What to Watch - Advice From a Script SupervisorWhen you start checking continuity, it feels like you need to look everywhere. But as you gain experience you’ll realise there are only a select few elements per department you need to watch... Read more
What to Watch - Advice From a Script Supervisor
When you start checking continuity, it feels like you need to look everywhere. But as you gain experience you’ll realise there are only a select few elements per department you need to watch closely.
Part One: Costume
While Setting up the Scene
Check your story days and pull up your continuity photos from when the actors were last seen on that day and when we see them next. Go to the actors who are in costume and double-check what they’re wearing against the photos you have.
Check:
Every item of clothing - socks, shoes, and accessories in particular are often mixed up
Creases, stains, threads, and tears
Zips, fastenings, and buttons - how far are they done up?
Rolled-up sleeves and cuffed trousers - do these match previous scenes?
Anything loose, eg ties and lanyards
Watch - does it show the correct in-world time and date?
Story - does the way the character is wearing the costume make sense within the story? Eg if the character has been surviving in the wilderness for a week, their shirt won’t be crisp white and freshly steamed.
If you catch any issues with the above, communicate them to the costume department and show them a continuity photo to match to. Most continuity issues should be solved before cameras are even rolling.
During a Take
On the monitor, you’re watching the following:
Any items of clothing that are removed or put on mid-scene, eg jackets - how and when are they removed? Where are they placed? Are they reset properly at the start of a new take?
Any items of clothing that move, eg ties, lanyards, capes, scarves, long skirts, drawstrings
Zips, fastenings, and buttons - always watch their height
Jewellery - watch for a stray necklace clasp, or jewellery jumping in and out of clothing
Stains, sweat marks, and creases - as a scene goes on, a once pristine costume might become raggy
As soon as the take is over, flag any issues with the costume standby so they can run in and fix the issue before the next take. If there is a large issue, briefly inform the director so they can decide whether they’d like to go for another take.
If you would like me to script supervise your next project, or you're a script supervisor looking for an assistant with a keen eye for detail, please get in touch: izzysearlefilm@gmail.com. https://www.izzysearlewriter.com/scriptsupervision
When you start checking continuity, it feels like you need to look everywhere. But as you gain experience you’ll realise there are only a select few elements per department you need to watch closely.
Part One: Costume
While Setting up the Scene
Check your story days and pull up your continuity photos from when the actors were last seen on that day and when we see them next. Go to the actors who are in costume and double-check what they’re wearing against the photos you have.
Check:
Every item of clothing - socks, shoes, and accessories in particular are often mixed up
Creases, stains, threads, and tears
Zips, fastenings, and buttons - how far are they done up?
Rolled-up sleeves and cuffed trousers - do these match previous scenes?
Anything loose, eg ties and lanyards
Watch - does it show the correct in-world time and date?
Story - does the way the character is wearing the costume make sense within the story? Eg if the character has been surviving in the wilderness for a week, their shirt won’t be crisp white and freshly steamed.
If you catch any issues with the above, communicate them to the costume department and show them a continuity photo to match to. Most continuity issues should be solved before cameras are even rolling.
During a Take
On the monitor, you’re watching the following:
Any items of clothing that are removed or put on mid-scene, eg jackets - how and when are they removed? Where are they placed? Are they reset properly at the start of a new take?
Any items of clothing that move, eg ties, lanyards, capes, scarves, long skirts, drawstrings
Zips, fastenings, and buttons - always watch their height
Jewellery - watch for a stray necklace clasp, or jewellery jumping in and out of clothing
Stains, sweat marks, and creases - as a scene goes on, a once pristine costume might become raggy
As soon as the take is over, flag any issues with the costume standby so they can run in and fix the issue before the next take. If there is a large issue, briefly inform the director so they can decide whether they’d like to go for another take.
If you would like me to script supervise your next project, or you're a script supervisor looking for an assistant with a keen eye for detail, please get in touch: izzysearlefilm@gmail.com. https://www.izzysearlewriter.com/scriptsupervision
