ABSTRACT
This chapter defines physical continuity in acting for film and television. It outlines the importance of executing physical continuity in a scene. It supports the concept that good acting on camera can be physically consistent and spontaneous within the structure of the story created by the screenwriter. It describes what it means to match a physical performance or movement from take to take and how this will provide the editor with multiple choices in the editing room. It provides an example from the television series Mad Men to illustrate how to use props in a scene to create a dynamic performance as the character pursues their objective. It reinforces the idea that, through repetition, the actor will find freedom and build a performance that is alive in the present moment. There is an original sample scene and an exercise at the end of the chapter.
