Continuity between shots

Continuity depends on stable space, identity and state. A beautiful individual shot may still fail to connect with the previous one.

Establish a master view

At the start of a scene, establish characters, doors, windows, furniture and key props. Keep a medium or medium-wide reference that subsequent close-ups can inherit.

For dialogue, decide who is screen left, who is screen right and where each looks. Keep shot/reverse-shot coverage on the same axis. If crossing the axis is intentional, use a clear moving shot to re-establish positions rather than swapping characters without explanation.

Eight continuity checks

Shot type	Information to preserve
Establishing space	Present characters, layout, light sources and action axis
Entrance	Entry point, path, stopping position and others' reactions
Two-person dialogue	Left/right relationship, eyeline height, speaker and listener
Ensemble	Distance, direction and action roles of main and background characters
Emotional close-up	Facial identity, eyeline and posture from the previous shot
Action	Separate preparation, action, consequence and physical reaction
Prop detail	Owner, hand, orientation and state before and after use
Continuous take	Previous final frame, direction, camera height and speed

Dialogue workflow

1. Create a stable relationship shot showing positions and eyelines.
2. Extract blocking from it for later shots.
3. Prepare clear identity references and voices for principal characters.
4. Focus on one speaker's short line at a time, intercut with listener reactions.
5. Give background characters simple, explicit secondary actions instead of making everyone talk and move simultaneously.
6. Preview neighboring shots together and check direction, background, lip sync and props.

Ensemble dialogue example: inspect relationships, screen direction and speaking order.

Break down action

Use: establish space → prepare → one core action → consequence → reaction and new position. Avoid fitting preparation, a punch, impact, a fall and a counterattack into one short shot.

After every action, record new positions, orientations, poses and prop states. Use one principal camera movement at a time. Simultaneous orbiting, pushing, panning and shaking reduces clarity.

Restore information omitted by sketches

Sketches communicate composition but may lose small objects and atmosphere. Specify essential props, light, clothing and expression, and state that the sketch does not define the final rendering style.

Common corrections

Characters switch sides: specify screen coordinates and eyelines, and supply a relationship reference instead of only saying “they look at each other.”

Props disappear: create a prop asset, name its owner and hand, and add a detail shot when necessary.

Identity changes: remove conflicting references and use clear individual character images. Correct the reference before regenerating.

Lip sync fails: shorten dialogue, confirm speaker, voice and language, and separate overlapping speakers.

Place references beside the instruction they control

Situation	Frame to capture	Prompt placement
Establish space	Clear people and major layout	At the start or beside the setting; assign composition
Character entrance	Entrance and travel direction	Immediately after the entrance action
Two-person dialogue	Blocking and each person's background	At the start; establish left/right, facing and axis
Ensemble scene	Main-character relationships	At the start; noninteracting extras can be background
Emotional close-up	Previous expression and posture	Beside the reaction, defining the continuing state
Action or combat	Previous result and new positions	Beside the next action; specify direction and contact
Prop detail	Last visible state of the object	Beside the prop; identify owner, orientation and condition
Continuous shot	Prior ending and major blocking	First specify the starting frame, then continuing action

For three-person dialogue, prepare four kinds of information: wide/medium blocking, individual close-ups, relationship frames and the background behind each person. Establish space before making short dialogue shots. Three portraits alone do not define that space. Check identity, stable left/right positions, continuous backgrounds and dialogue/lip sync.