Can Post Production Help To Avoid Continuity Errors?

Film fans always love a good night out at the cinema and most will appreciate the vast amount of work that has gone into producing a film, but there will be those who can’t help finding a few hidden faults.

Most critics will reflect positively or otherwise on the performances of the characters, the quality of the storyline, the special effects and costumes (the best of which will end up being rewarded at glitzy set-piece events like the Oscars and BAFTAs).

However, others will notice a few small errors that, maybe, nobody else has spotted.

These are known as ‘continuity errors’ and vary from something that creates a significant plot hole to simply things like someone‘s tie changing colour between scenes.

The question is, do they matter? And if so, what can post-production houses do to eliminate them?

Which Films Had The Most Continuity Errors?

Among the films identified as having a lot of continuity errors is the Bond Film Skyfall. Digital Spy claimed there were 24 mistakes, while Moviemistakes.com declared there were 35.

Among the notable errors were:

·       Bond jumps into water just before he reaches a chapel, when he is bone dry

·       During a scene when he is riding a motorbike in Istanbul, Bond is seen wearing sunglasses, then without them, then with them on again.

·       Bond’s shoes change during a sequence when he is fighting on top of a moving train

Perhaps the biggest of all was in the same Istanbul sequence, when Miss Moneypenny is driving a Land Rover. At one point, its screen is smashed and she manages to remove it to get a clear view, yet further along in the chase, she has a fully-restored windscreen.

For all the interest around Skyfall’s continuity errors, it was only second on the Moviemistakes.com list. The 1997 alien-themed comedy Men in Black was top with no fewer than 63. This was later increased to 73 as beady-eyed spotters weighed in with more.

Among the continuity errors and other mistakes were:

·       The spelling of the name of a Russian restaurant changes between shots

·       The reflection of a cameraman can be seen in a car door

·       When a UFO crashes, Agent K’s hair moves wildly from the front, but the back shot shows it stationary

What Was The Blunder At The End Of Gladiator?

Apart from these multiple offenders, there are films with small numbers of errors, such as the very obvious instance at the end of Gladiator, when a pillow is obviously concealed to rest the head of Russell Crowe in the scene where Maximus lies dying in the arena.

Not every purported continuity error is real. In another swords and sandals epic, Ben Hur, there is allegedly a red car in the background of the chariot scene. However, this is an urban myth.

Nonetheless, continuity errors are real, and while people will usually remember Gladiator, Men in Black and Skyfall for their other aspects, there will be a point at which some may ask whether so many errors are acceptable.

How Should Production Approach The Issue Of Continuity Errors?

This is, of course, a question you may have if you want your production to look exceptional in every way. However, there are a few things to consider:

·       Would you re-shoot a scene if a continuity error is spotted?

·       Do you want digital effects to be used to remove an error?

·       Should a scene be cut simply because of the potential impact of an error?

Alongside these considerations will be matters of time and money. Do you have the budget to spend more time on set and pay the actors and crew for their time to take more shots?

Just as importantly, post-production work may spot and eliminate (or at least minimise) some continuity errors by cutting some shots or using CGI to change things, but this also takes up more time. This means you need to consider your timescales and budget.

Some might argue that it is more incumbent on big-money productions of blockbuster films with large budgets, detailed scripts and famous actors to get it exactly right.

Others may suggest that they have more margin for error, as aspects like the standard of the acting, special effects and the score will carry the film to success.

By comparison, if your production is more modest, it may be that the audience is more forgiving of any continuity errors they spot.

Continuity errors and plot holes are a fact of life. It is a matter of opinion how much they matter. But if you do want to eliminate them, it is important to be aware that this will mean allowing more time for post-production work to take place to minimise them.