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1. Task 3 BFI Video Guide Structure
“Create a Video Guide with audio commentary or annotations discussing the development of editing.” Edit together the scenes and films provided
Merit: Explain why this was a key development in the editing process. Use the following subheadings in the boxes to structure your video:
Make sure you include dates, director and chart the development of the Techniques used with on-screen examples
Section 1: Developments in Editing
Editing Development, Pioneer and Key Films What Techniques &
Principles were developed –
Mainstream Continuity or
Alternative?
What was the Purpose of
editing in the examples?
Why was this significant in the
development of editing?
– what did these films look like
since this development?
In-camera editing;
Eg. Melies’ ‘Trip to the Moon’. Think about how he
achieved this and why?
Jump Cuts
Dissolves
Fades
Time & Space
Storytelling/creating drama
Special effects, discontinuity.
Editing scenes together to tell a
story – advanced what the
Lumieres did
following the action; shot variation;
Think about how as films developed directors became
more creative with their shot variation (multiple single
camera setups) and how this adds pace to the scene.
Use specific examples from Porter ‘Great Train
Robbery’ & Griffith ‘’Birth of a Nation’’
Building a sequence ofshots
Cutaways
Temporal Overlaps
180 degree rule
Cross-cutting
Rhythm & Pace
Creating Motivation
Storytelling/creating drama
manipulation of diegetic time and space; multiple
points of view;
Remember this is how an editor creates a sense of
time, space and unfolding narrative for the audience.
Think about why this is an important factor in film
180 degree rule
Cross cutting
Match on Action (more
developed than Porter’s
temporal overlaps)
Montage (5 types)
Kuleshov Technique
Rhythm & Pace
Storytelling/creating drama
Time & Space

2. making and identify SPECIFIC examples and
techniques employed by directors.
Porter ‘Life of American Fireman’ and Griffiths ‘Birth of
a Nation’ were doing this in order to create drama and
entertainment in their storytelling, but remember that
Eisenstein ‘Strike’ was also doing this to create
Montage & meaning for propaganda and to make
people think.
Analogue: film,
Early editing meant that editors had to be very precise
when cutting the film. Invention of the ‘splicer’ meant
that this sped up the editing time.
Get footage of film being cut using a splicer
Cuts
Transitions
Linear editing – required the editor to physically cut and join the
film to assemble the edit in order the print/develop as a reel
What are Tarantino’s thoughts
about Linear/Analogue editing vs
Non-Linear/Digital editing – which
does he prefer and why?
.
Analogue: video;
Video is an electronic medium for the recording,
copying and broadcasting of moving visual images.
Early video tapes could record up to one hour. WE
have since now moved on to digital which is a cheaper
method of video production.
Get footage of video being edited
Linear editing – required the editor to record/copy the various
sources onto a tape to assemble the edit in order
Digital
Modern method of editing using computers. Allows for
more creativity and special effects. Final Cut, Avid etc.
Non-Linear editing – allows the editor to assemble the edit out
of sequence and re-arrange/re-organise

3. Section 2: Development of Techniques & Principles – Continuity vs Montage & The New Wave
For your structure, group together the Continuity Techniques and refer to your examples you have found.
Then group the Alternative Techniques together and discuss this separately, the principles and purposes in challenging the dominance of
Continuity/Hollywood – the Soviets and the ‘New Wave Auteurs’
Finally discuss with reference to Modern and Contemporary Periods and explain how Alternative Techniques have been absorbed and Montage and
Discontinuity is used for stylistic purposes
Technique – describe and give
detailed example, who pioneered it
and which film scenes (Merit give
example from both Early and
Contemporary)
Purpose - why would this technique be
used in this clip?
How does it maintain Continuity or break
it?
Compare how this technique has developed
in the Contemporary Period from the Early
Cinema?
Give a detailed examples of film or music
videos and discuss how it is used/purpose
Stylistic?
Part 1: Continuity editing – Introduce this Principle
Seamless/Invisible
Cuts
Rhythm & Pace
Storytelling/creating drama
Time & Space
Example: Avengers FightScene
Motivated cuts Rhythm & Pace
Storytelling/creating drama
Time & Space
Example: Pulp Fiction
Parallel editing/cross
cut
Example: Porter Example
Rhythm & Pace
Storytelling/creating drama
Time & Space
Example: Batman Begins, Inception

4. 180 degree rule Example: Griffiths Rhythm & Pace
Storytelling/creating drama
Time & Space
Cutaways Example: Porter ‘GreatTrain Robbery Rhythm & Pace
Storytelling/creating drama
Time & Space
Point ofview shot Rhythm & Pace
Storytelling/creating drama
Time & Space
Shot reverse shot Rhythm & Pace
Storytelling/creating drama
Time & Space
Part 2: Alternative Techniques - Introduce this Principle
Montage Example: Strike (5 types) Rhythm & Pace
Storytelling/creating drama
Time & Space
Example: 99 Problems, Kill Bill, Inglorious
Basterds
Jump Cutting Example: Melies trip to the Moon Rhythm & Pace
Storytelling/creating drama
Time & Space
Example: FightClub, Royal Tenenbaums,
Techniques that can be used for either Continuity or Alternative (discuss how they are used and purpose), include in both Part 1 and 2.
Transitions eg.
Dissolve, fade, wipe
Melies’ special effects or to move
between scenes
Rhythm & Pace
Storytelling/creating drama
Time & Space

5. Editing rhythm Griffiths cross cutting or Eisenstein’s
5 methods - Metric
Rhythm & Pace
Storytelling/creating drama
Time & Space
Cutting to soundtrack Example: Hollywood Montage/Music Videos
Section 3: Video Guide Conclusion
Contemporary Evidence for analysis – Pulp Fiction, Inception, Kill Bill, Batman Begins, 99 Problems (Music Videos)
Purpose: Rhythm & Pace, Storytelling/creating drama, Time & Space, ‘Spectacle’
Distinction Task: Critically assess the development & purposes - compare contemporary with earlier principles
Compare the use of continuity & alternative techniques in Nolan & Tarantino’s films, and Music Videos to Earlier (Griffiths, Melies, Eisenstein, Hitchcock,
Goddard – what are the differences?
Compare purposes of editing in contemporary examples – have the purpose essentially stayed the same since the Pioneers?
Argue: Montage and Discontinuity lost their Meaning in favour of stylistic use in contemporary films Nolan, Tarantino?
Compare the use of Non-Linear editing in Hulk with that of Linear processes, argue - has this lead to a loss of meaning? Tarantino’s interview?
Argue: What reasons did Continuity become the dominant form of editing?