Film editing techniques

1. By Rebecca Chapman Film Editing

2. Continuity This is where the shots just cut into each other. The shots should flow naturally together and the audience shouldn’t recognize this as the flow just appears continuous and uninterrupted. This is the most used cut shot as its just one image replacing another and is not noticed.

3. Montage This is where different cuts are all assembled together to make a sort of collage and give an impression of a story by doing quick flicks through shots. This is usually used in title sequences or showing certain moments for a short time each. Montage ‘Soviet’- Came from the 1920’s which sought to create a new meaning out of unconnected shots, the audience are aware of these cuts happening. Montage ‘Hollywood’- A short segment in a film which narrative information is presented in a condensed fashion.

4. Cross Cutting/Parallel Editing Is where two or more shots of action alternate between each other. These shots are in different places but are usually at the same time in the movie so simultaneously. The shots flick from one another so you get a view of all the action. This is used to see the action faster and what is happening in the different places, rather then watching them both separately. A good example of this being used could be when two people are on the phone to each other and it flicks from one person and their location to the next persons.

5. Dissolve This is a transition between two shots where the first shot gradually disappears whilst the second shot gradually appears over the top of it creating an effect of them dissolving into each other. It’s often used to show the progression of time instead of needing to watch all the unnecessary things in the middle, for example someone going to sleep and then dissolve into them waking up as there’s no need to show them actually sleeping. It lets the shots run smoothly into each other.

6. Wipe This is a transition between shots in which the border line of the new shot comes in across the screen eliminating the first shot and replacing it with that new shot. This transition is very noticeable to the audience and is only usually used in adventure and action films, it takes away all realism so would only be mainly used to quickly wipe over new action in fiction type films in an interesting way.

7. Action Editing This editing technique is used mainly in action films, without this quick action editing done right, there would be no action, so this is very important if a good action scene is wanted to be made. Quick and fast shots are put together to emphasise the action on these scenes, hundreds of shots can be put together as they switch from one another rapidly to show the fast action that is taking place. This keeps the audience hooked as their eyes are glued to all the rapid action taking place so fast after each other.