Editing

Learning Objective: To be able to show an understanding of how editing is used to create meaning.

Learning Outcome:

ALL: will be able to explain the purpose of one editing style. A

MOST: will be able to identify and explain the purpose of 2-5 different editing styles. C

SOME: will be able to use media language effectively to explain the purpose of 5 or more editing styles. E

Editing

When we watch a film we notice how it is joined together at certain points. Each scene may last a few seconds or continue for a few minutes. The length of each shot determines the pace of the film and helps determine the mood. In between these scenes is some use of editing. Editing can be done during filming or usually done after filming has been shot ‘edit stage’.

Speed Of Edits

What effect do you think slow editing would have? -  Slow editing has numerous of effects. It is mainly used in action films to create dramatic effect, but can be used for this in thriller film. It can create suspense and make a scene seem scary from the build of tension.  

 What effect do you think fast editing would have? - Fast editing can be used for effects such as time lapsing, whereby each film frame is captured at a rate much slower than it will be played back. When replayed at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster, so it is lapsing.

 What speed of editing would you use to build tension?- To create tension I think the best form of editing is fades and slow motion effect. This allows the action to take its time to be revealed to the audience leaving them in suspense for a lot longer than normal time would. Fades give the illusion of scenes drifting in and out and therefore makes it able to flow as the tension rises.

Film trailers are an excellent way in connecting an audience to a film and this is achieved through the editing. Film trailers mainly use a mixture of editing styles, techniques and also speed to appeal to an audience and to also advertise a film.

When analysing this trailer of the film Reservoir Dogs, there are numerous editing styles and techniques used in order to sum up the entire narrative in few minutes. Various scenes are connected in order to show the different characters and action within the film. At around 0.12 seconds there is the use of slow editing. This creates dramatic effect when the characters in their suits walk down the street; it shows them to be cool and collected. The edit makes it appear to be a lot slower than in real life filming. Throughout the trailer are the connected shots of the entire narrative to some up the storyline to the audience. Until around 1:12, when the actors names are being mentioned the edits range in between all the characters to show what actor plays what character. This edit helps us understand who plays what character the quickened pace of it creates a dramatic outcome.

When analysing the trailer of Pulp Fiction, there was a lot of differences to Reservoir Dogs, although made by the same director with a similar type genre the edits within the trailer where different. Immediately, there was a faster use of edit to show the scenes.  Within the first few seconds there was around 9 different edits jumping to different scenes, this created dramatic effect for an exciting action like narrative. The only suspense was the lead up with the music. There was no suspense with this trailer because slower edits where not used. Just as in Reservoir Dogs the use of text was included after the filming stage to show the actors names and what the narrative was about. When showing the actors the scenes quickened between them all.

 

 Editing Terminology

Reaction Shot
 It is a shot which cuts away from the main scene in order to show the reaction of a character to it.

Invisible editing/ Continuity editing
Slow editing: When clips are joined together at a slower pace than an ordinary edit, in order to create suspense

Montage 
Is the speed of editing, this is the reverse of slow editing in which shots are quickly joined together in order to create excitement

Straight Cut   
An abrupt  cut from one edit to another which may have no significance in the following of the narrative

Fade Out
 When an edit fades from a scene into a black background, usually marking an end of a film or episode. ( Fade In – From black scene into an edit )

Dissolve
When an image is blended into another, the other disappears as the other one comes in.

Wipe Cut
With the border around the screen or between the images ,one image replaces another without dissolving

Jump cut
A cut in film editing in which two shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only slightly

Linking of section
 Is where one section of a film is linked to another scene

Kuleshov effect
This a film editing (montage) effect which can be used to hint at emotions without actually showing any. It is very useful as the limitations of the technique make the display of emotions almost impossible

180* rules image
 The axis between two characters and the 180° arc on which cameras may be positioned, like an invisible line in which the camera does not cross

Shot reverse shot
This is mostly used in films where conversation is taking place when one shot quickly follows

Graphic match
Is when a shape from one shot matches the shape of the shot

Relation To My Own Thriller Film :

In relation to my thriller opening, there are various editing techniques I can use, mainly those to build tension, to satisfy the conventions of a thriller genre.  A slow edit during certain scenes will emphasize on the action and make the audience concentrate more. I may choose to stay away from faster edits as it gives the impression of action and dramatic effect.
If I want the audience to use their own imagination, the Kuleshov effect may have the most impact in relation to dragging out a narrative, where I must show and explain everything. Using this effect creates mystery the audience must gear to figure out.