This document provides definitions and examples of key editing terms used in media language including continuity, shot types, pacing, time manipulation, and transitions. It explains techniques like the 180 degree rule, match cuts, shot reverse shot, eye line matching, and cross cutting that are used for continuity editing. Other terms defined are inserts, cutaways, summaries, flashbacks, and screen time allocation. Examples of how editing techniques can manipulate pace and time are also provided.

1. SOUND POP QUIZ!
3 minutes to revise your sound key
terms

2. MEDIA LANGUAGE: EDITING
Key Terms
L/O: to know the editing key terms
and be able to identify and explain
them in relation to an extract

3. Key Terms
• Continuity
• Continuity Editing
– 180 degree rule
– Match on action
– Shot reverse shot
– Eyeline match
– Cross cutting
• Insert shot
• Cutaway
• Pace
• Time
• Transitions
– Straight cutting
– Overlap/dissolve
– Wipe
– Fade in/fade out
• Special Effects
– CGI
– B&W
– Blur
– Fast forward/slow motion
• Montage Editing
• Kuleshov effect

4. EDITING - DEFINITION
PART OF POST PRODUCTION PROCESS
The stage in the film-making process in which sound and images are organised to construct an overall narrative.
It is how a film maker puts together and considers cuts/cutting and applies transitions, special effects etc. to
communicate a narrative to an audience.
Remember that an audience is a non-active participant who must understand a narrative through the editing,
they can only see what you show them.
Imagine a film or even a scene from a film without any editing, it would be very interesting!

5. Prezi
• https://prezi.com/s2kuc5-okxhe/teaching-
editing-for-a-level/#
• (history to start)

6. Cut, cutting,
• Cut – the edited version of moving image
• Cutting – to edit a frame, (trimming/splitting)
• Straight cut – one frame directly after the other
• Jump cut – an error in continuity editing
– Ex. One frame = man sitting on chair
– Next frame = man suddenly standing up
– *sometimes this is used on purpose to create jumpy/scary
effect (ex – the ring – coming out of TV - choppy)

7. Know why they call it cutting?
• This is what they used to do!

8. Continuity
• The key word in continuity is CONTINUE
• It is to make sure things are continuous
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggFKLxAQBbc
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f8liieRepk&feature=related

9. Clips
• Did you notice the editing?
• NO!
• Because good editing is INVISIBLE!

10. Continuity Errors
Many things can cause continuity errors
-shots/angles
-costume/props
-lighting etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSnCu43QzeY
What is wrong with the continuity in this clip?

11. Continuity and music videos
Are these rules broken in music videos?
Why does this not ‘matter’ as much in music
videos?
21 pilots – heathens

12. Continuity EDITING
• Continuity Editing
The most common type of editing which aims to create a sense of reality and time moving forward.
Also known as invisible editing referring to how the technique does not draw attention to the editing process
but allows the audience to concentrate on the narrative.
Various filming rules and techniques are applied to ensure this smooth continuity.
Basically, continuity editing is so that scenes look continuous. (the flow)
Techniques/rules of continuity editing:
-180 degree rule
-match on action (match cuts)
-shot reverse shot
-eye-line match
-crosscutting or parallel editing

13. Continuity editing: 180 degree rule
• Purpose: Is to orientate the viewer, to establish the
placement of characters.
• Breaking the 180 rule, it will place the characters in a
different place
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdyyuqmCW14

14. 180 degree rule cont.

15. Continuity editing: match on action
1 ACTION = MULTIPLE SHOTS
• Is multiple cuts to show one continuous action.
• Match on action is part of invisible editing which creates flow when watching a scene.
• The cuts MATCH together so that the audience know it is one action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMx-Az5Da4M Think of how many match cuts there are!
• .
What kind of pace is created in these clips? How? Why?
How does sound connect to the editing/pace? How? Why?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Nx1o7fkVM AS example

16. Continuity editing: shot reverse shot
• Shot reverse shot is when a shot goes from shot A, shot B, shot A, shot B etc.
• It goes continuously back and forth between the 2 shots to show there is a
connection between them
• It is often used in conversations so you see what both characters are saying
• It is a form of eye-line matching if the character is looking at someone and the next
shot is what they look at
• Imagine if a conversation was just 1 shot of character A and you didn’t see
character B’s face at all?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JauH_EKpaY

17. Continuity editing: eye-line match
Shot A: character is looking off screen
Shot B: what character is looking at
Is a following shot that follows what character is looking at, makes cuts smoother the audience expects
the cut to happen and is eager to see what happens next/what character sees.
Example,
a) A person’s phone rings, she turns and looks in direction of phone
b) Close up shot of phone ringing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KtVKu9CfDA&feature=relmfu
• This is eye-line match because of the cards she is looking at………..but it is also……..?
Her looking at cards her looking at cards

18. Continuity editing: cross cutting
• Technique of continuously alternating 2 or more scenes that often happen
simultaneously (at same time) but in different locations.
• As they cross, pace gradually gets faster and fast and tension builds
• Often the parallel scenes will intersect to create a climax.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD0h7WcgJ5w
• 2 scenes: a) interrogation b) car approaching
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts1x6uADFtM&feature=related
• -2 scenes: a) FBI director (outside house) b) criminal (inside house)
• What is unique/different about this scene? How has cross cutting been used different? (What is it’s intention upon the audience?)
A B A B A

19. Cross cutting example
Busted! Climax
(2 scene collide)
A (3pm)
B (3pm)
A (315pm)
B (315pm)
A (330pm)B (330pm)A (3:33pm)B (3:33pm)

20. Continuity editing: insert shot
• In film, an insert is a shot of part of a scene as filmed from a different angle and/or focal length
from the master shot (original/establishing shot). Inserts cover action already covered in the master shot,
but emphasize a different aspect of that action due to the different framing.
• An insert differs from a cutaway as cutaways cover action not covered in the master shot.
Example
– CLOSE-UP of the gunfighter,
– INSERT of his hand quivering above the holster,
– TWO SHOT of his friends watching anxiously,
– INSERT of the clock ticking.
• Inserts and cutaways can both be tricky for directors, as care must be taken to
preserve continuity by keeping the objects in the same relative position as in the main take, and
having the lighting the same.
Insert Insert

21. Cut in and Cutaway
• A cutaway is video scene that CUTS away to relevant images or footage
• Often used in documentaries or in film when a vital piece of information is
needed to show the audience. Usually the dialogue or voice will
CONTINUE during the cutaway (to keep it continuous)
• It is used to have variety in the visuals
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjwbwxUX2hY

22. Pace
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2472477465
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXXpX29Xt-U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1JsC1ur2X8
TYPE OF PACE Effects
SLOW -to make slow/calm/still
-little number of shots/cuts which are long
-to make audience calm or bored (perhaps to pay attention to detail or to emphasize emotion)
MEDIUM -to make normal and comfortable
-average number shots/cuts which are medium time which could show realism
FAST -to make intense, exciting and thrilling
-lots of shots/cuts which are short
-to make audience tense/excited
Which pace for each clip?
How is this pace created?
Why is this pace created?

23. Pace
• How and why does pace change in music
videos?
• Rita Ora vs Adele…..
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1l9WST
5lXM
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXM
glC9A

24. Time
How is time edited? How is time shown and/or manipulated to communicate a
narrative?
• How is time shown/represented?
• Is there a manipulation of time? How? Why?
TYPES OF TIME
• STORY TIME: time of the events (ex a film over 50 years ….)
• DISCOURSE TIME: time taken to narrate the event (how long to tell the story?
Ex 2 hours )

25. More types of time
MORE TYPES
OF TIME
Example
Summary -discourse shorter than story A film takes place over 50 years but
shown in 2 hours
Ellipsis
(temporal
ellipsis)
-establishing discourse time rather than
story
-shot 1: man out of bed….
-shot 2: man in shower…..
-shot 3: man getting dressed….
-shot 4: man driving to work.
The audience can fill in the gaps (…)
Scene -story and discourse time are equal (to
show realism (real time)
Soap opera which shows a scene in 5
minutes which is actually 5 mins
Stretch
(temporal
extension)
-discourse is longer than story
(using slow motion)
Scene in race where it is in slow
motion to show a runner winning and
to capture the emotion
Flashback -character has a flash back (which is a
thought or memory in the past)
-flashbacks are often in dull colours, black and
white and altered light (to make it different than
real time)
-causes non linear narrative as you are
changing order of time
In hunger games, Kat is thinking about
Peeta at dinner table, she has a
flashback and audience see her
thoughts of her sitting outside the
bakery and Peeta throwing her bread
Flash-
forward
-when audience are shown the future
scenes or events (often to give clues)
-causes non linear narrative as you are
changing order of time

26. Time allocation or screen time
• Remember the audience will not see everything,
things are edited in order they get to see what is
important.
– Who/what has most time on screen? Why?
– Who/what has little time on screen and why?
– *link to representation/stereotype
– *link to placement (shots/angles) where are characters placed in the
scene? Are they in the middle of the screen or hidden in a corner or
behind other people?
– Think of the fast and furious chase scene = who has the most/little time? Why?

27. Transitions
• Straight cutting – to show realism, in conversations etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLkUHZ1qips
• Graphic match – when 2 shots match graphically, often with an overlap transition
(ex shot of eyeball, then shot of the sun (same size/shape = to show their
relationship) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HG5kPlxzeU or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rILqMwCVcS4 (sink/eye)
• Overlap/dissolve – makes a softer transition, to show ellipsis or time passing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd3-HakNEGM
• Wipe – often used to show new day or new scene/location (can be sideways or
clock wipe such as https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuGtgmTEmk0)
• Fade in/out (fade to black or appear from black – often used to communicate
ending or beginning) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0_2ZFdB6Hk
• Flash – to show flashbacks or flash-forwards (to show thoughts or memories)
(flashes to white) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GMFzEIRBEI

28. Special Effects
• B&w –often used to show memory or time period
• Contrast – to altar the lighting (or contrast = very light lights and dark darks sometimes with
memories
• Colour - to add a colour filter to show a specific mood
Example ‘The ring’ – many scenes are very blue-ish, which show sterile/coldness etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ekZEVeXwek or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD4HCZe-
tew
• Animation – titles of shows or cartoons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGBhQbmPwH8
• CGI – computer generated images (example = avatar, planet of apes, polar express)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcIy9NiNbmo
• Fast forward/slow motion – speeding up or slowing down footage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozx898ADTxM otr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgqUJOudrcM
• Ghost trail – see multiple actions (overlapped) to show someone drunk or on drugs maybe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5xkFN-pOJc (ghost trail) ….. (or how deep is your love)
• Blur – to show un-clarity, or fuzzy memory/flashback https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec92Wa8zJs8
• Split screen – when screen is split with different ‘narratives’ or ‘scenes’ in which you view simultaneously
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAJXg-Ubv3Y or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFHrz1ni4Z4 or

29. Montage editing
• Montage editing is a serious of montage which is a series of shots that are not
in sequential order, continuous or relate to each other.
• It is just like pieces of the puzzle, often used in trailers, TV openings (the show
credits/opening)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HAUmII_hcg

30. Montage in music videos
• Most performance music videos have
montage, obviously narrative is a little
different
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc-
nyGo0aC8

31. It can….
• Takes us to different locations
• –Cuts to new place such as a hotel pool, to room, to kitchen
• Changes pace (there can create tension)
• –Go from slow to fast to show change in character’s feelings
• Influence our opinions on characters depending on how much screen time they get (time
allocation) (like/dislike)
• Manipulate the time experienced by characters and audience (showing us different things at same time for
example)
• –Think of a scene to show a character is getting more fit over time (montage editing & transitions/cuts of
different locations will allow us to understand time)
• –Ellipsis – cutting out time to understand something took place over a period of time
• –Split screen or cross cutting (different places happening at same time)
• Offer clues about the characters or plot development
• –Having an eye line match of something a character can see might reveal more info
•
–Cutting between characters in a scene may reveal more about each character (linked with MES/CAM SAM) -
think of scene in freedom writers, there is sound bridging when he reads the diary but we actually so
the eyeline matches of the teacher/other students to understand they feel sorry for him

32. Key Terms
• Continuity
• Continuity Editing
– 180 degree rule
– Match on action
– Shot reverse shot
– Eyeline match
– Cross cutting
• Insert shot
• Cutaway
• Pace
• Time
• Transitions
– Straight cutting
– Overlap/dissolve
– Wipe
– Fade in/fade out
• Special Effects
– CGI
– B&W
– Blur
– Fast forward/slow motion
• Montage Editing
• Kuleshov effect
• *jump cut!!!!!
GREEN
Terms I am
confident with
AMBER
Terms I am ok
with
RED
Terms I am
confused about

33. Task
• Compare the editing in these videos (1 min
from each video):
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=883yQqd
OaLg and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRfuAukY
TKg

34. Notes for each
EDITING
TECHNIQUE
EVIDENCE ANALYSIS

35. Homework
Research the term ‘Intertextuality’ and find an
example of an intertextual reference in a music
video.
Challenge extension: Can you explain why that
intertextual reference has been used?