Intro
I have applied to become an editor at a film studio, and as part of their process of applying, I am writing a report which shows my understanding of the techniques and application of editing in both film and television. Editing can be defined as the digital manipulation of video footage to create meaning within a piece of film. Editing is used to create a specific audience response such as joy or sadness.
I have applied to become an editor at a film studio, and as part of their process of applying, I am writing a report which shows my understanding of the techniques and application of editing in both film and television. Editing can be defined as the digital manipulation of video footage to create meaning within a piece of film. Editing is used to create a specific audience response such as joy or sadness.
Edison - Edison is known internationally as one of the main pioneers of film and cinema, owning a film studio in the US that made over 1200 films. He experimented with editing techniques that were new, such as jump-cuts, cross-fades and attempted invisible cuts, in films such as the 1903 "The Great Train Robbery", he cut between two seemingly identical clips of the interior of a train, making it seem as though there was no cut between the clips, when in fact a part of the set had changed, allowing for an explosion. His ideas were stolen from many British filmmakers.
Lumiere Brothers - The Lumiere Brothers were French Pioneers of film, devising one of the earliest motion picture camera, and also creating the first known "film" called "Workers Leaving The Lumiere Factory". This was a clip of people leaving the Lumiere Factory. It had no narrative, but paved the way for film as a whole.
George Albert Smith - George Albert Smith was a British filmmaker and pioneer. he made the famous "The Kiss in the Tunnel", a silent short film which was the first film ever which was edited, that being between multiple clips. This use of a "straight cut" was the first ever, and paved the way for other filmmakers to edit and use transitions.
George Lucas - George Lucas is an American filmmaker and Entrepreneur. He is most know for his creation of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones film series. George Lucas is most known for his use of transitions, more specifically the "wipe" transition, used to bridge together two separate scenes, in completely different locations.
A1 - Types and purposes of editing for film and television
Continuity Editing
Continuity Editing is known as the Classic Hollywood style. It is comprised of seamless transitions, and is meant to be incredibly smooth and almost unnoticeable in its cuts between angles. Continuity editing is made to establish a logical understanding and coherence within each scene, making a clear narrative. It makes the editing "invisible", helping the flow of the film and the narrative as a whole. Continuity Editing
Non Continuity Editing
With non continuity editing, the shots are purposely mismatched and arranged in a different order. Non Continuity editing involved montages and flashbacks, where the chronological fashion of the film is disturbed. This is done to misshape reality, and change the order of events for the purpose of showing the audience a past/present. The purpose of editing is to tell a story, and with non continuity editing you can show every side from different perspective.
Purpose of Editing
Editing can be used to compress or stretch time, depending on the situation you are in. Editing can be used to make one minute in real time feel like a few seconds, or make a few seconds feel like 5 minutes. Fast Paced cuts within a film can make the actual amount of time that a scene is on screen for seem much quicker than it really is. It can also be used to slow time, in a really intense situation.
Within a piece of film, the audience must be able to visualize the space between each character. This can be done in a variety of different ways, by clever editing and camera angles. The camera will be placed generally on some kind of line of axis, level with one character. When the camera cuts, the other shot will be at the same distance, creating a virtual space between the characters. The use of a two-shot or master shot is useful here as it can give the audience an idea of the real space between them, such as being sat together at a dinner table, or shouting to one another from atop a balcony to the ground.
The use of fast, straight cuts can be used to increase the pace of a film, as it will seem like everything is sporadic and uncontrollable, creating a faster pace. Similarly, film can be manipulated to create a slow pace. Using slow cross fades between shots can lengthen a scene and make it seem like it takes longer than it actually does.
Functions of Editing for Film and Television
Create Narrative - The creation of narrative can be a difficult concept within film, but it is generally done in a number of ways. Motivated editing is a technique in which the audience are made to suspend disbelief of the action on screen. The shots are chosen with detail, and this drives the story further. It is an easy and effective way of engaging the audience within a story line. It involves them to the point that they believe that what they are watching is real, they end up bypassing the changes in shots and editing, and fully believe in what they are watching, and the story behind it.
Narrative can be created through the use of information being withheld or explicitly given to the audience. Withholding information can be vital to grabbing and maintaining the viewers interest. This is mainly carried out through the use of cliffhangers in TV shows such as EastEnders, where a character will look at something of screen with a shocked expression, and then the episode will end, or the scene will change. The use of Dramatic Irony can be used to give the audience information that the actors don't know. For example, in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, towards the end, where Harry and Professor Quirrell are stood staring into the Mirror of Erised, and Quirrell is looking for the stone. Harry has it, and this is seen in the shot, but Quirrell doesn't know.
Continuity can be created easily between shots, this is done by following the action on screen. This is engineered best in a chase scene, where the camera follows the action with no distractions. A full on chase scene where at one point you will see at least one character on the screen, rather than neither. This adds tension as you don't see the other character, and wonder whether they're getting away or whether they are closing in on their target.
Location changes within a continuity edit must be edited in tune to the flow of the scene itself. The switch of location must be done almost subtly, with a slow cross dissolve or wipe, rather than a straight cut. A straight cut can actually disturb and remove the audience from the film itself, ruining the immersion.
Changing the time frame can be done by using flashback or flash forwards, where the character in question sees into the future, or into the past. a great example of this is a flash forward in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), where a Demiguise (a magical beast that is mastered in the skill of precognition) is able to see into the future, to predict the most likely event.
Empathy can easily be created for a character by the use of long, drawn out shots. This makes the scene seem longer, and more drawn out, relationg to the perspective of the character.
Juxtaposing can create a heavy sense of sadness/joy within a character. Juxtaposition is when something is portrayed as sad, for example and then is followed by something incredibly opposite.
One example from this is in the sitcom Friends, after Ross leaves the airport in the very last episode. It initially seems sad, as he returns home after Rachel turns him down. Suddenly, immediately after this, she appears at the door, stating "I got off the plane". This is an extremely quick change in atmosphere, as you change from feeling sad for Ross to feeling happy and almost ecstatic.
Another example of Juxtaposition is used in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. After the third task (the maze) is underway, Harry and Cedric both see the Triwizard cup at the end of the maze. They decide to take it together. The buildup to them reaching the cup makes it seem as though the next scene will be a celebration of the cooperation between the two Hogwarts students. Instead, the cup was a port key, and it takes them to a graveyard, where Voldemort is brought back to full form, and Cedric is killed. After a long battle inclusive of Priori Incantatem, where Harry sees Voldemort's Victims, he manages to get back to the port key with Cedric's body. Obviously, unaware of Cedric's death, the crowd erupts into applause for the two who had returned. After a second, they begin to realise that Cedric had been killed. This juxtaposition changes the mood from happy to depressing twice in a short space of time.
A2 - Applications of editing techniques
Establishing shots - an establishing shot is a shot type in which the camera is generally placed at a vantage point above the location. usually the action is unseen, but the location is discovered, and displayed to the audience. these are important to give the audience a better idea of the area and situation the characters are in. One of the most prominent examples of this is the establishing shots of Hogwarts Castle in the Harry Potter series
Cutaways and Cut-ins - These techniques are used to add context to a scene where people are talking among each other. The camera will "cut away" to something mentioned previously. One example of this could be that a character is talking about a person, and the camera will then switch to a shot of that person, interrupting the normal flow of the conversation
30 Degree Rule - This is a rule made for the flow and continuity of a film, where the cameras position must move at least 30 degrees, as to make the sequence seem as though it does not contain cuts. anything less looks similar to a jump cut, which disturbs the reality of the film.
Jump-Cutting - Jump Cutting is something generally avoided, but within a jump cut you can integrate an invisible cut, where the scene changes, but the transition itself is so smooth that it seems as though the shot is still continuing.
Shot Reverse Shot - This is used in dialogue, where two characters are talking to each other. One character will say something with the camera on them, and then the other will respond with the camera switching from one subject to the next.
180 degree rule - this is another rule relating to continuity, and keeping the flow of the production consistent. The 180 degree rule states that from the point where a subject is standing, the camera can not pass a parallel line made across the width of the set, as not to disturb the reality of the scene.
Eyeline match - the eye line match is where a character is seen looking off screen, and the shot changes to the thing they are looking at, as though they have become the camera. for example, if they were looking at a clock above a door, the camera would be tilted upwards.
Match cuts - Match on action is another continuity trick where the flow of a scene can be hugely improved. A character will do something, e.g. open a door in one shot. Halfway through this action, the shot will change, and the character will be seen continuing form the same position from a different angle. In this clip from ~Shaun of the Dead, Shaun jumps over a fence via a trampoline. This is shown from 3 different angles, where each angle seems to match with the previous
Montage - a montage is a collection of clips which are compiled together to create the illusion that something significant has changed over a period of time. This is usually seen in sport films, where the character will have a training montage, which documents their improvement. This is seen in Rocky, and it essentially shows a timeline of everything that happens along his journey. As much as montages can be used to show the progression of the character, there are other uses for montages. A montage could be used to create the illusion that a character is improving greatly, but when the montage finishes, the character is just as bad, if not worse than they were before. This could be used to create comedy, as it would defy the expectations of the viewer. Team America creates a form of satire within a montage, where the backing track narrates in a comedic way what is occurring. Usually, montages will show the progression of something, with an inspiring soundtrack. This is slightly different in Team America, as the content displayed on screen is like that of a normal montage, but the soundtrack almost makes fun of the stereotypical montage, as well as the events on screen.
Freeze Frame - A freeze frame in film is where a piece of action is stopped during motion, creating a still image on screen. This is done to stop and appear to control time itself. It creates an encapsulation of everything on screen, giving the audience a chance to process everything that is going on. This is used at the end of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and it signals that the character has isolated himself from his fellow students at Hogwarts. This creates foreshadowing for how the following film, Goblet of Fire will include Harry's journey through 3 tasks on his own. Another way that freeze frames are used comes from Netflix Original "Stranger Things". The four "kids" of the show are preparing for the Snow Ball, an annual dance at Hawkins High School, and whilst Mike is getting ready, his mother is barraging him with photos, which he isn't too happy with. After each photo, a freeze frame is used to show the emotion that Mike is feeling, as well as show the actual photo that was taken. (0:30-0:42).
Slow-motion - Slow motion in film is used to manipulate time, and create tension. A slow motion scene can build anticipation, bringing the viewer to the edge of their seat. Slow motion is used with time ramping, where the clip gradually develops from normal speed to slow motion, and then back to normal speed. This clip from the matrix demonstrates this, as the viewer is put on the edge of their seat, wondering whether any of the bullets will connect.
Split Screen - A split Screen in film is a shot type where multiple locations/characters are displayed at once on the screen. This is used in conversation, or to easily combine the reactions of a group. In this example from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, it displays three different reactions from the band members. during a performance. Another example of a split screen is from The Rules of Attraction (2002). It shows two characters and the way their morning routine shapes up. This creates a contrast between the two characters. Contrasting with a split screen can also be used to create comedy, through, for example, a telephone call. Two characters could be speaking to each other over the phone, and one could be in an incredibly stressful situation, like in a crowded and messy office, with the other on a beach, lying in the sun. This creates a contrast further between characters, and can show their reactions and surroundings.
Wipes - Wipes are a technique that was popularized by George Lucas in the Star Wars films. It is a type of transition where the clip that is being displayed is replaced, vertically or horizontally across the screen, with another clip. Below is every example from the Star Wars films. They are used to signify a drastic location change.
Dissolves - a dissolve is used in film to transition between two times in a smooth and seamless way. A cross dissolve is used to signify a change in time, for example from morning to evening, or an overnight transition.
Fades - fades are usually used to transition to black or white on screen. This is done towards the end of a film/scene, or at the shine of a light on screen. They are used to bridge two separate scenes, or to show the death of a character, like in the example below
George Lucas - George Lucas is an American filmmaker and Entrepreneur. He is most know for his creation of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones film series. George Lucas is most known for his use of transitions, more specifically the "wipe" transition, used to bridge together two separate scenes, in completely different locations.
A1 - Types and purposes of editing for film and television
Continuity Editing
Continuity Editing is known as the Classic Hollywood style. It is comprised of seamless transitions, and is meant to be incredibly smooth and almost unnoticeable in its cuts between angles. Continuity editing is made to establish a logical understanding and coherence within each scene, making a clear narrative. It makes the editing "invisible", helping the flow of the film and the narrative as a whole. Continuity Editing
Non Continuity Editing
With non continuity editing, the shots are purposely mismatched and arranged in a different order. Non Continuity editing involved montages and flashbacks, where the chronological fashion of the film is disturbed. This is done to misshape reality, and change the order of events for the purpose of showing the audience a past/present. The purpose of editing is to tell a story, and with non continuity editing you can show every side from different perspective.
Purpose of Editing
Editing can be used to compress or stretch time, depending on the situation you are in. Editing can be used to make one minute in real time feel like a few seconds, or make a few seconds feel like 5 minutes. Fast Paced cuts within a film can make the actual amount of time that a scene is on screen for seem much quicker than it really is. It can also be used to slow time, in a really intense situation.
Within a piece of film, the audience must be able to visualize the space between each character. This can be done in a variety of different ways, by clever editing and camera angles. The camera will be placed generally on some kind of line of axis, level with one character. When the camera cuts, the other shot will be at the same distance, creating a virtual space between the characters. The use of a two-shot or master shot is useful here as it can give the audience an idea of the real space between them, such as being sat together at a dinner table, or shouting to one another from atop a balcony to the ground.
The use of fast, straight cuts can be used to increase the pace of a film, as it will seem like everything is sporadic and uncontrollable, creating a faster pace. Similarly, film can be manipulated to create a slow pace. Using slow cross fades between shots can lengthen a scene and make it seem like it takes longer than it actually does.
Functions of Editing for Film and Television
Create Narrative - The creation of narrative can be a difficult concept within film, but it is generally done in a number of ways. Motivated editing is a technique in which the audience are made to suspend disbelief of the action on screen. The shots are chosen with detail, and this drives the story further. It is an easy and effective way of engaging the audience within a story line. It involves them to the point that they believe that what they are watching is real, they end up bypassing the changes in shots and editing, and fully believe in what they are watching, and the story behind it.
Narrative can be created through the use of information being withheld or explicitly given to the audience. Withholding information can be vital to grabbing and maintaining the viewers interest. This is mainly carried out through the use of cliffhangers in TV shows such as EastEnders, where a character will look at something of screen with a shocked expression, and then the episode will end, or the scene will change. The use of Dramatic Irony can be used to give the audience information that the actors don't know. For example, in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, towards the end, where Harry and Professor Quirrell are stood staring into the Mirror of Erised, and Quirrell is looking for the stone. Harry has it, and this is seen in the shot, but Quirrell doesn't know.
Continuity can be created easily between shots, this is done by following the action on screen. This is engineered best in a chase scene, where the camera follows the action with no distractions. A full on chase scene where at one point you will see at least one character on the screen, rather than neither. This adds tension as you don't see the other character, and wonder whether they're getting away or whether they are closing in on their target.
Location changes within a continuity edit must be edited in tune to the flow of the scene itself. The switch of location must be done almost subtly, with a slow cross dissolve or wipe, rather than a straight cut. A straight cut can actually disturb and remove the audience from the film itself, ruining the immersion.
Changing the time frame can be done by using flashback or flash forwards, where the character in question sees into the future, or into the past. a great example of this is a flash forward in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), where a Demiguise (a magical beast that is mastered in the skill of precognition) is able to see into the future, to predict the most likely event.
Empathy can easily be created for a character by the use of long, drawn out shots. This makes the scene seem longer, and more drawn out, relationg to the perspective of the character.
Juxtaposing can create a heavy sense of sadness/joy within a character. Juxtaposition is when something is portrayed as sad, for example and then is followed by something incredibly opposite.
One example from this is in the sitcom Friends, after Ross leaves the airport in the very last episode. It initially seems sad, as he returns home after Rachel turns him down. Suddenly, immediately after this, she appears at the door, stating "I got off the plane". This is an extremely quick change in atmosphere, as you change from feeling sad for Ross to feeling happy and almost ecstatic.
Another example of Juxtaposition is used in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. After the third task (the maze) is underway, Harry and Cedric both see the Triwizard cup at the end of the maze. They decide to take it together. The buildup to them reaching the cup makes it seem as though the next scene will be a celebration of the cooperation between the two Hogwarts students. Instead, the cup was a port key, and it takes them to a graveyard, where Voldemort is brought back to full form, and Cedric is killed. After a long battle inclusive of Priori Incantatem, where Harry sees Voldemort's Victims, he manages to get back to the port key with Cedric's body. Obviously, unaware of Cedric's death, the crowd erupts into applause for the two who had returned. After a second, they begin to realise that Cedric had been killed. This juxtaposition changes the mood from happy to depressing twice in a short space of time.
A2 - Applications of editing techniques
Establishing shots - an establishing shot is a shot type in which the camera is generally placed at a vantage point above the location. usually the action is unseen, but the location is discovered, and displayed to the audience. these are important to give the audience a better idea of the area and situation the characters are in. One of the most prominent examples of this is the establishing shots of Hogwarts Castle in the Harry Potter series
Cutaways and Cut-ins - These techniques are used to add context to a scene where people are talking among each other. The camera will "cut away" to something mentioned previously. One example of this could be that a character is talking about a person, and the camera will then switch to a shot of that person, interrupting the normal flow of the conversation
30 Degree Rule - This is a rule made for the flow and continuity of a film, where the cameras position must move at least 30 degrees, as to make the sequence seem as though it does not contain cuts. anything less looks similar to a jump cut, which disturbs the reality of the film.
Jump-Cutting - Jump Cutting is something generally avoided, but within a jump cut you can integrate an invisible cut, where the scene changes, but the transition itself is so smooth that it seems as though the shot is still continuing.
Shot Reverse Shot - This is used in dialogue, where two characters are talking to each other. One character will say something with the camera on them, and then the other will respond with the camera switching from one subject to the next.
180 degree rule - this is another rule relating to continuity, and keeping the flow of the production consistent. The 180 degree rule states that from the point where a subject is standing, the camera can not pass a parallel line made across the width of the set, as not to disturb the reality of the scene.
Eyeline match - the eye line match is where a character is seen looking off screen, and the shot changes to the thing they are looking at, as though they have become the camera. for example, if they were looking at a clock above a door, the camera would be tilted upwards.
Match cuts - Match on action is another continuity trick where the flow of a scene can be hugely improved. A character will do something, e.g. open a door in one shot. Halfway through this action, the shot will change, and the character will be seen continuing form the same position from a different angle. In this clip from ~Shaun of the Dead, Shaun jumps over a fence via a trampoline. This is shown from 3 different angles, where each angle seems to match with the previous
Montage - a montage is a collection of clips which are compiled together to create the illusion that something significant has changed over a period of time. This is usually seen in sport films, where the character will have a training montage, which documents their improvement. This is seen in Rocky, and it essentially shows a timeline of everything that happens along his journey. As much as montages can be used to show the progression of the character, there are other uses for montages. A montage could be used to create the illusion that a character is improving greatly, but when the montage finishes, the character is just as bad, if not worse than they were before. This could be used to create comedy, as it would defy the expectations of the viewer. Team America creates a form of satire within a montage, where the backing track narrates in a comedic way what is occurring. Usually, montages will show the progression of something, with an inspiring soundtrack. This is slightly different in Team America, as the content displayed on screen is like that of a normal montage, but the soundtrack almost makes fun of the stereotypical montage, as well as the events on screen.
Freeze Frame - A freeze frame in film is where a piece of action is stopped during motion, creating a still image on screen. This is done to stop and appear to control time itself. It creates an encapsulation of everything on screen, giving the audience a chance to process everything that is going on. This is used at the end of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and it signals that the character has isolated himself from his fellow students at Hogwarts. This creates foreshadowing for how the following film, Goblet of Fire will include Harry's journey through 3 tasks on his own. Another way that freeze frames are used comes from Netflix Original "Stranger Things". The four "kids" of the show are preparing for the Snow Ball, an annual dance at Hawkins High School, and whilst Mike is getting ready, his mother is barraging him with photos, which he isn't too happy with. After each photo, a freeze frame is used to show the emotion that Mike is feeling, as well as show the actual photo that was taken. (0:30-0:42).
Slow-motion - Slow motion in film is used to manipulate time, and create tension. A slow motion scene can build anticipation, bringing the viewer to the edge of their seat. Slow motion is used with time ramping, where the clip gradually develops from normal speed to slow motion, and then back to normal speed. This clip from the matrix demonstrates this, as the viewer is put on the edge of their seat, wondering whether any of the bullets will connect.
Split Screen - A split Screen in film is a shot type where multiple locations/characters are displayed at once on the screen. This is used in conversation, or to easily combine the reactions of a group. In this example from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, it displays three different reactions from the band members. during a performance. Another example of a split screen is from The Rules of Attraction (2002). It shows two characters and the way their morning routine shapes up. This creates a contrast between the two characters. Contrasting with a split screen can also be used to create comedy, through, for example, a telephone call. Two characters could be speaking to each other over the phone, and one could be in an incredibly stressful situation, like in a crowded and messy office, with the other on a beach, lying in the sun. This creates a contrast further between characters, and can show their reactions and surroundings.
Wipes - Wipes are a technique that was popularized by George Lucas in the Star Wars films. It is a type of transition where the clip that is being displayed is replaced, vertically or horizontally across the screen, with another clip. Below is every example from the Star Wars films. They are used to signify a drastic location change.
Dissolves - a dissolve is used in film to transition between two times in a smooth and seamless way. A cross dissolve is used to signify a change in time, for example from morning to evening, or an overnight transition.
Fades - fades are usually used to transition to black or white on screen. This is done towards the end of a film/scene, or at the shine of a light on screen. They are used to bridge two separate scenes, or to show the death of a character, like in the example below
