Continuity of Action and Dialogue

What happens when there is dialogue as well?

Example 1: A presenter of a programme is coming to the end of a long piece spoken ‘to camera’. He moves off, out of frame after saying ‘We pass on to the next exhibit’. The second angle is a wide exit shot, and he repeats the end of his piece and then moves off. But he starts to move off on the words ‘We pass on…’.

If those two shots were cut together there would either be a loss of action (a jump cut), or double dialogue: ‘We pass on’ on the first angle, and again ‘We pass on’ repeated on the second angle.

In such a case the editor would either use the ugly jump cut, or stay on one shot only. Obviously the dialogue cannot be repeated. Either way it spoils the intended effect and, if only one shot is used, makes the shooting of the second shot totally pointless. One often sees that a jump cut has been used to get over this type of error. But it is quite wrong to force the editor into using such a jarring effect because of sloppy continuity.

To make the relationship of action to dialogue absolutely clear, take this well-known nursery rhyme:

Example 2: A girl is walking along, swinging a shoulder bag and reciting:

‘Mary had a little lamb,

Its fleece was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mary went

The lamb was sure to go.’

On the first angle she places the bag on her shoulder after saying: ‘Its fleece was white as snow’.

But on the second angle she places the bag on her shoulder before saying: ‘Its fleece was white as snow’.

When those shots are cut together there is either a sudden jump in the action – from the girl with the bag in her hand, to the girl with the bag on her shoulder, or the action is perfect and the dialogue is as follows:

First angle

‘Mary had a little lamb

Its fleece was white as snow’

Second angle

‘Its fleece was white as snow,

And everywhere that Mary went

The lamb was sure to go’.

Mary had a little lamb

Its fleece was white as snow

And everywhere that Mary went

The lamb was sure to go.

Action and Dialogue

On the first angle the girl places the bag on her shoulder after saying ‘Its fleece was white as snow’ and on the second angle she places it on her shoulder before saying the same dialogue.

If those shots are cut together there will either be a jump in the action, or double dialogue.