jgfilmeditingblog

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Applications of editing techniques

This post will consist of me discussing and evaluating on the use of some of the most famous editing techniques.

Establishing shot

An establishing shot in film making and television production sets up, or establishes the context for a scene by showing the relationship between important figures and objects. It can be used to provide views with important information, establishing shots can be used to show the exterior of a building in which an interior scene is taking place. 

This scene from The Flash opens with a tracking shot of a police car before stopping outside of the Central City police station. Although the buildings interior is very recognizable, the use of an establishing shot of the building does provide the building with a sense of character and a strong presence. Overall, establishing shots are mainly used to address a location, it allows for the audience to get a sense of where the characters are as oppose to having them describe where they are themselves. This is why establishing shots are a narrative form of editing, they add to the overall story without involving any dialogue. 

Cutaways and cut-ins

Although they both contain the word cut, they both mean different things. A cut-in refers to a close-up shot of something, a cutaway is shot that leads the narrative away from a scene. Going in to more detail about cut-in shots, they usually occur as a way of highlighting something specific in a scene, they usually involve the camera zooming in on a specific aspect of the scene. They are a great way of visually showing an items significant within the context of the narrative instead of having the characters have to say why it is important. Cutaways are used to show something outside of the main scene, cutaway shots are most commonly used to adjust the pace of the main action, to conceal the deletion of some unwanted part of the main shot or to allow the joining of two versions of that shot. The most famous use of cutaways is in the animated comedy series Family Guy where cut away’s are used multiple times an episode, they are usually introduced through a piece of dialogue that relates to the scene but the cutaway itself has no relation to the main narrative of the episode. Overall, cutaways act as an effective method of scene transition and can also be used for comedic effect.

30-degree rule

The 30 degree rule is a basic film editing guideline that states that the camera should move at least 30 degrees relative to the subject between successive shots of the same subject. However, camera movement should stay on one side of the subject to follow the 180 degree rule. If you cut to a different angle of the same character/subject, then you should ensure that that camera is at least 30 degrees away, if the angle is less than 30 degrees it results in the shot looking off and the overall cut looking jolted. Ensuring the cameras are at least 30 degrees apart ensures that cuts are seamless and do not result in a cutaway in the same scene.

In this demonstration, it shows the 30 degree rule in use and not in use. It is apparent from this visual explanation that when the 30 degree rule is not in use, it impacts the scenes quality. There is an exception to the 30 degree rule, if a shot cuts from one character and then to another then the 30 degree rule is not required. To conclude, the 30 degree is a rule that if followed can ensure that your film/show comes across as professional, if it is not used then the production comes across as sloppy.

Jump cutting

One of the main concerns when editing together a film or a TV show episode is that jump cuts that occur have a purpose and a meaning to them.  A jump cut is a cut in film editing in which two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only slightly if at all. This type of edit gives the effect of jumping forwards in time or as a method of transitioning from shot to shot, a jump cuts effectiveness depends on the angle in which is used. This links back to the 30-degree rule mentioned before, if two shots are separated by less than 30 degrees, the jump cut comes across as sloppy and jarring. Overall, jump cuts are an effective method of scene transition, however they have to be done right in order to be effective.

Shot/reverse shot

Shot reverse shot otherwise known as shot counter shot, is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character off screen and the other character is shown looking back at the first character.  

This scene from avengers infinity war is a conversation between Thanos and Stephen Strange, the scene has Strange be heard off screen as Thanos looks towards him, the camera then cuts to Strange sat nearby. This scene continuously cuts back and forth to medium close up shots of these two as Thanos proclaims his ideology and his plan to wipe out half of existence as Strange questions his logic, the way in which these shots are framed and how the character eye line with one another plays a crucial role helps elevate the scene just that little bit more. Shot reverse shot is classed as a from of continuity editing due to it involving shots being cut together as part of a continuous narrative in the same scene. Overall, shot reverse shot is most effective during dialogue focused scenes, allowing for the focused to be maintained on those involved and making the scene feel more compact than it is, take the scene from infinity war for instance, it takes place on a vast planet, yet the way the two characters are positioned makes it feel much more compact which helps create tension throughout.

180-degree rule

In short, the 180-degree rule is a sort of guideline in that states two characters in a scene together should maintain the same left/right relationship to one another. When the camera passes over a sort of invisible axis that connects the two subjects. Following this rule involves ensuring that all the characters and camera set ups are present on the same side of an invisible line. Orientation and screen direction are a product of using the 180 degree rule, cutting from one side of the line to another can break the flow of this rule. The 180-degree rule can be bent using a neutral shot placed directly on top of the line, to evaluate, the 180 degree rule is a main staple of any production, bending it/breaking it can result in a unique visual method of storytelling.

Eye line match

Eye-line match is a continuity editing technique that is based on the premise that an audience will want to see what the character is seeing on screen. A eye-line match sequence typically consists of three shots, those being a shot of the person watching, what they are looking at and a reaction shot.

Another Scene from Avengers Infinity War, this scene contains an excellent use of eye line match. After Strange reveals to Thanos that he does not plan to face him alone Thanos looks up confused, the camera then pans upward to reveal iron man rapidly descending on top of Thanos carrying a pillar of sorts with him, we then see Thanos quickly attempt to block the impact of the pillar. A very effective presentation of this editing technique, it contains all three key aspects that make it an eye-line match shot, it also used to invoke a reaction from the audience as its out of nowhere approach acts as a great opener to the battle that ensues shortly after. To conclude, the main reason for eye-line match is a method of informing the audience as well as being an effective reveal technique.

Match cuts 

The term match-cut refers to the cut from one shot to another where the two subjects are matched by the action or subject and subject matter. For instance, a dual shot can go from a long shot on both contestants via a cut to a medium closeup shot of one of the duelists.    

In the scene from Grease in which the famous song greased lightning is played, the song ends with the characters stood atop there new car only for the scene to cut to a shot of all the characters stood atop the car before its makeover, this is a creative method of revealing to the audience that the events they just saw are not part of the main continuity. Overall, match cuts act as a way of establishing a relationship between two objects through the use of a visual metaphor.

Montage

Montage refers to the technique of selecting, editing and piecing together separate sections of the film to form a continuous whole. In lameness terms, a montage used to progress the story by jumping forward in time or showing past events in a sequence that makes it engaging to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLFpTLEnrqU

This scene from the Simpsons shows Homer trying a large amount of different food items in New Orleans, the montage is accompanied by some fitting music and a comedic pause in between for effect and to also act as a quick break in between. Montages can act as a form of exposition without anything having to be said. Overall, montages are an effective editing technique as they can be used in a wide range of ways from acting as a way of revealing a plot twist to the audience or showing a series of comedic antics, all these aspects make montages an appropriate editing technique for almost any scenario.

Juxtaposition/the Kulshov effect 

Juxtaposition in editing links to something that is known as the Kuleshov effect. The Kulshov effect which is an editing techniques demonstrated by Lev Kuleshov is a mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot.  It is essentially a close up of a characters face, a cut to what they are looking at and then a cut back to there face. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFY9ace2t4s

In the classic museum scene from 1986′s Ferris Bueller’s day off, we see a close up of Cameron's face staring at a painting, the scene then cuts to the painting and then back to Cameron’s face. Overall, the Kulshov effect is a creative method of presenting to the audience how a character is feeling without any dialogue.

Freeze frame

The term freeze-frame refers to a single frame forming a motionless image from a film or videotape. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv1I4q6lOpo

In the final scene of the breakfast club, the character of Bender first pumps the air, the scene itself freezes on this frame. Freeze frames are often used to create the illusion of a still picture, in the case of the breakfast club, it is used as a way of symbolizing the characters freedom as they quote on quote escaped from their Saturday detention. Freeze frames are usually created by printing or recording multiple copies of the same frame, overall freeze frames are an effective way of ending a movie or show, the way it comes across as a still image is an effective way of visually telling the audience that the story is at an end.

Slow motion

Slow motion is essentially the action of showing film or playing back video more slowly than it was made or recorded, so that the action appears much slower than in real life. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD9RGIL9R4w

In this scene from X-men days of future past, the character of Pietro is shown using his mutant ability of super speed to help his fellow mutants escape from the pentagon.As Pietro runs around he presented as moving at a normal speed however the rest of the characters as well as everything else in the scene is moving at a significantly slower speed, this is used to great effect to show the audience how fast he is actually moving from the perspective of everything around him. Overall, slow motion is often used in one of two situations, those being an action scene or a suspenseful scene as a way of adding to the tension.

Split screen

In terms of editing, split screen is a technique involving two or more separate aspects on screen at once, they act as a seamless view of reality. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ8hgbsu9xQ

A great use of split screen is present in this scene from the season 4 premiere of legends of tomorrow in which the screen is initially split into two sections for the two characters speaking, the screen then continues to divide as more characters enter the scene eventually culminating in the four character being in the same location. In this sense it is a creative way of showing the characters interact without actually being next to each other. Overall, the split screen is a great editing technique as a way of showing multiple different scenes in one, it can make for some comedic scenes but also some suspenseful scenes as well.

Wipes

A wipe is a type of film transition where one shot replaces another by travelling from one side of the frame to another or with a special shape. The most prominent use of wipes in cinema is in the star wars franchise.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF3g_kaUnCA

These wipes are a great way of transitioning from scene to scene, they are able to show glimpses of the next scene while the audience is still in the previous scene. Wipes are most commonly used at to signify the end of the story, however they can be used as an effective transition tool. Overall wipes are used to go from scene in a way that is visually unique and can help link to scenes together better, they can 

Fades

Fades are an editing technique that can be used in a variety of ways, the most common form being a fade to black.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29BSOsBJKR8

This scene from avengers endgame utilizes this technique very well, the scene ends with the Avenger killing Thanos which should be a victory, but instead they are left silent and distraught at the realization that they have no way of reviving their fallen allies along with the trillions of others Thanos had killed, as the characters stand in silence, we follow Thor walking slowly out Thanos’ farm house, the screen very slowly but very gradually begins to fade to black.In this instance, the fade to black does not end the film, but instead ends the characters hope as after this  fade to black we jump forward 5 years to a desolate and dark world where half the population is still dead. Overall, fades are primarily used to end the story, but they are also an effective form of transitioning to and from the past to the present of the current narrative.

Conclusion

To conclude this post, there are a wide range of editing techniques and each one of them bring something unique to a film, using these editing techniques correctly is the what separates a mediocre production from a film that will still be talked about decades after it’s initial release.

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Types and purposes of editing

Continuity Ending

Continuity editing is the process, in film and video creation, of combining more-or-less related shots, or different components cut from a single shot, into a sequence so as to direct the viewer's attention to a pre-existing consistency of story across both time and physical location.

An example of this is the scene from Avengers Infinity War in which members of the avengers and the Guardians of the galaxy meet for the first time. The scene cuts back and fourth between the two teams fighting each other with eye line match also being thrown into mix, it establishes that it’s the same scene but just in a slightly different location. This is what allows for a scene to flow smoothly and carry on the overall narrative throughout without any unnecessary stops. 

Non-continuity Editing

The viewer will not notice the transition between shots. Non-continuity editing is when shots are mismatched to disrupt the impression of time and space. This draws the audiences' attention to the process of cutting and disturbs the illusion of 'reality such as a flashback.

A brilliant example of this is a scene from the finale of Arrow season 2 in which Oliver Queen and Slade Wilson have their present day fight and a fight from the past interwoven with one another as the scene seamlessly flashes back to a past encounter and then back to the present multiple times. This method is often used to give exposition to the audience of either something that has happened or something that will happen, it also helps to show the symbolism between their past encounter and what is happening in the present.

Purposes of editing

The editing of a film or TV show is the most important process of all. Editing is done so that an entire other layer of depth can be added to the production, it can allow for controlling the overall rhythm and flow of the project. Time manipulation for instance can control the perception of space to create a believable space between characters/objects that are in separate shots. Speeding up and slowing down a sequence is usually done to ensure that they abide by a specified running time, for a movie to be classified as feature length it must surpass 90 minutes in run time, a sequence could also be sped up or slowed down to help it flow better with the narrative that is being presented. 

In this scene from Smallville, Jonathon Kent has fallen from a significant height, as he falls in slow motion, when Clark runs towards him at super speed he is perceived as running at a normal pace as Jonathon falls in slow motion. This is effective as not only a method of creating tension, but also is a visual way of representing Clark's ability's. This a prime example of how time manipulation of either the scene as a whole or just one character can be used to improve a scene in terms of how it is carried out.

Functions of editing

Editing’s main purpose is to create a narrative out of a series of different shots, this can be accomplished through what is known as motivated editing, this is where the editing is used to create motivation for a characters actions throughout the narrative either. Drama within a film can also be developed through the editing, certain pieces of music can be added to ensure that scene conveys the correct feelings from the audience, if the scene is meant to be sad then a slow piece of music can help to ensure that the audience will feel sad. How information is provided/withheld from the audience is also mostly down to how it is edited. 

This scene from season 2 episode 3 of Titans is used as a way to establish that the character of Death-stroke has a history with the character of Dick, dialogue regarding him is quickly interrupted with a few frames of Death-stroke pointing a sniper at someone. These couple of seconds are a perfect way in which through editing we are given information, but information such as who was shot is left unanswered. The episode after this shows the audience the shooting in full including who was killed and what the aftermath of the shooting entailed. 

Creating continuity between shots

As stated before, editing is supposed to link shots together to form a narrative throughout, this is handled in two ways known as continuity editing and non-continuity editing. Continuity editing follows the action in the order in which it is taking place, shots are assembled in a certain order so that they appear to be happening one way when in actuality they may have been filmed out of sequence then assembled in the correct sequence during post production. A change in location is also an example of continuity editing, when a scene changes from one location to another, whether it contains the same characters or not is a primary way of continuing the story. For example in 2018s Avengers Infinity War, there are at one point four different narratives happening at once as the film swaps back and fourth between them, towards the end of the film these four narratives become two which is used to the films advantage as it is able to swap back and fourth between two different scenes both of which are important to the overall story. Non-continuity editing means that shots occur out of continuity, a main example of this is the technique known as flashbacks, this is where we are presented with events that pre-exist the films primary continuity/story, they usually act as a visual method of delivering exposition to the audience, but sometimes they are used as an effective way of revealing information to the audience. Flash backs can establish a characters motivation for there actions throughout the story as they can often come out of nowhere or coincide with the present day narrative.

Gaining engagement/a reaction from the audience

It goes without saying that the directors, writers and most importantly editors want to not only keep the audience engaged but also invoke a reaction out of them. Whilst the writing and performing is often the main reason for engagement and what gets the biggest reaction from the audience, how the story is edited together is also just as effective in doing so. Suspense and pace are the best ways in accompanying this, ensuring a scene is suspenseful is a great way in keeping the audience engaged with what is happening.

In the 1990 adaption of Stephen Kings novel Misery, a scene that beautifully creates suspense is one in which it jumps back and fourth between Paul trying to return to the room in which he was being held hostage, and Annie returning to the house. Everything from the music present to how long each character is on screen for during each cut is what especially helps this scene to create a very suspenseful tone. In terms of pacing, the scene seamlessly transitions between the endangered protagonist and the imposing antagonist who gets closer with every second that passes. This is one of the best presentations of generating suspense in film through the use of various editing techniques from jump cuts to  the use of music within the scene itself.

Pacing is also a crucial method of ensuring engagement from the audience, shots can occur in a fast paced sequence or can occur in a seemingly slow pace. A fast sequence of shots creates excrement and can give a scene a real sense of energy, this style of shot assembly is most present in action movies during a fight scene as the camera cuts back and forth to different characters trading blows with one another helps to keep the scene interesting. Scenes in which each shot drawn out are not necessarily a bad thing, this style of editing is beneficial for scenes that involve either important dialogue or establishing shots are the world in which the continuity takes place. If scenes are not paced well then it can impact the audiences overall enjoyment, it can lead to scenes feeling either drawn out or rushed, so it is important that the right balance is found when it comes to pacing.

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The History of Editing in motion picture

This post will be discussing the evolution of editing over the past decade as well as discussing where these evolution's occurred.

The Beginning of editing (January 1900)

When films were first created, they were known as actualities. Due to what was available at the time, they were short and shot with a stationary camera as a single shot. Film editing back then was basically cutting the film and sticking it together practically, this method was known as rough editing. 

A trip to the moon (September 1902)

Created in 1902 by french filmmaker George Melies, this 14 minute science fiction film comprised of 30 different scenes is a pioneer in terms of film. It was the first ever motion picture to utilize techniques such as superimposed images, dissolves and jump cuts in between scenes, these jump cuts allowed for special effects to be implemented such a puffs of smoke and characters being killed when in actuality they were just rag dolls. A trip to moon is also the first ever motion picture to incorporate a technique known as continuity editing   

The life of the american firemen (January 1903)

Created by Edwin S Porter, this was the first ever documentary style film to contain continuity editing through the use of overlapping action and cross cutting editing. Continuity editing refers to a series of shots being put together to create some from of narrative. The film actually cuts back forth across locations which at the time had never been seen before, a combination of closeup, interior and exterior shots were utilized by Porter to create the film, this form of editing between various shots in various locations was seen as revolutionary at the time. Porter used this new style of editing to create a suspense filled story, the likes of which had never been seen before.

The Great Train Robbery (August 1903)

Another release of Edwin S porter and also being released in 1903, the great train robbery was a 10 minute dramatic piece which utilized many editing techniques which had never been seen before at the time such as parallel editing, minor camera movement, location shooting and less stage-bound camera placement. Multiple camera positions and shooting out of sequence were also used.This particular film pioneered modern movie making with it’s use of a story boarded script and the use of a title card. These sophisticated editing techniques were also used to create two different timelines of events, travelling back and forth between two story's happening at the same time. The movies continuity hopped back and fourth between the same continuity through the use of jump cuts and cross cuts as well as panning shots are some of the many editing styles that this film pioneered the use of.

Fantasmagorie (March 1908)

Created by French caricature Emil Cohl, Fantasmagorie is seen as the first ever piece of animation. This black and white short film consisted of 700 drawings that Cohl illuminated on a glass plate, he created Fantasmagorie by photographing black lines on white paper and then reversed the imagery to create the appearance of chalk on a black board. The animations consciousness flow comes from the timing in advance which was a key aspect of helping the animation flow smoothly and seamlessly. The name itself comes from the french term which itself means “a constantly shifting complex succession of things seen or imagined.

Walt Disney Studios (October 1923)

Walt Disney animation is an American animation company which creates various animations ranging from feature films to television specials. Disney’s first feature length production was Snow White and the seven dwarfs which was released in 1937, since then they have created and released over 160 animated movies in total.

Battleship Potemkin (December 1925)

Released in 1925 in Russia and 1926 in the US, Battle ship Potemkin was directed by Sergei Eisenstein. This film was another advancement in the art of visual story telling as Eisenstein introduced the editing technique called montage. The film is most famous for a scene which utilized many techniques such as wide shots, news reels and close ups, the scenes itself was based on an incident in 1905 when a group of civilians and protesters were brutally massacred. The montages themselves contained a combination of close ups and long shots, 155 shots were shown in under 5 minutes. This film pioneered the use of many editing techniques that are widely used even nowadays.

Citizen Kane (January 1941)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HY35DNYt8g

This highly acclaimed classic from director Orson Wells utilized many editing and narrative techniques which were seen as innovative at the time. Not only did Orson utilize traditional continuity editing, but he also introduced the concept of non-continuity editing which was present through the use of flashbacks. Nowadays Flash backs are very common in most movies and TV shows, back then however it was very uncommon and unheard of. These flash backs were used to reconstruct the films main protagonist, transition based dissolves and curtain swipes are used to great effect throughout. An abrupt cut is used throughout as well.

North by Northwest (July 1959)

This classic Alfred Hitchcock production featured a a brilliantly edited 7 minute attack sequence with a slow suspenseful build up. The so called crop duster scene contains the films most iconic imagery, this scene and its use of eye-line match are very effective in building up tension as the scene plays out, it was very different to other action scenes at the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIY7BQkbIT8

Ben Hur (November 1959)

This William Wyler films most memorable scene is a 11 minute chariot race, the scene itself uses constant cuts back and forth as a way to display the danger to the main character as well as his reaction to it, on top of this are many other quick cuts back and forth between chariots getting shattered and the drivers of said chariot fearing for their lives. This style of fast paced editing is what makes this scene stand out and make it so recognizable. 

Psycho (June 1960-Jun 1970)

Another one of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpieces, the well known shower scene has been referenced and replicated throughout pop culture even decades after the films initial release. The scenes itself took a full week to be completed as it used fast-cut editing of 78 pieces of film, 70 different camera set ups and the inter cutting of slow motion and regular speed footage. The way the scene was cut together allowed for the audience to fill in the illusion that Hitchcock had created. The knife was never shown to penetrate her body, but the way the footage is cut together gives the illusion that it did.

The Birds (March 1963)

Another one of Alfred Hitchcock's most recognizable films, one sequence involving an attack on a gas station as a group of seagulls swoop down, the gasoline hose is then knocked down sending a stream of gasoline down hill. The scene utilizes eye line match as it cuts back and forth between the onlookers and what they are looking at, we follow one women's face as she tracks the fire as it spreads across the trail of gasoline, these cross cuts can be seen as sloppy but they do help establish tension within the scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdOF7xg5lug

Bonnie and Clyde (July 1967)

Directed by Arthur Penn, this film contained many opposing moods and shifts in tone. The ending scene in which Bonnie and Clyde are ambushed and subsequently killed used multiple cameras shooting at different speeds, this technique allows for quick cuts between the characters realizing their fates before the slow scene of them being hailed by bullets, the pacing of the whole scene as it jumps frantically back and forth is vert effective in creating a sense of panic and dread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrmUpso_xT8

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

This Stanley Kubrick masterpiece contains one of the most famous jump cuts in history, the opening scene which depicts the dawn of man shows the man-ape leader flinging his weapon at the ground, a fragmented piece of bone flying through the air twisting and turning. The next transition of a piece of flying bone changing into a satellite is an effective use of visual story telling. The toss of the bone is a way of addressing the technological advancement of man kind 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avjdKTqiVvQ

The French Connection (October 1971)

This films most notorious sequence is a car chase, it is cut together using a back and forth of interior shots of both the train and the car, point of views shots from the car and a range of tracking shots from a range of angles, the suspense of this scene is generated through how these shots are arranged and how the film jumps back and forth between them in a rough sort of manner. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TVyJ-51jzc

The Godfather (October 1972)

Considered by many to be the greatest film of all time, the baptism murders scene from the Godfather brilliantly uses the technique known as crosscutting as it cuts back fourth from the baptism of Michael to various gang related murders being carried out. Everything about the way this scene was put together is excellence from the timing to the order in which they occur. This scene was revolutionary at the time and has inspired many scenes like it since.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CDlBLvc3YE

ROCKY (November 1976)

Directed by John Avildsen, the ROCKY training montage remains one of the most influential and referenced edited film sequences in history, the scene flows so smoothly with all of the jump cuts appearing almost seamless. While montages were already a well established editing technique at this time, Rocky’s training sequence montage took the concept to a while new level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YYmfM2TfUA

Star Wars (December 1977)

The scene I am going to be talking about in particular from this masterpiece of cinema is the climactic final battle where the rebels attempt to destroy the death star . Multiple cuts between interior shots of rebel pilots in there X-wings, point of view shots of entering the trench are used to help convey a sense of urgency to the film, the use of music and how it switches in and out is also very effective,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuKqcfO31is

The Matrix (March 1999)

The matrix is most famous for utilizing slow motion action sequences making for a whole new experience for the audience, this led to many films to come following this style of action sequence in order to try and replicate the same feeling but to not the same effect.

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Introduction

Within this blog I will be discussing the different methods of editing in Film and TV as well as discussing the overall history of editing and how it has evolved over the years.