Continuity- Fight Club

 

I have chosen to analyse the continuity techniques used in the opening scene of the film Fight Club.

The opening scene begins with a close up of a character looking straight at the camera sweating. Then we are shown this shot from two different angles; first from the side, now we can see that there is a gun pointing down his throat, then from above left. Each shot has a different purpose, the side profile shot to reveal the gun, and the third to create the illusion he is looking up at a person. These close ups appear continuous by keeping to the 30 degree angle rule. It also conforms to the 180 degree rule in the conversation between the two men.

In the shot from above you see the gun removed from his mouth, this action is continued in a mid shot, where Tyler with his back to us, and the narrator looking to the top right. Here the technique match on action is displayed when removing the gun from his mouth. Also throughout the whole sequence you see the narrator look to the top right when referring to Tyler, keeping the same throughout helps the audience follow the positioning of the characters.

In the sequence there is little tracking as there is little character movement. They use establishing shots a couple of times, this helps understand the setting that is confusing at times.