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Film and Video

Editing Techniques
William Edwards
+Provide a simple definition of what film editing
is

Film editing is the processes of assembling shots into a

coherent sequence.
+Can you list some examples of early film editing? Think about the
different ways that film makers could combine shots using the
technology of the time. Include weblinks/images where necessary

In the movie A trip to the Moon the film begin to

experiment with different editing effects on of these
which is present in the film is the use of crossfading,
another example is the The Great Train Robbery, in
which the use of close up is prominent throughout the
film, as well as of the use of dissolves is also used in
order to create a connection between different shots.
The technology used within the production of the film
A trip to the Moon was obviously basic for the time of
the production of the film but the combination of the
shots is emphases by the increasing style of which
modern technology has a major influence on the
modern day cinema
+Describe the concept of montage and
juxtaposition [remember Eisenstein and
Kuleshov] and give an example

Sergei Eisenstein evolved the process of classical editing

and in order to create a more prominent connection
between each shots. In the film Modern Times by Charlie
Chaplin, he uses a montage effective in the sense of it being
a metaphor, and this creates an emphasized effective within
the clips as it shows a more surreal message, The overall
concept of creating and using a montage is to use
emphasises to highlight the main message throughout the
clips. The Kuleshov effect creates a more clear connection
between two sequential shots, and in Kuleshovs short film
he uses a facial expression of a man in which is alternated
with a shot of a girl, soup and a coffin. This makes the
feelings of the man much more clearer for the viewer as you
can gage and understanding of the mans thinking mentally.
+List the types of cut/edit you can use and
provide an example of each on in use

Cuts

Fade-outs

Fade-Ins

Dissolves

Wipes
+Below, list the four relationships between shots

Editing and Graphic Relationships (Picture)

Editing and Rhythmic Relationships (Rhythm)

Editing and Temporal Relationship (Time)

Editing and Spatial Relationship (Space)

+For GRAPHIC relationships provide a description and examples of
its usage [with a weblink to a sequence on YouTube and still
frames where necessary you may add more slides if you need to]

Graphic relationships are important in understanding and

achieve a better connection within the film, this can mean,
no colour clash, as well as, movement from shot shot, all of
these help establish a better overall connection between
the shots in the film. Making sure that there is no colour
clash is very important, as with this it could make the film
disjointed as well as this it means that the film is not
aesthetically pleasing. The graphic relationships can also
be established by editing to achieve a pictorial contrast and
examples of this is a vast range of movement from each
shot to shot In order to create a emphasised understanding
of the shots. Creating and establishing, a graphic
relationship between each shot is important In helping
understanding and developing the plot throughout the film.
+For RYTHMIC relationships provide a description and examples of
its usage [with a weblink to a sequence on YouTube and still
frames where necessary you may add more slides if you need to]

Rhythmic relationship is used to contribute to the

speed and tempo of the shots. This is commonly used
in the video which have high action as this is very
effective in controlling the speed of the scene in order
to help increase or decrease the duration to the climax
of the video. The rhythmic relationship is very much a
crucial part of many different genre styles, example of
this is in James Bond in which the correlation between
the amount of action featured within the film directly
effects the speed of the camera shots and this is
ultimately done in the film in order to emphasise the
climax. The emphasise of the climax is important in
increasing the entertainment factor in the film industry.
+For TEMPORAL relationships provide a description and examples of
its usage [with a weblink to a sequence on YouTube and still
frames where necessary you may add more slides if you need to]

Temporal relationship are used in film, in order to

create the illusion to the audience that a transition is
emphasised to make the scene look like that the time
period has changed and this is done in many films, one
of the films that uses this is in Shaun of the Dead as
the it uses this to make it clear to the audience,
another film which uses the temporal effect is A Space
Odyssey and in this is done in order to extending the
time of in which the film is set.
+Define the Hollywood method of continuity editing and
why it became so prevalent

The Hollywood method is a prominent method of editing

during the 1930s/40s and this form of editing is called
continuity editing, this is when the edits make sure that
there is a smooth flow from each shot to shot and this can
be done in many different ways. This became prevalent
throughout the film industry especially as their was a rise in
the technology which allowed the producers to use
techniques an therefore which could create a smoother
experience for the viewer therefore this became more
prominent. The use of continuity editing can also be done
in order it help establish the location for the audience and
this is often done in the western film genre and after a long
shot of the location this is then followed a close-up in order
to get more detail on what is happening.
+Provide a description of a scene where the 180 degree
line has been used, how does it provide spatial
continuity/discontinuity?

The 180 Degree Line is a straight line in the area in which

the scene is being shot and this will then have cameras
positioned around the line in which would capture many
different angles of the same scene. This is often used as it is
easy to structure, and get the images effectively unlike
repeating the shot in order to get different angles within the
video. The use of a 180 degree line allows the continuity of
space and action as well as this the breakdown of shots is
easier to do and understand what is happening within the
scene, and have the continuity of time is very important, in
establishing a clear connection between each shots, The
180 Degree line is important in creating a clear level of
accessibility in order to capture the correct shots and by
keeping with the aesthetics of the shot.
+POV and identification explain how we are invited to
identify with a character through POV and shot reverse
shot

Point of view is often used in the media industry and to

portray the sight of a character they used shot-reverse
shot this is when the camera will initial shoot the
character in which they want to get the point of view
of, secondly, they will film what that character is
looking at this give the viewer the illusion that they are
within the mind of that character. Filmmakers can also
use repetition of the first shot in order to make the
viewer of the film identify the character whom is key
within that shot. This is ultimately, used in order to give
the audience a different view of the character, and this
means that you can understand what the main
character might be thinking, and how they are deal
under a certain situation.
+Provide a definition of cross-cutting/parallel editing, what
is so effective about this technique? Where might a
director use it?

Crossing cutting is a method of editing in which the

different shots will be cut between action taking place in
different locations, this is done in order to emphasise the
dramatic effect of the shots, this is important also in
creating a diverse range of shots in which making each
shot within the sequence a connection between other
shots, therefore this has become a popular method of
editing as many films have emphasised the dramatization
of the film. Cross cutting is very important in making sure
in keeping a continues amount of action throughout the
film in order to make it interesting for the viewer of the
film, an example of this would be in the James Bond
franchise, in the films they use cross cutting in order to
help progress the action in which is happening.
+What is Ellipsis? Select an example and explain
how it works

Ellipsis is when clips are shorten in order to make is

solely based around the plot/story of the film, and this
is important in progressing the story fast, an example
of this would be in James Bond Skyfall in which it
immediately focuses on the action in which is
happening and this is important in engaging the
audience in the film as well as making it exciting.
Ellipsis is used in many films, in order to get straight to
the point of action. This is often marked by using
transitions, this makes it easier and more clearer for
the audience that the period of time within the plot has
changed.
+What is meant by the term intensified continuity? Why
do you think continuity editing has developed in this
way?

Intensified continuity has evolved and more recently, the shots have
become short and have frequent cuts. Intensified continuity is in relation,
towards the average shots length and duration of the shot on the screen.
The technology used today have affected the way that the editing
processes, short cuts have become more popular due to the effects in which
can be applied to the modern day cinematography, Intensified continuity is
used showing more detail of what is happening in the film, and example of
this would be in: In The Bourne Supremacy as in the film the average length
of a clip is two seconds and this shows that the amount of detail within the
film is massive and this is important, in creating an aesthetically pleasing
video, so therefore the overall the use of intensified continuity, has major
importance within the film industry and this is important in understanding
the concept of what the industry expect from the media and film
distributors and creators, in order to have an exciting and highly detailed
video, intensified continuity is very simple therefore this is why it is
increasing poplar within the industry as it allows get a better insight to the
surroundings of the character and because of this it is important have
increased detail in the film.
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Your Case Study
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Case Study

The film Hacksaw Ridge follows the story of Brendan

Doss, and in the film it highlights the sacrifices faced
by a conscious object on the front line in World War 2.
In the film when it gets to war based scenes the
frequency of the clips increase and this is done in order
to increase and emphasize the effect and devastation
caused by war, therefore the rhythmic relationship
between the shots and the story of the film are
massively important in making sure that the viewing
experience is entertaining by using a range of different
angles and shots, Throughout the scenes all of the
shots are continuous as the all have a similar style and
length and this is important in creating a clear
connection, between each clip.
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Case Study

The first scene which I am looking at is when the main character

Desmond Doss is looking towards the enemies frontline, here there is a
close up of the main character and this is done in order to emphasize
the fear within the character as the character is without a gun and this
means he will be easily killed, then the character looks over to his right
in which he sees a fellow solider although he has been badly injured, the
shot in which looks over towards the solider is a mid range shot in which
pans towards the direction of the solider in time with the movement of
the character. Desmond Doss then moves towards the injured solider
and covers him up using the mud from where the artillery has landed,
this is then a close up shot, followed immediately by a shot of the
oncoming enemy solider, this is an example of POV as you can see what
Desmond is seeing and how it effects the choices he is making at the
time. All of the shots are very continuous as they all follow a similar
style and this helps the continuity of the aspect of war.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AMqUeSJpJw
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Case Study

The next scene which I have chosen to look at and analysis is the scene in
which the main character is assaulted at the army training camp and this
scene first takes place in the dark and this is done in order to empathize
the horror effect in what is happening to Desmond, this is also create a
sense of mystery to the audience as you dont clearly get to see who is
responsible for the attack on Desmond. In this scene Mel Gibson whom is
the director of the film has used short clips in order to intensify the
continuity between the section in which the main character is getting
beaten. The beating is the stopped by one of the soldiers whom is has
been woken from the noise of the beaten, he then rise up towards where
the beating is taken place and here, Mel Gibson uses POV, in order to
make it clear that the solider can clearly see what is happing to Desmond,
The solider then shouts to the attacks of Desmond, although he doesnt
do this for Desmond benefit he does this in order to get back to sleep, the
shot here sees the men run which allows Desmond to access the lights,
the shot used here are close up on Desmond in order to show the damage
in which he has suffered from the beating, this then reverts back to the
awoken solider as this was another use of POV, all of this POV is important
in creating a more realistic atmosphere to the film because you get to see
the perspective of one of the soldiers.
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Free choice case study

Your individual case study should describe the

development of editing in film and aim to highlight the
different aspects of editing discussed in the lecture
[with examples]

You should select at least 2 different examples/clips to

discuss you should include links to these and use still
images to support your arguments

Use the questions listed on the next slide to start your

investigations
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Questions to ask

When any two shots are joined, you can ask several
questions:

1. How are the shots graphically continuous or discontinuous?

2. What rhythmic relations are created?

3. Are the shots spatially continuous? If not, what creates the

spatial discontinuity? [Cross-cutting? Ambiguous cues?] If
the shots are continuous, how does the 180-degree system
create the continuity?

4. Are the shots temporally continuous? If so, what creates the

continuity? [e.g. matches on action?] If not, what creates
the discontinuity?