Year 12 Media editing notes sheet

1. 1
Film Language:Editing
Most films use a system of editing known as continuity editing. It’s
sole aim is to get the story moving along and get the audience
completelyimmersed inthe plot and characters.
In drama sequences,the purpose of editing is often:
 Convey emotion
 Identification
 Immersion
The function of this system is to make the drama as fluid as possible,
so that the audience are not aware of the construction process
therefore,you need to be especiallyaware to spotthe techniques of
editing employed during a textual analysis. Rememberalso that
sometimessound is used to ‘bridge’the cut and make it less
noticeable on screen.
The process of editing is more concerned with the ‘creation’ of
meaning rather than the taking away of material.
Editing Pace:
The speed of successionand cuts, lending the footage a feeling of
speed and quick action. Pace, metaphorically, sets the pace for the
emotional tone.
Editing often works through the combining of differentshots to create
meaning.
There are a huge number of editing techniques which filmmakers can
employ.
The most commonof these is the cut.
The cut is a: joining of two shots.
Always ask yourself why a cut has occurred – there is always a
reason.
Match on action:
Continuity editing technique to show the same action continuing over
two shots. Bridges the two shots with a similar action.

2. 2
Jump cut:
A deliberate juxtaposition of two shots emphasizing contrast.
Cross-cut
A cut from one narrative or line of action to another. Mostly used in
films to establish action occurring at the same time in two different
locations.
Cutaway
A cut away from anything.
Reaction shot
Cutting to a certain reaction or response,oftenmore important and
significant than the initial action.
Matched Cutor Graphic Cut
Is a cut between either two differentobjects,two differentspaces,or
two differentcompositions in which an objectin the two shots
graphically match, oftenhelping to establish strong relationship
between two scenes.
Other forms of transition are also possible:
Dissolve
A slow transition as one image merges into another.
Both are used to suggest:
It contrasts two shots togethershowing some change such as time or
location.
Wipe
An optical effectin which one shot ‘wipes’ another off the screen for
dramatic effect.
Superimposition
Two or more images placed directly on top of the other- blending
modes.
Montage:
A sequence of shots often complemented with music to show some
change or developmentover time.

3. 3
Slow-motion:
Reducing the speed or pace of a shot, can be either smoothor jumpy
depending on the framerate.
Long take:
An unedited, or covertly edited, shot with no cuts that continues for a
longer than average time.
Split screen
Division of screen in order to show two or more lines of action
simultaneously – this can be referred to as parallelaction.
Effects are also added as part of the editing process – eg; slow
motion or fast motion.