Editing Research
Editing is the stage in film making process in which sound and images are organised into an overall narrative. Editing is the process that is vital in making our short film successful. The continuity must be perfect in order for the sound and various shots to piece together. The research for the editing will prepare us for the editing process and will allow us to decide on what edits to use.
Continuity editing: The most common type of editing, which aims to create a sense of reality and time moving forward is continuity editing. It is also known as the invisible editing referring to how the technique does not draw attention to the editing process. It was important to research this as the key aspect of editing is ensuring the audience can not identify a cut and creates an immersive experience for them.
Jump Cut: An abrupt, disorientating transitional device in the middle of a continuous shot in which the action is noticeably advanced in time or a cut between two similar shots, usually done to create discontinuity for artistic effect. A jump cut also allows a scene to be partitioned so it is not a long drawn out scene. For example in the image below the woman is seated with her head faced slightly to the left, the jump indicates a small passage of time within the scene as she is now facing to the right with her mirror. The Royal Tenenbaums clip: The jump cuts within this urges the end result, it is fast paced and a relative shock when the character goes from shaving to attempted suicide. The jump cuts allow the viewers to be disconnected from the character and therefore it is more of a shock at the end as we had no indication that the character was going to do it. I feel we our film should feature a series of jump cuts as the time frame of five minutes will be better suited to this style of editing. In our first year production we used jump cuts within the title sequence to disorientate the viewers with brief glances of scenes that displayed the films content quickly and effectively.
Notable uses
Georges Méliès discovered the jump cut accidentally, and then used it to simulate magical tricks; however, he tried to make the cut appear seamless to complement his illusions. Dziga Vertof's avant-garde Russian film Man With a Movie Camera is almost entirely composed of jump cuts. Contemporary use of the jump cut stems from its appearance in the work of Jean-Luc Godard and other filmmakers of the French New Wave of the late 1950s and 1960s. In Breathless, for example, he cut together shots of Jean Seberg riding in a convertible in such a way that the discontinuity between shots is emphasised.
Cross cutting: Cross cutting is the technique of alternating, interweaving or interspersing one narrative action (scene, sequence or event) with another. Usually in different locations or places, thus combining the two: this editing technique usually suggests parallel action that takes place simultaneously. Often used to dramatically build tension and or suspense in chase scenes or to compare two different scenes. Also known as inter-cutting or parallel editing.Within inception it creates suspense for the viewers as to what is going to happen to each character and if the two characters in question will ultimately meet as the scene draws to a close.
Notable uses
D.W. Griffith's A Corner in Wheat (1909) features the cross-cuts between the activities of rich businessmen and poor people waiting in line for bread. This creates a sharp dichotomy between the two actions, and encourages the viewer to compare the two shots. Often, this contrast is used for strong emotional effect, and frequently at the climax of a film. The rhythm of, or length of time between, cross-cuts can also set the rhythm of a scene. Increasing the rapidity between two different actions may add tension to a scene, much in the same manner of using short, declarative sentences in a work of literature.
Cross-cutting was established as a film-making technique relatively early in film history. The technique is showcased in his Biograph work, such as A Corner in Wheat and 1911's The Lonedale Operator. His 1915 film, The Birth of a Nation, contains textbook examples of cross-cutting and firmly established it as a staple of film editing. Mrinal Sen has used cross-cutting effectively in his agit-prop film, Interview which achieved significant commercial success. Christopher Nolan uses cross-cutting extensively in his films such as Interstellar, The Dark Knight and Inception - particularly in the latter, in which sequences depict multiple simultaneous levels of consciousness.
Cutaways: A brief shot that momentarily interrupts continuous action by briefly inserting another related action. Object or person, sometimes not part of the principle scene or main action. followed by a cutback to the original shot.
The cutaway in this scene demonstrates the brief cut to another scene, it can also be considered to be parallel editing as it can cutaway from other related scenes that will later accumulate.
Freeze frame: The effect of seemingly stopping a film in order to focus in on one event or element. It can be frequently identified in action films to pay particular emphasis on the action that is taking place as it is incorporated often into fast paced editing.
Eye line match: A type of edit which cuts form one character to what that character has been looking at.
Flashback: A scene or moment in a film in which the audience is shown an event that happened earlier in the films narrative. It can also be used to demonstrate a characters past that aids the narrative.
Shot reverse shot: Edits switch back and forth between two characters interacting with each other. It allows the flow of a conversation and creates a realistic image to the audience that two characters are interacting at the same time with each other, a shot reverse shot allows the audience to view the reaction of one character after the other has spoken.
The images clearly demonstrate the continuity within the conversation, the characters are presented to be talking with each other via the over shoulder shots and close ups. A shot reverse shot is typically presented after an establishing two shot of two characters.
Slow motion: Indicates intensity or importance of an action. Typically within action films, a scene may include slow motion to draw emphasis on a particular moment, this could be the shooting of a gun and seeing the bullet hurtling towards a character, it intensifies the moment and urges the audience to be tense as they are waiting to see whether the bullet will hi the target. It may also be used within films to place emphasis on a character.
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| Continuous action of the woman reaching for the mug and then drinking from the mug, it allows the audience to view the scene and not notice the editing of the shots together. In this scene there are four separate shots edited together in order to create one smooth action. |
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| The continuous action of the man running and jumping and thus rolling over. |
Jump Cut: An abrupt, disorientating transitional device in the middle of a continuous shot in which the action is noticeably advanced in time or a cut between two similar shots, usually done to create discontinuity for artistic effect. A jump cut also allows a scene to be partitioned so it is not a long drawn out scene. For example in the image below the woman is seated with her head faced slightly to the left, the jump indicates a small passage of time within the scene as she is now facing to the right with her mirror. The Royal Tenenbaums clip: The jump cuts within this urges the end result, it is fast paced and a relative shock when the character goes from shaving to attempted suicide. The jump cuts allow the viewers to be disconnected from the character and therefore it is more of a shock at the end as we had no indication that the character was going to do it. I feel we our film should feature a series of jump cuts as the time frame of five minutes will be better suited to this style of editing. In our first year production we used jump cuts within the title sequence to disorientate the viewers with brief glances of scenes that displayed the films content quickly and effectively.
Notable uses
Georges Méliès discovered the jump cut accidentally, and then used it to simulate magical tricks; however, he tried to make the cut appear seamless to complement his illusions. Dziga Vertof's avant-garde Russian film Man With a Movie Camera is almost entirely composed of jump cuts. Contemporary use of the jump cut stems from its appearance in the work of Jean-Luc Godard and other filmmakers of the French New Wave of the late 1950s and 1960s. In Breathless, for example, he cut together shots of Jean Seberg riding in a convertible in such a way that the discontinuity between shots is emphasised. 
Cross cutting: Cross cutting is the technique of alternating, interweaving or interspersing one narrative action (scene, sequence or event) with another. Usually in different locations or places, thus combining the two: this editing technique usually suggests parallel action that takes place simultaneously. Often used to dramatically build tension and or suspense in chase scenes or to compare two different scenes. Also known as inter-cutting or parallel editing.Within inception it creates suspense for the viewers as to what is going to happen to each character and if the two characters in question will ultimately meet as the scene draws to a close.
Notable uses
D.W. Griffith's A Corner in Wheat (1909) features the cross-cuts between the activities of rich businessmen and poor people waiting in line for bread. This creates a sharp dichotomy between the two actions, and encourages the viewer to compare the two shots. Often, this contrast is used for strong emotional effect, and frequently at the climax of a film. The rhythm of, or length of time between, cross-cuts can also set the rhythm of a scene. Increasing the rapidity between two different actions may add tension to a scene, much in the same manner of using short, declarative sentences in a work of literature.
Cross-cutting was established as a film-making technique relatively early in film history. The technique is showcased in his Biograph work, such as A Corner in Wheat and 1911's The Lonedale Operator. His 1915 film, The Birth of a Nation, contains textbook examples of cross-cutting and firmly established it as a staple of film editing. Mrinal Sen has used cross-cutting effectively in his agit-prop film, Interview which achieved significant commercial success. Christopher Nolan uses cross-cutting extensively in his films such as Interstellar, The Dark Knight and Inception - particularly in the latter, in which sequences depict multiple simultaneous levels of consciousness.
Cutaways: A brief shot that momentarily interrupts continuous action by briefly inserting another related action. Object or person, sometimes not part of the principle scene or main action. followed by a cutback to the original shot.
Freeze frame: The effect of seemingly stopping a film in order to focus in on one event or element. It can be frequently identified in action films to pay particular emphasis on the action that is taking place as it is incorporated often into fast paced editing.
Eye line match: A type of edit which cuts form one character to what that character has been looking at.
In this scene the eye line match technique is associated with the continuity editing system. This technique, is based on the viewer seeing what the character is seeing in their eyes. This is achieved by the camera first displaying the character looking off at something or someone then a cut of what they have been looking at then a cut back to the character who.
Flashback: A scene or moment in a film in which the audience is shown an event that happened earlier in the films narrative. It can also be used to demonstrate a characters past that aids the narrative.
Shot reverse shot: Edits switch back and forth between two characters interacting with each other. It allows the flow of a conversation and creates a realistic image to the audience that two characters are interacting at the same time with each other, a shot reverse shot allows the audience to view the reaction of one character after the other has spoken.
Slow motion: Indicates intensity or importance of an action. Typically within action films, a scene may include slow motion to draw emphasis on a particular moment, this could be the shooting of a gun and seeing the bullet hurtling towards a character, it intensifies the moment and urges the audience to be tense as they are waiting to see whether the bullet will hi the target. It may also be used within films to place emphasis on a character.
The still from the film depicts the impact of the fist upon the face of the victim, it creates a brutal reaction from the audience as the impact is long and drawn out to effect the audience. Equally the image from the film Inception aims to cause the audience to be connected with the crash and feel the impact of the crash. the hyper slow motion is used to depict the disparity between various dream levels the characters are in. Montage editing: The juxtaposition of seemingly unconnected images in order to create meaning. It can also be described as a film editing technique in which a series of short shots are edited together to condense space, time and information.
Parallel editing: A type of editing in which events in two locations are cut together, in order to imply a connection between the two sets of events.
Visual effects: Visual effects are usually used to alter previously filmed elements by adding, removing or enhancing objects within the scene.
Match on action: A shot that emphasises continuity of space and time by matching the action of the preceding shot with the continuation of the action. For example a door opening after a shot of a close up of a characters hand turning a door.
Graphic Match: A graphic match is a cut in editing between either two different objects, spaces, or two different compositions in which the two shots graphically match. It is an interesting transition of shots and often helps establish a strong continuity of action.
Within the film Psycho the editing technique-graphic match-has been used in order to signify the life draining from the females body, the composition of the circular drain and eye demonstrates a compositional graphic match as they are similar objects.
Notable Uses
The graphic match has been notably used in the Stanley Kubrick 2001: A Space Odyssey to demonstrate a vast passage of time and space. An Ape throws a bone into the air, as it spins it is graphically matched to an orbiting satellite. It also been used in the film Lawrence of Arabia to demonstrate once again a passage of time in which the male character blows out the orange match and then cuts to the graphic match of a orange and fire like sunset. 
In the film series Twin Peaks, the graphic match technique was used with reference to a characters death. Dr Jacoby is struck down, the camera zooms into his eye which slowly fades away to a similar shaped roulette wheel in One Eyed Jacks casino.
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