Script / Continuity

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Script / Continuity is an occupation in the film and television industry that is used in fiction formats ( motion pictures , television series , television films , soap operas ) and belongs to the directing department. It is divided into the two areas of responsibility Script and Continuity , which are taken over by the same person in most film and television productions in Germany. In the case of complex productions, the script / continuity is sometimes supported by another script. Only the script area is needed for documentaries and docu-soaps . In Germany, the use of scripts / continuities in advertising films is rather rare.

origin

The profession of script / continuity developed in Germany from the profession of studio secretary . The studio secretary was responsible for documenting the shooting in the film studios . The requirements during filming increased over time, so the profession developed and also changed its name. In the meantime, the job description of the German script / continuity is very similar to that of the English and American script supervisors , but not identical.

Script

The main task of the script is to generate reports for the cutting room and for the production office. The following reports are created: negative image reports or cutting lists , cutter reports and the daily report . Some directors and editors also require an editing book , which is also created by the script. In addition, the script assigns the setting number and outputs it to the camera department for the film door and the sound engineer for his reports on.

Continuity

The task of the continuity is to pay attention to the connections during the shooting so that there are no connection errors. As an employee of the department directed it supports while filming the director and works closely with the assistant director together.

preparation

Before filming begins, the continuity has a preparatory period during which the script is read and “set up”. “Setting up” means marking connections in the script and adding to them. The Continuity receives script excerpts from the assistant director with additional information on the script and its implementation. In addition, the Continuity stops the script in consultation with the assistant director. This results in the pre-stop times , which are later offset against the rotated length of the scenes (rotation stop) and the length of the scenes in the cut (cut stop).

During filming

During filming, the Continuity monitors the actors' movement and text connections and the plot axis . The connections are noted and supplemented in the script that has been set up. If necessary, connection photos are also taken. The continuity is responsible for ensuring that no connection errors occur in these areas.

Movement connections : The action and movement of the actors in a scene (corridors, gestures, etc.) are noted by the Continuity in its prepared script. If the scene is shot in several shots , there is usually one setting that determines the connection (usually the long shot ). The continuity provides information about the correct sequence of movements and notes deviations.

Text connections : If the text of the original dialogue is changed in a scene during rehearsals or when shooting the first shots , this is noted by the Continuity and, if necessary, read in during the shooting (at the request of the director or actor). In addition, the continuity monitors the completeness of the dialogues within the scene and notes deviations or missing passages.

Plot axis: In order to be able to cut the different shots that are rotated by a scene, the visual continuity of the plot is required . This is created by aligning the respective camera positions with the movements that occur within a scene, the so-called axis of action. If a camera is positioned in such a way that the resulting shot does not see the action from the same direction as in the other shots of the scene, an axis jump occurs and the continuity is interrupted. Sometimes axes are deliberately ignored and their jump used as a stylistic device. The director and the cameraman determine the camera positions and the setting for a scene. The continuity ensures that the plot axis is retained and that all intended settings of a scene are rotated.

During the shooting, the continuity also determines the shooting stop. If a film or a series is too long or too short, this can result in scenes being deleted, extended or even new scenes being shot. The continuity must therefore give notice in good time so that measures can be taken if necessary.

The continuity supported during the filming also control the ports of other departments ( mask , costume and equipment ), the respective departments bear the responsibility port.

After finishing the shooting, the work of the script / continuity also ends.

education

Training and career entry take place through internships, script assistance in a continuity or through working on short films. Occasionally, seminars for script / continuity are also offered.

Training center

literature

  • Script Supervising and Film Continuity , Pat P. Miller, Focal Press, 1999, ISBN 0-240-80294-2 .
  • Continuity & Script for Film and Television , Franziska Werners, Emons-Verlag, Cologne, 2001, ISBN 3-89705-208-3 .
  • The right attitude , Steven D. Katz, two thousand and one, Frankfurt am Main, 1998, ISBN 0-941188-10-8 .

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