Glossary and examples for Film Editing

1. Detailed Visual Glossary
Technique Why
would this
technique
be used?
Give a detailed film example and discuss
the purpose of this and the effect this has
on the audience.
Continuity
editing /
Seamless
Is the
predomina
nt style of
film editing
when its
purpose is
to establish
a logical
coherence
between
shots and
allows the
footage to
flow
smoothly.
The Bill – During a chase, Inspector Smith is
seen chasing a suspect it is seen in a range of
different shots to capture the chase.
Motivated This is a
scene cut
that cuts to
another
scene or
object that
was not in
the scene.
This can be
used in a
flashback
to create
an emotion
in the
scene
Ladder 49 - This film directed by Jay Russell
and edited by Bud S. Smith is a film based on
a Baltimore Fire-fighter who gets trapped in a
burning building. As he is trapped his thinks
about his life leading up to the event.
Montage Condensing
of time by
using a
range of
shots to
show how
time has
changed.
Hot Fuzz – In the introduction of Hot Fuzz the
audience is told the life of Constable Angle and
how he ended up one of the highest arresting
officer, this is all told in a very quick fashion.

2. Jump
Cutting
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.
This type
of edit
gives the
effect of
jumping
forward in
time.
In Royal Tenenbaums s Jump cut is used to
show how the character is changing but not
edited seamlessly, this gives the audience the
view that not all is right with the character’s
mind and something is very wrong.
Parallel
editing/cros
s cut
Cross
Cutting is a
technique
of
alternating
between
scenes that
Inception – Two scenes that appear in the
same time but in different locations. One on
the street and another in a hotel.

3. happen at
the same
time but in
different
locations
180 degree
rule
A line that
is made in
a scene
when the
camera can
move
within 180
degree of
its first
position.
Only way
to break
this rule is
to show
the
movement
of the
camera in
the final
cut.
During Criminal Minds, in dialog between
Hotch and Gideon on the plane home the
camera doesn’t move from one side of the line.
This keeps the conversation viewable and
understanding where both characters are.
Splicing Old
fashioned
term for
editing film
Transitions
eg.
Dissolve,
fade, wipe
Transition
refers to
how on
shot flows
into
another.
Criminal Minds Season One – During the case
seen Gideon points at one of the images on
the board, the next scene is set on that scene
in the same view and position as the
photograph was taken.

4. Cutaways A scene
that takes
place at
the same
time as the
main action
that is
involved
into the
main story
line
This Cutaway from the film Psycho gives the
audience a bit more information into the story
but is also a point of view of the character.
Point of
view shot
This is
when the
camera
becomes
the eye of
the
character
so the
audience
can see
what the
character
can during
a scene.
Ladder 49 – driving to a scene the audience
gets to see what the driver of the engine is
seeing and the movement that the people
inside felt inside.

5. Shot
reverse
shot
This
camera
technique
can be
used
during
dialog to
capture
each line of
the
characters
without
moving the
camera so
it would cut
between
showing
the
characters
reaction to
the line
that has
been
spoken.
Ladder 49 – with the dialog between Jack and
Linda, the shot reverse shot shows their
reaction to what is said and who is speaking.
Providing
and
withholding
information
When the
editor
makes a
scene or
film more
dramatic
by taking
or giving
information
about what
is
happening.
Criminal Minds Series does this a lot, the
editor gives small pieces of information in who
their killer is without making it easy for the
audience to work it out. Such as a key ring on
a set of keys.
Editing
rhythm
The
relations
between
shot
functions
to control
Long Takes – Ropes 1948 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hukbuy36
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From 2:35 – 3:59 the camera doesn’t move
and the scene is played out as a long take.

6. the film
pace. This
can be
used to
add
emotion to
a scene
e.g. film
speeded up
increases
tension.
Cutting to
soundtrack
Cutting the
soundtrack
to a film
which can
increase
the mood
and
emotion to
a piece of
film
This is mainly due to music videos such as –
The Soldiers – Coming Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44RVOYp
L_oY
This is when the beat influences the cut
Long Shot This type
of shot can
establish a
character
and the
environme
nt in the
one shot.
This also
helps to
show the
character’s
body
language in
the scene
Criminal Minds Season One – When a new
case comes up a long shot is used to show the
emotion and their body language during the
scene.
Close Up This type
of shot
focuses on
the details
on
someone’s
face or an
object to
show
emotion
and their
reaction
Criminal Minds Season One – A close up on
Gideon’s face to show the emotion.
Medium
Close Up
This type
of shot
shows from
This shot from Ladder 49 is just after the
wedding of Jack and Linda. This shows where
they are in the scene and helps to see the

7. the head to
just past
the
shoulders
in a seen
to give
some
features
such as the
environme
nt the
character is
in.
emotion on their faces.
Medium
Shot
This shot is
taken from
the waist
up. This
can give
more
information
about the
character
and the
environme
nt
Ultimate Force – During a funeral the shot
shows their uniform and how they honour their
dead.
Establishin
g Shot
This scene
can show
the
environme
nt of the
character
and the set
of the film
Ultimate Force – During each episode the
editor adds in a clip of where the main action
happens and introduces the some of the
characters
Extreme
Close Up
This shot is
focused
very
closely on
the face
but can be
featured on
only one
part such
as the
eyes.
Saving Private Ryan – this close up on Tom
Hanks shows the emotion that his character is
feeling in the scene and though out the story.
Over the
shoulder
A view
from the
camera
which is set
behind one
Criminal Minds Season One – This shot is
taken to show how Gideon almost sees the
world in his mind and helps to show the effect
it has on him physically

8. of the
character’s
shoulder
High / Low
Angle
High Angle
is when the
camera is
higher than
the
character
when the
low angle
shot is
when the
camera is
lower down
than the
character
Criminal Minds Season One
High Angle – Using a high angle helps to show
the office room and how big the case is.
Low Angle – This low angle shot is used to
show the body language of Reid as the dog
barked.
Birds Eye
View
This means
the camera
is higher
than
anything
else and
captures
everything
in the seen
below
In Ladder 49 – this type of birds eye view in
the scene is to show the city itself a character
and the location of the fire fighters – this shot
was filmed by a helicopter.
Canted
Angle
When the
camera is
slightly off
angle
which can
be used to
give the
state of
mind of a
character
An Canted Angle shot was used in Ladder 49
to show the power of the fire and the worry in
the fire fighters’ mind in fighting it
Pan A Camera Ladder 49 – to show the firehouse that Jack

9. movement
that is used
to move
the camera
from left to
right
has come too, the camera moves from right to
left to show the equipment and trucks.
Tilt A Camera
movement
that is used
when the
camera is
moved up
and down
for a scene
Firestorm (1998) When the fire fighters are
looking for the little girl the camera follows
their eyes and tilts up and down looking for
the little girl.
Eye Trace Maintains
spatial
continuity
and helps
orientate
the viewer.
Criminal Minds Season One – When teaching a
class Gideon is on the right side so the
audience’s eye follows to the student asking
the question.
Eyeline
Match
When
between
shots the
characters
eyes match
the same
eye line
From the film – Firestorm (1998)the eye line
for the fire fighter and the little girl stuck in
the burning home gives an emotional
connection with the audience