The actor lifts the cup with her right hand in the wide shot and her left hand in the close-up. That may not matter. The cup being full again after she has emptied it probably will. Continuity work begins by noticing which changes carry story information and which details can vary without confusing the audience.
A small crew needs a system that somebody can maintain during a busy day. A folder full of unlabeled photographs is not much of a system, even when the photographs are sharp.
Break the scene into states
Read the script for actions that change something: an envelope opens, a coat comes off, a sandwich loses a bite, a chair moves or a phone screen changes. Mark the moment before and after each action. Give those states plain names that the crew can use without decoding a complicated numbering scheme.
For a dinner scene, the useful distinction may be “before spill” and “after spill.” For a character arriving from outside, it may be “coat on,” “coat on chair” and “coat carried out.” These states help everyone understand what must be restored when shots are filmed in a different order.
Make a short list of items that cannot be reset easily. Food gets eaten, paper tears and makeup may take time to reproduce. Discuss replacements or a different shooting order before the day begins. The required number of duplicates depends on the action and coverage; avoid choosing an arbitrary quantity without walking through the scene.
Photograph from a useful angle
Take a wider reference that locates the item in the scene, followed by a closer image when a small detail matters. Include the scene and state in the filename or note. If a photograph shows the setup after take four, say so. A picture with no relationship to the shooting order can send the crew toward the wrong reset.
For wardrobe, record practical details that change: sleeves, buttons, pockets, jewelry and how an outer layer is carried. Respect the performer’s privacy and agree on how reference images will be captured and stored. Continuity photographs do not need to become behind-the-scenes publicity.
Keep a clear distinction between a reference for the start of a take and a record of what happened during it. Actors may make a useful spontaneous choice. If the director wants to keep that choice, update the reference rather than insisting on an earlier version merely because it was photographed first.
Listen for the action inside the line
Note when an important movement happens relative to dialogue. “Sets glass down after ‘tomorrow’” is more useful than “glass down.” You do not need to document every blink. Concentrate on actions that cross a likely cut, reveal information or affect the next shot.
Talk with the director and camera team about planned coverage. A hand reaching across the frame may need matching action in two shots. An object outside every frame may not need meticulous placement. This conversation keeps the continuity work proportional to what the edit will actually use.
If a mismatch occurs, describe it promptly and let the director decide what to do. A stronger performance may be worth a small discontinuity. The continuity record should make that choice informed, not treat visual matching as a rule that outranks the scene.
Build the reset into the take
Assign responsibility for each important reset. One person checks the table; another confirms wardrobe. On a very small crew, the same person may do both, but the work still needs a moment before the next take. Ask for that moment explicitly rather than trying to reach into a live performance.
At the end of a setup, record the favored takes and any known mismatch. Keep the notes with the camera and sound reports so the editor can find them. Flag a usable alternate or insert if one exists. A concise note explaining an intentional difference is more helpful than an unexplained warning.
For broader preparation, the BFI’s short-filmmaking conversations introduce the collaboration behind a production. Continuity is one small part of that collaboration: it preserves the options people worked to create, then lets the finished scene choose the most convincing moment.