The document provides an extensive overview of editing techniques in filmmaking, detailing the distinction between storyline and narrative, as well as key principles such as linear vs. non-linear storytelling. It discusses multiple editing techniques, including continuity, match on action, parallel editing, cutaway, and various transitions, while highlighting their purposes and effects on audience engagement. Examples from popular films and music videos illustrate these concepts and the overall importance of editing in enhancing visual storytelling.

1. EDITING
BY SUELA ELEZI
UNIT 1, 16, 29 – TASK 4

2. WHAT IS EDITING?
 Editing is the process of fixing together raw
materials which have either been captured from
footage.
 Key themes relating to editing…
1. Storyline
2. Narrative.
 What is the difference between storyline and
narrative?
A storyline is the plot whereas the narrative is the
arrangement of events that reveal and complete the
storyline.
 The principles of editing:
1. Storyline - editing is used to piece together
scenes in a (usually) logical sequence to tell a
story.
2. Narrative - sections of events which are
combined to expose and complete the storyline.
3. Open-ended storyline and closed storyline.
 An open-ended storyline is when a story has
been left unfinished, example, when a movie has
a cliff-hanger at the end, leaving the audience
questionable. Whereas, closed storyline is when
the movie has been accomplished and therefore
there are no cliff-hangers or questions.
3. Linear and non-linear.
 Linear is when the storyline is shown in
chronological order. And non-linear is shown in
non-chronological order, which means it is told
backwards from the end to the beginning.
Example use of flashbacks are used as well.
 A film that uses linear is called ‘Expelled’.
 https://www.netflix.com/watch/80028483?trackId
=14170056&tctx=6%2C2%2C91a3f206-17a7-
4718-831b-c597f5413328-10394986
 Watch from 36:18 to 37:34 And an example of non-linear
in a music video is called
‘Broken Angel’ by Arash.

3. PURPOSE OF EDITING
 The purpose of editing is that it contains numerous of scenes in a video which shows the audience a
view. It may contain, fades, slow motions, cutaways and other editing techniques. It also allows there to
be narrative of time with the use of camera angles, pace and narrative structure.
 Editing is very popular because it used in mostly every video that contains scenes which the editors will
use different techniques and camera angles to make a scene interesting.
 In modern society, editing is used in almost every video created with a storyline or narrative. Editing
makes a video more fascinating and allows editors to use different effects to make the final product how
they want it to look, which will then be shown to the audience.

4. THE PRINCIPLE OF EDITING
 Creating pace – It is used to show are fast the cuts are made. For example, in the music video, Taylor Swift – Bad Blood, it
shows that the cuts made throughout the video are fast because of the upbeat music and the cuts are made every 2
seconds.
 Creating pace is necessary because it gives of an effective to the audience that the editors have edited the video in a way to
match the cuts which are based on the theme of the video. It makes the scene more splendid by giving the audience different
views of cuts to show different scene in a film or music video. Also, it wont make the video boring because there are
numerous of cuts creating speed.
http://www.vevo.com/watch/taylor-swift/Bad-
Blood/USCJY1531563

5. THE PRINCIPLES OF EDITING
 Combination of shots – editors will combine a mixture of shot types and angles in order to draw on the viewer establish setting, feelings and
relationships. Example of combinations shots is when the video uses long shots to mediums shots then to closed up in a scene of the video
shown to the audience.
 Combination of shots is used in editing because it can make the video more interesting because of the numerous shots taken by the camera
showing different angles of a certain video. Without combination of shots, the video can be boring because of the same angle shown through
out the video.
 Below, I have shown an example of a film, ‘Tangled’, where it uses combination of shots throughout the scenes. I have shown three images that
show different shots of combination of shots. You can see how the editor has used the camera angles to take different shots of the action. Then
these different shots will be combines to make the final scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obWj0I07iqs This is a link to the scene which uses
combination of shots from the movie Tangled.

6. THE PRINCIPLE OF EDITING
 The 180° rule – This rule suggests that when two or more actors have been recognised on a certain side of the screen, they
must remain at the same angle they were at the beginning., so it doesn’t orient the viewer. This can be shown in interviews,
conversations etc.
 Editors are not suppose to break the 180° rule because it is not good for the audience to watch but, when filming unless the
editors actually show the camera moving around the characters then the rule can be broken because the actors will still be in
the dame potions and will not confuse the audience.
 This technique is used because when there is two or more actors speaking, the camera can show one other actors reactions
and then the other which shows the audience different reactions of the actors at different times. Also by using this principle, it
can make the scene not uninteresting by showing different angles of the actors when speaking. This will be effective to the
audience because it will make them aware of the actor's reactions.
The two pictures are example
of how to 180 degree rule is
being used when recording two
actors in a scene. You can see
that there has to be more than
one camera to make sure that
the actors are always remain in
their positions they started
with.

7. EXAMPLE OF THE 180° RULE
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEZjvs7oh60
 I have shown three images below which shows how the 180° rule. You can see how the guy on the left with
lighter hair than the guy on the right, always remains on the left and the guy with darker hair always remains
on the right, no matter what the angle of the camera shows, the two actors are still remaining in the same
positions throughout the video.

8. EDITING TECHNIQUES
 Continuity editing:
1. Makes sure everything is kept the same through cuts. For example, the setting, props and customs should be
the same so it makes the video look realistic and not orient the audience.
2. This technique is important when editing because it makes sure that the scene have the same props, settings
customs because, if they are not kept the same, it can confuse the audience and make the video not realistic.

9. EXAMPLE OF CONTINUITY EDITING
 Deadpool is the movie that is an example of bad use of continuity editing because, in one of the scene, there
is a fight scene happening and when the main character, Deadpool, is fighting with another character; Ajax,
the main character is stabbed at the side of his head but when the next scene is shown, you can see that his
head has no injuries or blood from the previous scene.
 This shows that the editor has not used continuity editing because the costume has been changed and not
kept the same throughout the video, this will leave the audience with a negative view of the movie because it
will be less realistic and look low quality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEZACxtSr8w&list=LL
RyFtGK4o6obMIun6F8HfHQ
Where I have placed the two
arrows on the images, I am
showing where the editor has not
used continuity editing correctly
and shows the example of how not
to use continuity editing. You can
see in the second image, the mask
of the character looks norm and not
damaged as it should be fro the
previous scene of where it had
been damaged.

10. EDITING TECHNIQUES
 Match on action:
1. When an action begins from one angle, continuous from same position then cutting to a different angle
but still showing the previous position.
2. Match on action is important when editing because the camera can show a certain scene in different
angles making the video more interesting and less boring because of the numerous angles used to
show one action.

11. EXAMPLE OF MATCH ON ACTION
 The match on action example has been captured in the music video, Work from home by Fifth Harmony.
I have noticed that when the singers are dancing, the camera angle changes but still shows the same
action happening but from a different angles to show a different view to the audience. The scene where
the technique has been used is when the singers are dancing all together, you can see that their hands
are up and when the technique is shown, the camera angle has been changed still showing the same
action, as their hands are still up but the camera is now focused on only two of the singers than before
when it was focusing on all of the singers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GL9JoH4Sws
Watch from 1:07 unto 1:10 to see where the technique has been
used.

12. EDITING TECHNIQUES
 Parallel editing
1. When you got two scene happening at the time, so they cut to show the different locations happening at
the same time.
2. Parallel editing is used in most films or music videos because when there is two actions happening in
two different scenes, the camera can show one scene and then the other, showing the audience what is
happening at the same time.

13. EXAMPLE OF PARALLEL EDITING
 A movie that shows the use of parallel editing is ‘Final Destination 1’. In the movie, it shows how one
scene is happening but so is another scene.
 For example, a scene in ‘Final Destination’, shows how there is a car crash happening with the cars at
the car racing arena but then the camera shoes the other scene of the people in the stands of the arena
are getting killed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQk7s7fPEps

14. EDITING TECHNIQUES
 Cutaway
1. When you cut away from the main subject to show other things happening around it.
2. Cut away is used in scenes because it shows reactions of other people then goes back to the main
subject.
o Could add humour
o Stop it from being boring
o To add background content

15. EXAMPLE OF CUTAWAY
 In a TV series, Pretty Little Liars, it shows in a scene the use of cutaway. The editor uses this technique because it shows the
group of girls but then cuts away to different scenes where it shows other people and then cuts back o the main characters
which are the group of girls.
 This example is shown in season 7 and episode 7 ‘ Original G’A’ngsters’.
 This is a positive effective when the editor uses this technique because, not only does it not make the video boring but also it
adds background and shows other things happening around the characters which give the audience a better view of the
storyline.
https://www.netflix.com/watch/80106237?trackId=13752289&tctx=0%2C0%2C48418f29-b613-4cdb-
aca0-68cedc03b2cb-11202602

16. EDITING TECHNIQUES
 Jump cut
1. Stops long takes by cutting out sections to show other sections so the scene is not too long and boring.
2. It can also make the audience more aware of what is gouging on in the scene which will make them pay
more attention to the video.

17. EXAMPLE OF JUMP CUT
 At the beginning of the movie of White Chicks, it shows the use of jump cut because it shows how one
scene jumps to another and then another to another leading to the final main scene to start off with the
characters.
https://www.netflix.com/watch/60034587?trackId=13752289&tctx=0%2C0%2
Cd5dc0aac-6770-424d-baf8-11830985169c-134677353
These images show the jump cuts being made because you see one scene but then a totally different
scene is shown straight after the other.

18. EDITING TECHNIQUES
 Match cut
1. When you have one shot doing something but then you have another person doing the same leading to
another scene. Some actions begin repeated in a different scene.
2. Match cuts are used to show the links between different things to make the audience aware.
 Graphic (match) cut
1. This technique is the same as ‘match cut’ but graphic cut is used with objects, whereas match cut is
used with people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCmwPeEGjtE
Match cut example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2u0stjTjBE
Graphic (match) cut

19. EDITING TECHNIQUES
 Shot- reverse-shot
1. Cuts between two people talking so you can see both of their reactions.
2. Used to establish who says what and see their reactions. They don’t have to speak.
 This technique is used because, when a scene contain the two main characters talking, the camera
angles can be used to show both character’s reactions. For example, if one person is talking, the other
person in the conversation can be shown in the next scene to show the audience what their reaction is
because of how they might feel or think about what the other character has told them. This is effective
because if the reactions of the characters are shown, it can show the audience how the characters act
and feel and also it will make the scene less boring because the camera angles are being changed to
show different backgrounds.

20. EXAMPLE OF SHOT-REVERSE-SHOT
 An example of shot- reverse- shot, is in the movie, ‘Neighbours’. The movie uses this technique
because, you can see that when the two main characters are speaking with one another, the cameras
angles change from one person to the other but shows both character’s reactions.
https://www.netflix.com/watch/70297085?trackId=13752289&tctx=0%2C0%2Ca7
d269b97dd1cb0fe0a6e562c3a4bb0fc3e0aab4%3Ac827a95d98d3597a31542fc6c
636fdcc532beabe
When the shot-
reverse- shot is used,
it shows when the man
is taking, the woman’s
reaction is being
showed after to show
the audience what see
feels and thinks about
his words being said.

21. EDITING TRANSITION
o Transition = Only be achieved on the computer.
 Fade out/fade in
1. Fade out then fade in to show a new scene. Shows along passing of time.
 Both fade in and fade out are good transitions to use because it shows the beginning of a scene in a
video or the ending of a scene. This will make the scenes look less boring and bring some kind of
different movement to the scene when it changes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bup_zehvBo

22. EXAMPLE OF FADE IN
 At the beginning of the film,
‘Home Alone’, there is a use of
fade in because the blank
screen links into the next
scene where the action
begins. This transition is good
to use because it is usually
used to show the beginning or
ends of a scene, so this can
show that few minutes or
hours have passed and the
audience are made to think
that because of the gap.
 Watch from 1:41:52 up to
1:41:36 .
https://www.netflix.com/watch/596974?trackId=15035895&tctx=1%2C3%2C91a3f206-17a7-4718-831b-
c597f5413328-10394986
The transition has been used at the being of
the scene because when the film starts, the
title of the movie is sown but then when the
action starts to show, the fade in transition is
used to cut from the blank screen to the
main scene where the film will actually show
the characters and what will happen in the
film.

23. EXAMPLE OF FADE OUT
 The movie ‘Rocky’ uses fade out near the end of the film because as the scene is ending, the screen
changes from the action to a blank screen representing that there is a cliff hanger which leaves the
audience in thoughts so then another film can be made to finish the rest of the previous film with the cliff
hanger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_qhLRUh
66k
I have taken three screenshots from the movie to show the use of fade out. You can see in the first image, it shows the ending scene and
then the middle images shows when the transition is being made, finally, the last image shows the blank screen which suggests to the
audience that there is a cliff hanger and the film will still be continued but in another film, making a part 2.

24. EDITING TRANSITION
 Dissolve
1. When one scene mixes into the next scene. Doesn't cut straight away but dissolves.
o It is used...
o to smooth transition
o Link two scenes together
o Show time has gradually passed by
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt5mcZFYLng

25. EXAMPLE OF DISSOLVE
 An example of dissolve used in a movie is, ‘White Chicks’. This movie uses dissolve transition in one of the film’s scene because as
one scene is ending to show another scene, it makes a transition to smooth out the cut which will show the other scene.
 This transition is used in most videos whether it is a music video or a movie because, when one scene is about to change, the cut can
be made and link one scene to another through a smooth process to make the link look better than just showing a blank screen which
will then just show the next scene happening. Also by using this transition, it can show the audience that a pass of time has happened
and this will show why the cut has been made plus for the use of the transition.
 In the scene of the movie, ‘White Chicks’, which uses this transition you will see in the link how the transition is useful and effective to
use because of the advantage it gives the film by making it look enhanced and smoother.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQK6zsVN8
C4
As you can see from the three images above, the image on the left shows one scene and the image of the right show another, however the
image in the middle shows the use of the transition being used because it is combing the previous scene to cut into another scene which will
show the rest of the film.

26. EDITING TRANSITION
 Wipe
1. When one scene wipes over to the other scene. Usually when there is a action, there is a wipe.
2. For example, if a person is running, a wipe will be coming after them showing the similar action as one
another.
 This editing transition is used in many videos because, it make an action more appealing and gives
background content in the video.

27. EXAMPLE OF WIPE
 A film which uses wipe editing is called ‘Mark & Russell’s Wild Ride’. The film uses this editing transition
because in one of the scenes in the film, you can see that when the two characters are talking one of
the character’s actions are then followed by a similar wipe. As the character turns to one side, the
camera angle then follows behind, showing a similar action which links them together.
https://www.netflix.com/watch/80077067?trackId=13752289&tctx=0%2C0%
2C89d814b4-8212-4b04-96f2-6f48e0d1c68d-67820878

28. EDITING TRANSITION
 Superimposition
1. When one image is mixed on top of another image.
2. This transition is used to show two images mixed together which can show the audience the relation to
one another and make superior effect.
3. In the music video, ‘Mist – Ain’t the same’, it shows a use of superimposition because, at the beginning
of the music video it shows one image but then another image is shown on top of the previous image.
These two images show the use
of superimposition because as
you can see at the first image, it
shows a women in a mask
covering face with the other
image of a dessert behind the
women’s image.

29. EDITING TRANSITION
 Slow motion/ fast motion
1. Speeding up an action or time and slowing down an action or time.
o Why used?
o Emphasises movements that are suppose to be too fat so you can see it more improved.

30. EXAMPLE OF FAST AND SLOW MOTIONS
 The film ‘Fast and Furious 4’ shows the use of fast
motion because there is a scene where cars are
racing and it shows how the cars are being shown
in fast motion.
 The movie ‘Attack the Block’ shows the use of
slow motion in one of their scene. It shows how
when the actor is running away from the aliens,
his actions are done in ‘slow motion’. Slow motion
is used in this scene because it makes the faster
action shown in a slower motion to make it clearer
to the audience about what is going on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbyx_opE1Bw
Watch from 1:05 to 1:22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x-6HsNbB38
Watch from 1:03 to
1:45

31. EDITING TRANSITION
 Ellipsis
1. Emphasises more to come. Cuts out a period of time so the audience can fill in the rest with their mind.
 This is used to make the audience have an imagination and fill in the rest of the scene with their mind.
 As you can see below, I have captured two images from the movie ‘Bruce Almighty’. I have shown how the first image shows
the couple together in one scene but then in the movie, the camera shows the second image on the right. It shows the use of
ellipsis because it shows how the scene has changed to another to indicate that a couple of hours have been passed and
the audience are suppose to figure out what would have happened over a couple of hours, so this is why editors use ellipsis
and makes the audience to think more.
http://123movies.to/film/bruce-
almighty-3960/watching.html
Watch the link to the film
‘Bruce Almighty. Play at
05:41 to 05:55.

32. DEVELOPMENT OF EDITING
 In the later years, for example in
the 1800s, editing was not as
popular before as it is now.
When editing first came out, the
editors would only record a
scene until it got boring or until
the storage could not hold any
more memory. Editors then
realised that people would not
wan to watch a scene that they
could see in real life so editors
started to develop other editing
techniques and changed the
camera angles to make the film
more interesting.
1. Analogue (hardware) = physical
2. Digital (software) = virtual
 Before editing was recorded on
film reels and cut the filmstrips
where they wanted to get rid of
unwanted scene, then get
another end of strip and stick it
together to get the wanted
scene. Editing is now done on a
software and the cameras have
improved massively, whereas
before the cameras we much
bigger and difficult to use.
 The whole point of editing is to
make a story and emotional
response to the audience.

33. DEVELOPMENT OF EDITING
 In 1915, D. W. Griffith made ‘The Birth of a Nation’ which he used various editing techniques and camera
angles. His films were very popular and he was the first director to produce length films.
 Then ‘Star Wars – Episode One’ which was released in 1999. Was a film which contained more modern
editing techniques and showed a hoke different view on editing because of the Sci-fi actions used.
 However, in 1903. the first movie to use jump cuts, fades and cutaways was, The Great Train Robbery. This
was done by Edwin Porter.

34. SMARTPHONE SOFTWARE
 Smartphones have developed in the modern society. There are more updated apps that allows armatures to film scenes on their phone if they cant afford a
camera. Different applications allow people to use them for different reasons.
 An example of a smartphone is the IPhone. Most people now have Iphone’s because of the updated software plus because of society improving their
technology.
 Smartphone software's have made armatures edit their videos more effectively because they have more resources on their phone and have more access to
use other applications to use other effects for their video but there are limitations because the camera that editors use in big movies are way more sufficient
than the smart phones that the armatures use.
 Take the IPhone 6 as an example, it allows the armatures record scene with their camera and can download various apps to give different effets to the video
later on when they edit the video.
 Magisto - Magical Video Editor is a famous app that is used not just for iPhone’s but for Samsung's or Nokia’s, which helps armatures edit their videos.