The document provides information about editing techniques used in film. It defines key editing terms like continuity, time, transitions, shot reverse shot, match on action, and eye-line match. It then gives examples of how to write responses analyzing editing techniques by identifying the technique, giving evidence from the film, and explaining how and why the technique was used and its effect. It includes a sample response analyzing the use of cross-cutting in a car chase scene from the Bourne film series. Finally, it provides links to film clips to allow practicing writing editing analysis responses.
3. MAIN FUNCTIONS
OF EDITING
Maintain continuity and realism
Advance the story and tell the story
Show
characters
reactions
Control time and pace
Reveal details
to audience
Transition between scenes (to show change in time/place)
-cut
-dissolve
-fade
-wipe
5. TERMS
Continuity Time Transitions
Shot reverse shot
Match on action
Eye-line match
Cross cutting
Reaction shot
Temporal extension
Temporal ellipsis
Slow pace
Medium pace
Fast pace
Screen time
Long take or shot
duration
Cut
Dissolve
Wipe
Fade
6. The easiest terms
• Pace
• Match on action
• Reaction shot
• Shot reverse shot
• Eyeline match
• Temporal Ellipsis
Maybe:
• Cross cutting
• Temporal extension
13. Turning it into 5/5 paragraphs
• Start with your Point – use a technical term
and say what effect it creates:
– The cuts get more frequent as the fight begins
between Bourne and the antagonist. This adds
pace and intensity to the scene.
14. Turning it into 5/5 paragraphs
• Then, make sure you identify a really specific
•
– Example: This occurs as they wrestle to try to get
control of the gun at the start of the fight.
15. Analysis pointers
• How does this editing technique create this
particular effect?
• Why has this editing technique been used to
create this particular effect at this point of the
film?
• Is the editing technique being helped to create
the effect by being combined with another
technical code?
16. Turning it into 5/5 paragraphs
• The increase in tempo of the editing that is
achieved by cutting more frequently signifies
pace and intensity by making it difficult for the
audience to get a really clear view of who has
the upper hand as the camera angle is
changing so frequently. This creates intensity
as the audience cannot be sure that Bourne is
gaining the upper hand in the fight
HOW?
17. Turning it into 5/5 paragraphs
• This change in the tempo of the editing has
been used at this particular point in the film as
this is a key conflict between the protagonist
and an important antagonist. This sort of
physical combat scene is a generic pleasure of
action/adventure films and the increase in the
number of cuts helps to create the intensity
and pace that the audience expect and want
to see in this genre of film.
WHY?
18. Turning it into 5/5 paragraphs
• The sense of confusion and disorientation that
the increase in the tempo of the editing is also
signified and supported by the camerawork at
this point in the film. Handheld camerawork is
used to film the fight scene and this dynamic
but apparently random movement of the
camera works alongside the quick cutting to
signify intensity. Therefore, the editing and
the camerawork combine to signify the
intensity of the fight. COMBINATION WITH ANOTHER
TECHNICAL CODE.
19. EDITING
POINT
(term)
What is in the shot?
(evidence)
Why has it been used?
What does it communicate?
What is the effect?
(analysis)
21. EDITING What is in the shot? Why has it been used?
What does it communicate?
What is the effect?
Cross
cutting
Between Jason’s jeep and the
shooters car
Fast pace Throughout whole chase
Match on
action
Whilst driving the car (when she
takes over steering wheel)
Temporal
ellipsis
Showing integral parts….drive down
main road, then side street,
switching seats, gun, on road
again……
22. MODEL EDITING ANSWER EXAMPLE
The director used cross cutting to signify the suspenseful chase
between the heroic protagonist and villainous antagonist . This
is used when you constantly see the cuts go back from the
protagonist’s jeep (Jason) and the shooter’s (antagonist) grey
car. This has been used to connote the identification of Jason
Bourne as the target and builds up to show the chase between
them. These scenes with Jason have longer takes and more
screen time to build tension as it creates narrative enigma for
the audience whether he will be caught which is a generic
pleasure to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
Furthermore, the cross cutting builds up to a very fast pace with
lots of match on action and temporal ellipsis in order to keep it
quick and exciting for the audience as it is a very fast moving
scene to keep the audience thrilled. The close ups highlight
small details such as the gun and the long shots highlight the
action such as fast moving cars.
What is the red, blue, green, purple and pink colours?
24. The 1st editing technique in the is:
The director uses ……..
This is used when….
This connotes/shows/suggests….
EDITING What is in the shot? Why has it been used?
What does it communicate?
What is the effect?
28. The 2nd editing technique is:
For level ¾, do 2nd
answer in a box in
your book like…..
The 1st editing technique in the is:
The director uses ……..
This is used when….
This connotes/shows/suggests….
__/5 + __/5 = ___10
