as media

1. Editing
AS MEDIA STUDIES

2. Starter: Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
“There is no terror in the bang, only in the
anticipation of it” – Alfred Hitchcock.
What did Hitchcock mean by this?
Master of Suspense
As you watch, think about how editing (how the
scene is cut together) is used to intensify the
horror.

4. Match on Action
(aka Action Match)
One of the most important aspects of editing, M-O-A, is the act
of cutting from one shot to another view of the same shot
that matches the action and pace of the first.
This creates the impression of continuity even if you might have
filmed the shots weeks apart.
If a character starts an action in one shot and completes it in
the next, a visual ‘bridge’ is created which acts to disguise
the cut from one to the other.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIGz3igGpMk

5. Parallel Editing (aka cross-cutting)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyQeO1_NXYU
Cross-cutting is a technique most often used in
films to establish action occurring at the same
time in two different locations.

6. Shot reverse shot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLkUHZ1qips
A film technique where one character is shown looking
at another character (often off-screen), and then the
other character is shown looking back at the first
character.

7. Eyeline Match
Eyeline match (play from 43 sec)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz0jvz3NE
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8. Graphic Match
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VP5jEAP3K4
A cut from one object to another object which is
similarly shaped. E.g. a football being kicked into the air
match in the next scene with a record spinning on a
record player

9. Jump Cut
An abrupt and jolting cut from one moment in a scene to the
next, often used to indicate a shift in time and progress. E.g. a
woman doing her hair and makeup in the mirror condensed from
real-time into a 30 second sequence via jump cuts.

10. Cutaway - the interruption of a continuously filmed
action by inserting a view of something else. E.g. a
man is doing a speech to hundreds of people.
Suddenly we ‘cutaway’ to a reaction shot of his wife.
Insert - a clip of something which is added in to an
existing piece of footage, often to make it more
interesting or give extra information. E.g. a
presenter talking at length about something, then
an ‘insert’ is added over the top of his speaking to
exemplify what he’s talking about.

11. Transitions
Fade out/fade in
Dissolve
Wipe

12. The 180 degree rule
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bba7raSvvRo

13. Montage editing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFrMLRQIT
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• A technique in film editing in which a series of
short shots are edited into a sequence to
condense space, time, and information.
• Good example: UP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2bk_9T
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14. Continuity
• The purpose of continuity editing is to smooth over
the inherent discontinuity of the editing process and
to establish a logical coherence between shots.
• Based on the techniques covered today, what would
constitute a break in continuity?
Breaks in continuity might include:-
• Mistakes (bloopers) which break suspension of
disbelief (the ability to pretend the action onscreen
is real)
• Breaking 180 degree rule (crossing the line)
• Jump cuts (to an extent, but they normally exist for
effect)