other
If a character is not moving
the line of action is
simply the direction
in which the character is looking
Here, if you set up the camera on one side
when drawing the line of action with two characters
the screen directionality will be maintained
How does it look when you see shots 1, 2, and 3?
On the left, character A remains on the left
and character B continues
to maintain rightward directionality
Maintaining screen directionality
like this means ensuring that when creating such a line of action
characters do not cross that line
Let me show you another example of a line of action
There are two characters, and the line of action is created between their gazes
And then, the camera setups for shots 1, 2, and 3 can be arranged
to maintain directionality on one side
In such cases, how does it look?
How does the continuity of screen directionality maintain in this scenario?
Character A is entirely on the left
and Character B is entirely on the right
Therefore, this setup maintains a consistent screen directionality
If we cross the line of action
like in camera shot 4, what happens then?
It would
immediately reverse the positions of characters A and B
compared to shots 1, 2, and 3
This effect can occur
I'm talking about the difference between the real world and the screen world here
In the real world
the positions of the two characters haven't changed at any point
The two characters are still in the exact same position as before
But what if the camera crosses the line of action
and films from the opposite side?
It makes it seem as
if the two characters have switched places or moved
That's why, as I mentioned before
instead of how the staging of characters appears in the real world
it is crucial how they appear on the screen
Maintaining the line of action is important to avoid continuity issues and prevent confusion
Types and Characteristics of Screen Direction
As I mentioned earlier, screen direction is very simple
How many types of screen direction do you think there are?
Strictly speaking
there are only two directions: right and left
It's very simple, but it's crucial to adhere to it very well
So, how it appears in the directionality of your screen
Do you see the directionality towards the right or towards the left on the screen?
And this often determines screen directionality
based on various purposes in storytelling
There can be various expressions
in screen direction
For example, when assembling multiple shots
there can be a constant screen direction maintained consistently
Alternatively
there are cases where inconsistent or contrasting screen direction is
intentionally used to create a different effect
And there's also neutral screen direction
where shots may lack a clear right or left directionality, being more neutral or directionless
And when editing many shots
there are times when you may need to change the screen direction
Because editing with the same screen direction
throughout can feel very monotonous and boring
Sometimes
broken screen direction is intentionally created for such purposes as well
Let's take a look at each of these aspects one by one
Constant screen direction is the most commonly used method
It involves maintaining consistent directionality
when objects or actors move
There can be slight changes in angle, either upward or downward
as the subject moves
Here, when deciding on directionality
there are various factors to consider initially
For example
think about a character
climbing a mountain
However, in movies
there isn't typically a strong sense of upward or downward directionality in terms of screen direction
So, the most important thing is whether it's right or left
Then, if we imagine
capturing many shots of a character climbing a mountain primarily
with screen direction towards the right
What direction would be good to use when coming down from the mountain?
On the other hand
if you use screen direction towards the left frequently
it can create a perception
where moving right feels like climbing up the mountain
and moving left feels like coming down the mountain
So, in fact, when designing a film
choosing screen direction to the right or left
isn't just about maintaining continuity, but rather
it can be crucially designed
to express
important messages or themes in the movie
Let's look at an example of typical constant screen direction
The train is moving to the left
And how about a prisoner boarding that train?
The three shots maintain the same directionality
This is a very common and comfortable
use of typical screen direction for audiences
So, what exactly is contrasting screen direction?
It means
when a subject has a different directionality compared to what was previously established
For example
imagine Character A
is facing to the right
while Character B is facing to the left
it implies a sense that the two characters are on a collision course
or in conflict with each other
Then, in the opposite scenario
Character A is moving to the left while Character B is moving to the right
Then it gives the perception that the two characters are moving further apart
This is one example of contrasting screen direction
A and B armies have gathered on a barren plain for war
The screen direction would be opposite for each other
Therefore, we can clearly perceive that
the two groups are facing each other and will eventually collide
This is also similar in concept
So, Group A should consistently maintain screen direction
facing to the right
Group B should consistently maintain screen direction
facing to the left as well
Audiences can imagine the characters' movements consistently and maintain continuity
This kind of usage can create an expression where
as earlier, when armies face each other, they are on a collision course
where one person moves towards the left
and the other moves towards the right
moving in opposite directions
In that screen direction, audiences would perceive that
the couple is moving further apart in opposite directions
That can help us express the feeling of their breakup
As mentioned earlier, screen direction mainly consists of right and left directionality
but there's also a neutral screen direction that doesn't lean towards either side
This refers to a subject moving towards the camera
or moving away from the camera
In such cases, there is no right or left directionality
And this neutral screen direction is sometimes used in the middle
when changing direction abruptly from left to right or vice versa
This is an example of its common usage
A car is gradually driving away into the distance
This expression is commonly used
to conclude a scene
Conversely, when a car is approaching
this expression is often used at the beginning of a scene
Changing Screen Direction involves altering the directionality
within the frame
It means changing direction from left to right or vice versa within the frame
But here's an example
When changing directionality
for instance, if a character switches direction
if a character is moving to the right and then switches to the left
it can create the perception that in the movie
the character is initially going one way and then suddenly goes the opposite way
Simply put, it can feel like the character is going somewhere and suddenly turns around to go the other way
To avoid such misunderstandings
and smoothly connect movements in the same direction
placing a shot with neutral directionality in between
where the character is moving in the same direction
but the perceived directionality
changes
For example, there could be a shot like this, right?
The characters, two whites and blacks, are facing each other
For example
the positions of the two characters
are switched at 1 and 4
If you look at positions 1, 2, 3, and 4, they are switched
This method of changing screen direction can involve
actors physically moving from left to right
or vice versa to effect the change
Or it can also be achieved by moving the camera to change the direction
There are various purposes for changing screen direction like this
Screen direction can be changed for purposes
such as emphasizing psychological changes or creating special effects
Alright, here we have a scene
where two generals, one mounted on a horse and the other on foot
engage in a swordfight
So
the general holding the sword
moves positions
in the screen direction from 1
2
to 3
He move like that
So, looking at positions 1 and 3
the screen direction has changed
And positions 3 and 4 maintain
the same screen direction consistently
In movies
changing screen direction like this
is often done to create more engaging shots
Sometimes
To emphasize changes in atmosphere
We try to change the screen direction
interestingly for various purposes
Broken screen direction occurs when a character
for example
a boy being chased
by a gang
suddenly changes screen direction
while fleeing
In that case, it can create the perception that the boy is heading towards the gang
rather than running away from them
Sometimes changing screen direction like this
serves the purpose of shifting the direction
for narrative reasons in the story
Sometimes, it's done
to make the continuous running of a boy more interesting
or dynamically expressed
There are also cases
where they change direction periodically to make it more entertainingly arranged
One of the most common examples of broken screen direction is
if you look at positions 1, 2, 3, and 4
it's a simple scene
where two characters arrive at a mansion by car
The screen direction upon arriving at the mansion
consistently remains towards the left
However, at position 3
the screen direction briefly changes to the opposite side
Because at position 3
the arriving character looks at the building
creating a different screen direction
and they briefly changed the direction
to create a more interesting scene composition
I'll explain a very simple rule of screen direction
In fact, if you misinterpret the rule of screen direction
once you start the direction on the screen
you should maintain it until the end
or you might mistakenly think that if you maintain the screen direction to the left
you must keep it left throughout
The most important rule is
ultimately to avoid confusing the audience
If you maintain the screen direction consistently to the right or left throughout
it can actually make the movie viewing experience
quite dull and uninteresting
Therefore, as needed, for fun
screen direction is changed in various storytelling transitions
and for different purposes
When changing it
it's important not to confuse or disorient the audience
In conclusion
in the development of a film's story
you must establish clear rules for the significant spatial environment
and direction from the very beginning
For example, imagine a character leaving their house
As I mentioned earlier
in screen direction, it's simply a matter of right or left
Imagine setting up a character
leaving the house by moving to the right in the initial screen direction
Then, if the character moves to the left
the audience might subconsciously feel
as if the character is returning home
In reality, the geographical environment is
very complex with directions
like north, south, east, and west
However, screen direction is very simple and therefore
it's very straightforward, but
if you set it up clearly
and create it
you can effectively utilize it
Let's wrap up
the discussion on screen direction
and continuity for now
Thank you
1. Basic film terminology and Continuity Basic film terminology
Shot: A continuous sequence of frames captured by a single camera without interruption, forming a single unit of a scene Scene: A series of shots filmed in continuity at a specific location, depicting a continuous action or sequence
Sequence: A unit composed of multiple scenes, forming a significant part of the storytelling structure
Real World: The actual physical space where we currently live; in filmmaking, it refers to the real-world locations or physical environments where scenes are filmed
Screen World: The world that audiences perceive through the screen, consisting of scenes filmed in the real world and presented through the cinematic medium
Continuity Continuity: The seamless connection of individual scenes shot under different conditions to maintain a consistent flow and coherence in storytelling
Temporal Continuity: The concept that varying time conditions during filming should appear consistent and continuous in the movie, creating a seamless sense of time passing uniformly for the audience
Spatial Continuity: The requirement that props, backgrounds, settings, etc., should smoothly connect from one shot to another, maintaining a natural flow and consistency in the visual environment
Directional Continuity: Ensuring that the screen direction is well-designed and maintained more than the actual direction in the real environment is crucial
Line of Action: A line drawn along the direction of a character's movement
2. Types and characteristics of Screen Direction Screen Direction
Constant Screen Direction: Maintaining consistent directionality of subjects across consecutive shots
Contrasting Screen Direction: Subjects moving in inconsistent, opposite directions
Neutral Screen Direction: Subjects without a clear directional bias, remaining neutral
Changing Screen Direction: Altering screen direction to avoid monotony or enhance visual interest
Broken Screen Direction: Changing screen direction for the sake of adding a comedic or dramatic element