Avoiding Continuity Errors
You will sometimes find that two different shots of the same subject cannot be cut together satisfactorily even though they were planned to do so. This is often due to bad direction. There are other reasons too. Consider an example. The cameraman has filmed a footballer scoring a goal. He has concentrated on the man who scores the goal but, just after the ball entered the net, one of the spectators bumped into him and jogged his arm. The rushes show the results — a number of frames of cloud and sky filmed while the cameraman tried to regain his balance. It looks unprofessional and if you simply cut out the frames where the cameraman was jolted the continuity of the sequence will be disturbed. The man will be scoring his goal one moment then, without warning, running in the opposite direction. The cut would be ridiculous, so how do you solve the problem? You can solve it by using a cutaway.
Cutaways
A cutaway is a shot showing something other than the main theme of the action. It must, of course, be relevant. In the football example it must not show the scorer or the goal so a shot of spectators cheering would be ideal. When you cut, start with the shot of the goal being scored. Hold onto it, up to the point where the cameraman was jogged, and then insert the cutaway shot. Hold the cutaway for a few seconds then cut back to the scorer running back in triumph.
Jump cuts
If the cutaway were not used, and the two shots of the man scoring the goal and running back were cut together without an intermediate shot, the resulting cut would be what is known as a jump cut — a cut interrupting the normal sequence of the action. You can make a jump cut by removing a piece of film from a continuous sequence of action and joining the ends together. Moving objects will then be seen to jump instantly into new positions, hence the name jump cut. Unwanted jump cuts can be omitted by using cutaways but there are occasions when jump cuts are deliberately pianned and used. If, for example, a number of shots of the same subject, filmed from different camera positions, are cut together quickly, as jump cuts, the effect can sometimes be quite interesting. But jump cuts should be an exception and not a rule. Your main aim should be to preserve smooth continuity. Jump cuts can be used where they serve a definite purpose but they must not be over used and should never be made accidentally.
Cutaways
By using the cutaway of a cheering crowd in the edited cutting copy (C) continuity rules are observed and a jump cut eliminated. To simply cut out the spoiled shot in the neg (A) and in the cutting copy (B) without inserting a cutaway would make the piayers appear to change position instantly as it by magic. Cutaways must always be relevant. Make sure the crowd is cheering and not looking glum or gazing in the wrong direction.