This document discusses and provides examples of several film editing techniques used in movies, including: 1) Parallel editing is used in "Way Down East" and "The Silence of the Lambs" to alternate between simultaneous scenes in different locations and build suspense. 2) Montages are used in "Rocky 3" and "Team America" to summarize training routines or spoof other films, speeding up scenes while informing audiences. 3) The "Odessa Steps Sequence" uses shots between a mother and dying child to make audiences sympathize with characters during a terrifying situation.

1. Film Editing Techniques
Layton Mensforth

2. Way Down East DW Griffith, Example of parallel editing
This clip contains continuity editing, this is where we see the two different people in
parallel edits, when they are in the same situation. This part uses continuity so that
it can create a sense of danger for the audience, This is because you can see that
there characters are running out of time because the ice is moving closer to the
edge of the waterfall. This therefore creates a fast rhythm as the man is trying to
run because he knows that he is almost out of time to be able to save the other
character from plummeting of the top of the waterfall. The purpose of doing this Is
so that it can make the audience fearful of the characters safety. This also builds a
sort of suspense for the audience as they left to wonder about whether the man
will get to the other character in time. Near toward the ending of the clip there is a
jump cut as it cuts from him picking the girl up to when he gets away from the
waterfall. This clip also looks although manipulation of time may have been used
because it looks although the time had been sped up to make him look faster this
also may have been used to show how quick he had to act in order to save her. This
would have been done in order to

3. Example of parallel editing in “The silence of the lambs”
The parallel editing is the techniques in which you continuously alternate between two scenes which happen simultaneously
that are in two completely different locations. This clip is a misdirect because it makes the audience believe the two scene are
somehow linked to one an other. As when the FBI surrounds the house and it switches to the man in the house. This makes
us believe that these two scenes are linked as we think that it cuts to man inside of the house who is about to be arrested.
But because the scenes are happening at the same time it tricks the audience to think that they are related when in reality
when his bells ring it is somebody else at his door This clip has a big impact of this clip as we think that the homeowner is
about to be caught by the FBI until the end of the scene when you realize that the two scenes are actually happening in two
different places. The reason that these scenes were put together is to create a sense of tension and suspense as when the
audience are watching they believe that the FBI are extremely close to catching there suspect. There Is also a difference
between the shot speeds as when it shows the FBI the clip takes longer as it focuses on them more this is again done to show
how close they have came to catching their suspect where as when it switches to the supposed criminal the clips are at a
more rapid pace and are a lot shorter this could have been done to show the audience how close he is to being caught and
again create tension amongst the audience. The parallel editing techniques that have been used throughout this scene is
used to mislead the audience. Such as when the man who has the flowers (Florist) rings the doorbell it switches to the other
mans perspective inside of the house and you can hear the alarm ringing this is used to make the audience believe that the
alarm is ringing because the florist had rang his doorbell. The beginning of the scene uses an establishing shot which sets out
the scene and shows the audience that the scene is taking place outside of his house. During the scene we are showed an
over the shoulder shot to show the audience his point of view and when the character opens the door the audience are
expecting to see the florist stood outside however it shocks the auidience as they have been mislead and have no idea where
this scene is taking place.

4. Rocky 3 training montage
In rocky the producers use a montage this is used to show a clip which would have taken up a rather large period of time
of the movie but shortened down where we see “Rocky” doing his training routine. This was done to to move forward the
movie at a more faster pace and allows the scene to not get rather boring while also showing the audience the full
training routing which he had endured during that time. There is a mixture of close ups, long shots and also medium
shots to show the audience everything which he had done and how hard he had actually worked throughout his training
without the clips not getting boring and repetitive it also shows how he had changed from the beginning of the montage
vs the end of the montage where he is extremely exhausted. The different shots which had been used is to keep the
audiences attention through the montage. as it keeps switching to different locations throughout the movie the montage
is effective as it shows the audience exactly what rocky had been through while completing his training as it keeps the
audience entertined as it has some music in the background

5. Team America Spoofed montage
This clip shows another montage, The main purpose of why montages are used in films is to speed up a scene
which would be rather longer and to inform the audience of what is going on but in a shorter time frame. This
montage shows an assortment of other rather famous montages which give a sense of appeal to the audience
as they may be able to recognize what movie the montage is from and find it funny as it is kin of like a comedy
mashup. This montage also uses music which the audience may be familiar with and will give more of an
interest to the audience. This has been created effectively because of the use of montages which the audience
will be likely familiar with which therefore gives them a sort of engagement in enjoying this parody mashup
which they are being shown. This is good because the connection has already been established between the
audience and the the clips used in this montage because they are familiar with the scenes from other movies.
This montage uses a variety of closeups, longshots, zoom ins , zoom outs and also medium shots, they used
are used to keep the audience interested. The montage also goes to show what has changed whereas if the
shots were the same you wouldn’t really know what had changed throughout However the use of the use
movement and the variety of shots makes the montage a lot more effective as it makes the audience believe
that something had actually changed.
I personally believe that the most effective montage would be rock one because it shows how far he has
actually came within his career. Mixed with the music which makes this scene stand out from other montages
as well as being more memorable than others. As well as this the rocky montages often use a range of
different shots to make the audience more intrigued and focused on the scene.

6. The Odessa Steps Sequence
In this scene a montage has been used this has been done to show a larger amount of time In a smaller
time frame. This had been used to show people reacting to the situation in which they currently in This
also shows people reacting to the situation they are in. This scene shows the people reacting to this
because they want them to understand how terrifying and devastated the situation actually is for the
characters who are staring in the movie. This had been done to make the audience symphonize with the
characters. A shot reverse shot has also been used during this clip in the part where it shows the mother
reacting to the child getting shot Following this the camera then cuts back to the child dying this had been
done to show how panicked and scared the characters actually where in the scene. This technique is
extremely effective because it had been used to make the audience symphaize with the mother due the
fact that her child had just died. By showing the characters running down the stairs in one of the shots it
gives the audience a sense of panic for the characters. Other shots had also been used to show different
things that are happening during this panic in order to speed up time.