Editing is used to move the story along and immerse the audience. Common editing techniques include cuts between shots from different viewpoints or locations to transition between scenes. Editing aims to make the narrative as fluid as possible so the audience is unaware of the construction process. The purpose of editing in drama sequences is often to help the audience identify with characters, highlight conflict, and intensify emotions. Editing pace and the juxtaposition of different shots are used to create meaning and set the tempo and feel of a sequence.
1. Editing
Most filmsuse a systemof editingknownasContinuityediting.It’ssole aimistogetthe story
movingalongandget the audience completelyimmersedinthe plotandcharacters.
In drama sequences,the purpose of editingisoften:
Identificationwithcharacters
Conflict
Intensification
The functionof thissystemisto make the drama as fluidaspossible,sothatthe audience are not
aware of the constructionprocesstherefore,youneedtobe especiallyaware tospotthe techniques
of editingemployedduringatextual analysis.Rememberalsothatsometimessoundisusedto
‘bridge’the cutand make it lessnoticeable onscreen.
The processof editingismore concernedwiththe ‘creation’of meaningratherthanthe takingaway
of material.
EditingPace:
Thisis the speedandtempoof cuts – slow cansuggestemotionandfastcan suggesttension,action
or uncontrollableevents.Thisisthe firstmostobviousthingtolookforas itgivesan insightintothe
tempoandfeel of the sequence.
Editingoftenworksthroughthe juxtapositionof differentshotstocreate meaning.
There are a huge numberof editingtechniqueswhichfilmmakerscanemploy.
The most commonof these isthe cut.
The cut isa: most basictool of the editor.Editingtrimsfootage downbutalsohelpsto
create/maintainthe logicof the start middle andend(narrative).The cutisa change of shot from
one viewpointorlocationtoanother.
Alwaysaskyourself whyacut has occurred – there isalwaysa reason.
Match onaction: iswhere the editorcutsfromone shot to anotherview thatmatchesthe first
shots’action,cuttingon actiongivesthe impressionof continuoustimewhenwatchingthe film.By
havinga subjectbeginanactioninone shotand carry it throughto completioninthe next,the
editorcreatesa visual bridge,whichdistractsthe viewerfromnoticingcutsornoticinganyslight
continuityerrorbetweenthe twoshots.
Jumpcut:
An abruptswitchfromone scene to another,usedtomake a dramatic point,ormark a periodof
time passing.(Oftenusedintrailersoractionscenes)
Cross-cut
A cut fromone narrative or line of actionto another.Mostlyusedinfilmstoestablishaction
occurringat the same time intwodifferentlocations.(Scenesare usuallylinked)- Sometimessound
isusedto bridge the cut.
2. Cutaway
Thisis whenthe shot“cuts away” to oftenareactionshotof anothercharacter or piece of action,
oftenreinforcesamoodof togethernessorconfrontation.
Reactionshot
Anyshot inwhicha participantreactsto an eventoraction,oftenusedto guide the audience’s
reactionto a scene.
Matched Cutor GraphicCut
Is a cut betweeneithertwodifferentobjects,twodifferentspaces,ortwodifferentcompositionsin
whichan objectinthe two shotsgraphicallymatch,oftenhelpingtoestablishstrongrelationship
betweentwoscenes.
Otherformsof transitionare alsopossible:
Fade
A transitiontoa or from a blankscreen(usuallyblack).
3. Dissolve
A slowtransitionasone image mergesintoanother.
Both are usedto suggest:
Differencesintime orplace.A dissolve mightalsosuggestastrongconnectionbetweenthe two
scenesinvolved.
Wipe
An optical effectinwhichone shot‘wipes’anotheroff the screenfordramaticeffect
Superimposition
Two or more imagesplaceddirectlyontopof one another.
Montage:
A seriesof shotsthatare connectedtogethertoreinforce/create meaning –intensifiesandcontrols
the emotionthroughcollection.
Slow-motion:
4. The action literallyslowsdownwiththe text - thisconnotesseriousnessora past event.Helpsto
prolongtension,addstyle,oradramatic effecttothe film.
Long take:
Thisis a shotthat doesnot cut awaybut lingersonone piece of action.Itis equivalentof staring–
connotesintensityorvoyeurism.
Splitscreen
Divisionof screeninordertoshowtwo or more linesof actionsimultaneously –thiscan be referred
to as parallel action.
Effectsare also addedaspart of the editingprocess –eg; slow motion orfast motion.
