2. Notes on this Exercise
Begin by studying Chart 4-3 on p. 151.
Since Giannetti’s examples may not be
familiar, I chose some others.
The Story of Us clip contains harsh
language and images that may not be
suitable for children.
3. Editing Styles
REALISM CLASSICISM FORMALISM
Cutting
Sequence to Classical Thematic Abstract
Shots Continuity Cutting Montage Cutting
The A Trip to Thirty-two
The Birth of a
Arrival the Moon Nation Short Rhythmus
of a train Films 21
about
Glenn
Gould
Chart 4-3, Understanding Movies, p. 151.
4. “Save tonight”
Video for Eagle Eye Cherry's
“Save Tonight” is one continuous shot.
Excellent example of “sequence shots”
done by careful camera positioning.
5. Go (1999)
Directed by Doug Liman; written by John
August
Storyline takes place in compressed time
frame
Cuts are used to “arrange scenes” in
meaningful ways
Omissions are not confusing or
disorienting
6. A River Runs Through It (1992)
Dir. Robert Redford;
written by Norman
Maclean & Richard
Friedenberg
fits into Classicism
Exterior to Interior
Slow pans
Slow cuts
Click here for WMV clip.
Pace of “yesteryear”
7. The Story of Us (1999)
Dir. by Rob Reiner; written by Thematic montage
Alan Zweibel & Jessie Nelson set to “Classical Gas”
We have all been on
car rides we want to
die on (w/apologies to
James Dickey)
Not in chronological
order
Click here to view WMV clip. Powerful timing – on
beat, quick cuts
8. A River Runs Through It (1992)
Thematic montage
with classical
elements
Dissolves
Fades
“One shot” feel
Sepia tone (memory,
past)
Click here for WMV clip.
9. “Sledgehammer”
Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” and other
music videos use abstract, cutting to
create powerful effects
Sometimes the effects teeter into “the
obvious” or “the obscure” (Giannetti, p. 59)
See a clip from “Sledgehammer” on
YouTube
