This document summarizes and analyzes the editing techniques used in the movie "The Descent". It discusses how the early scenes use slow, long shots to build tension through character development and tension between Paul and Sarah. It then describes how the editing pace quickens during the car crash scene, with shots under 2 seconds to make the collision more dramatic. This contrast between the slow early pace and fast crash scene helps engage the audience and make the action more intense.

1. Editing The Descent
By Michael Holland

2. Slow Edit
As this part of the movie progresses,
tit I very slowly edited having cuts
very rarely and has no real
development of the plot. With a use of
wide shots and some close ups to
show dialogue in conversation allows
for the audience to feel sense of
security. For example this shot lasts
for 3 seconds and is not important
whatsoever.

3. Slow editing
Further on in this sequence
the shots are still very long
lasting often between 5-7
seconds. This is mainly to
build tension for the second
half of the sequence and to
heighten its importance in
the movie. This over the
shoulder clearly shows ho
important Jessica and
Sarah's relation ship and is
built up with this slow
editing pace.

4. Slow editing
Moving on the slow editing pace starts
to develop some of the main plot. The
slow ness of the edit adds the viewers
understanding of how Paul and Sarah's
relationship. The use of close ups and
mid shots that last for longer than they
should, allow to see the true emotion of
each character in the car.

5. Slow editing
It is as this point in the sequence that
the pace begins to change. Having a slow
build up to the car crash allows for the
fast pace editing to feel more dramatic
and important. This shot lasts 3 seconds
and is getting shorter as the crash gets
nearer.

6. Slow edit summary
The Descent in this sequence of shots
before the collision is slow detailed
allowing the audience to confirm the
tension between Paul and his wife and
how Sarah has a goo relationship with
her daughter rather than her husband.
Also this time allows for the audience
to make judgments on characters and
make the movie more entertaining
when it gets the audience thinking and
involved. Because this clips are long
and very slowly cut it builds it up and is
in total contrast to the quickly edited
parts after the collision.
To conclude the Descent has been
slowly edited to add to the tension of
the movie and allows the audience to
follow the plot of the movie. Also this
slow editing pace allows for the
collision to seem more dramatic.

7. Fast Editing
This is where the editing pace changes
having several shots in less than 2
seconds. This add so the dramatic
enthuses in this collision. Because the
pace quicken this also make the
Descent more interesting and
enjoyable because it make the
audience more engaged in the
movement of the shot and because it is
visually interesting.

8. Fast Editing
This shot in the Descent lasts for less
than 1 second but is effective because it
shows you that Paul is defiantly not alive
anymore. Also adding to the action and
horror of this survival horror movie.
This change in pace is welcomed
because it is a lot more interesting and
completely contrasts the slow paced
editing executing multiple cutis in
seconds.

9. CGI fast editing
The CGI is used in this shot to show
how the copper pipes are going
through that car killing Paul and
Jessica. This was edited very fat and
seems almost real when this is seen
for the first time but is clearly
computer generated on a second
glance.

10. Eagle view
Slow editing
Finally this is one of the final shot in
this sequence of fast and slow
editing. Using this eagle view of the
cash show to all the viewers the
devastating aftermath of the collision
and confirms the audiences worst fear,
that Paul and Jessica are dead Sarah
is all alone.