The document discusses how the speed of editing in films establishes pace and mood. Quick editing with frequent scene changes creates anxiety and suspense, while longer scenes with less frequent changes imply a relaxed mood. It provides examples from action and romantic comedy films. Very long single takes with no editing, like in Russian Ark, require precise timing. Cross-cutting edits between related events happening simultaneously in different locations can develop drama. The shower scene in Psycho uses many quick edits during the attack to match the action and intensity.

1. AS1: TASK 10:
UNDERSTANDING PACE

2. Speed of Editing
• In a film each scene may last a
matter of seconds, or it could
continue for minutes
• The length of each sequence
establishes the pace of the film
moving the action along.
• The speed of editing will help to
determine the mood of what is taking
place on screen

3. Speed of Editing – Creating
Pace
If filmmakers want the audience to feel
anxiety and suspense, the editing will be
quick – the scenes/shots changing
frequently.
The Bourne Ultimatum
Action sequence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLt7lXDC
HQ0

4. Speed of Editing – Creating
Pace
If a relaxed mood is desired, the scenes last
longer and change less frequently. For
example in a romantic comedy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9JTfU7YtGQ
The Notebook
Romantic Comedy

5. Speed of Editing, Russian Ark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRm9pX5Re8o

6. Speed of Editing
Nevertheless a film need not have any
editing. Russian Ark was filmed in one take
using a steadicam and a digital camera.
This required split-second timing and
organisation.

7. Speed of Editing
A trailer for a film needs to pack in detail,
therefore the editing will be very fast.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhODs_xGOBY
The Hunger Games
Genre….

8. Speed of Editing
View the extract from Psycho where Marion
(Janet Leigh) has checked into the Bates Motel
and is about to take a shower…
1. Watch the sequence and count the number
of edits a) before the attack b) during the
attack
2. How does the speed of editing match the
action?
3. Why do you think that the scene contains so
many edits? What do you actually see?

9. Psycho (year)

10. Speed of Editing
• Scenes at the beginning of a film - as it
begins to tell its story – must be long
enough for us to be able to understand
where we are and what is going on. It is
also slow to introduce the main
character(s).
• As the film progresses, scenes may
become shorter as the editing cuts
between telling two or more storylines at
the same time

11. Cross Cutting
• To cross-cut is to edit together two
sequences that the audience need to
know are connected in some way.
• Something is happening at the same time
in different locations.
• A character reliving a memory

12. Developing Drama
• Cross cutting can be used to very effectively
develop a sense of drama.
• The death of Casey in the opening of scene of
Scream is made more dramatic by the cross
cutting to her parents approaching and almost
making it home in time to save her.
Scream
Horror

13. Scream

14. Blog Post 10
• How does the speed of editing depict different
mood/emotions? Discuss different genres and
provide examples.
• How does the speed of editing effect the
audience? Does it match the action/think of
the number of cuts (use Psycho as an
example)
• Discuss cross-cutting – why is it used?