The Importance Of Continuity In Books, Movies and TV

And why these errors are killing the audience

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

I’ve just finished re-watching a really good episode of Casualty. This TV show has been around for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always loved it. First, I watched it with my parents, and then with my friend, and then with my parents and my friend.

This show has been a part of my life for so long, and I’ve always enjoyed it, except for one fatal flaw, which has always detracted from the overall viewing experience.

Continuity

ONE EXAMPLE

This seemingly small issue seems to creep into every part of television, and movies. One of the ones that is most memorable to me, is the small matter of the shot glasses in the movie Coyote Ugly (which is one of my all time favourites, btw).

In the first shot, the glasses are set out in two rows of six glasses. The barmaid twirls the liquor bottles in her hands and then (in the next shot) proceeds to pour the liquid into one row of twelve glasses.

Now, I must apologise, if you, too, love the movie and now have the image stuck in your head, too, but you get where I’m going with this…

CONTINUITY IS KEY