The understanding of continuity

What is continuity?

Continuity is : 'the quality of something that does not stop or change as time passes : a continuous quality'
anonymous. (unknown). continuity. Available: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continuity. Last accessed 06/04/15.

Why is continuity important in TV and film?

it is important especially for hair and makeup artist when working on TV and film, to understand the use of continuity. When working on a project such as creating the hair or makeup for a film or TV episode , the amount of time it takes to shoot and scene is usually a couple of days maybe even weeks, therefore actors and actresses starring in the films and TV episodes will need there hair and makeup redone every time, however it is important that every time the makeup and hair has to be redone, it looks exactly the same otherwise once the TV episode or film has been filmed the audience watching will notice signficant mistakes such as the movement of a hairstyle or a change in colour of makeup.

How can a hair and makeup artist be successful with continuity?

In order for a hair or makeup artist to make continuity successful , avoiding and any signficant changes or mistakes, create a face chart which is easy to follow from with the product types colours and shades listed down the side of the face chart. Create a simple sketch of the hair design labelling the different design elements incorporated into the hairstyle. write a simple step by step tutorial to follow from with the tools and products used to create the final look. Take plenty of photographs from the first time the hair and makeup and use this as a guideline .

Lori Rourke. (unknown). Arizona hair and makeup. Available: http://www.lorirourke.com/tag/fashion-makeup/. Last accessed 06/04/15.

 

Here is an example of continuity the makeup artist has created makeup for a TV or film set, when having to recreate this makeup for a second shoot things the makeup artist will need to consider are: the products she has used, the positioning and the number of marking on the face and  where the shading which goes back into the hairline starts.

Tania. (unknown). 4style. Available: http://www.4style.co.uk/about.html. Last accessed 06/04/15.

 

Here is an example of special effects continuity the things the makeup artist will need to consider in order to recreate tis look will be: the positioning and number of the scales situating from the forehead to the bald cap , the shading of the scales and this list of products used to recreate the look.

 

continuity for Miss Havisham

Lorna Bradbury. (20/02/12). Miss Havisham my favourite Charles Dickens character . Available: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/charles-dickens/9084922/Miss-Havisham-My-favourite-Charles-Dickens-character.html. Last accessed 06/04/15.

 

when recreating the Hair and Makeup for the BBC interpretation of the Great expectations the things the makeup and hair artist would have needed to consider would have been: the list of products used in order to age the skin, how many ringlets are on either side of the hair and how the hair is styled an how many curls are situated at the back of the hair.

 For my Miss Havisham continuity assessment, this was my design template in order to recreate my hair design . After my first continuity assessment in order to make it easier to recreate my Miss Havisham hair design I labelled my sketch and updated my step by step tutorial in order to get the design as similar to the original as I could. I also used photographs from my previous design as a guideline.

the sketch conveys two ringlets either side of the head and two hair rolls also either side of the head, a strong centre parting and a Victorian style rolled hair bun with flowers for decoration.









 For my Miss Havisham makeup for the continuity  assessment , I created a face chart with the list of products to use down the left hand side, during my first continuity assessment I decided not to include the burn in my final design therefore for my second part of the continuity assessment I included a note for the examiner to see that I did no include the burn in my first design.

After my fist continuity exam my lecturer compared my makeup design to my face chart, she liked at I listed the products used down the side of he face chart and the shade of product and said the structure of gelatine on the face chart was very similar to my first continuity assessment.

In order to make it easier to recreate my makeup design I included on my step by step tutorial any significant changes and also used my photographs from my first part of the continuity assessment to act as a guideline in order to get the makeup design as similar to the previous assessment as I could.