Time Continuity

Actual time moves forward only, chronologically. Motion picture chronology, however, may present the story in reel- rather than real- time. Motion picture time may be divided into four categories: present, past, future, and conditional. A motion picture story may employ one or more of these time elements, singly or in any combination. The film may depict events as happening in the present, and then switch backward or forward; or it may compress, expand or freeze time in any manner. However time is portrayed, its handling must be easily comprehended by the audience.

Uses of real time, and employment of dream time, are limited only by the imagination and technical abilities of those producing the film. However the time factor is employed, the film story based on time continuity is told with the passage of either actual or fanciful time.

Present-time continuity depicts the action as if occurring now. This is the most popular and least confusing method of presenting the material. Events transpire in a logical, straightforward see-it-now way; so that, regardless of story developments, transitions, continuity lapses, the audience is always watching the event in the present. The viewer observing events this way has a stronger feeling of participation in the screen happenings. Neither he nor the screen characters know what will come next. This keeps the viewer interested in following the screen story to its conclusion.

Reference:

Mascelli, J. V. (1965). The Five C's of  Cinematography. The United States: radstone publications.