James Bond Goldfinger Fight Scene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDDjxa7RsKg

History of editing: Editing has come a long way since the days of splicing. The basic edit in film comes from when a cut was simply cutting the film physically cut with scissors and then

spliced back together.

The purpose of editing is to combine shots into sequences to be able to present a narrative. Most

media types have a clear narrative but some dont have coherent narratives, thanks to editing

though it allows ways to create meaning through them. A good example of this is the Kuleshov Effect

who used Ivan Mozzhukhin as the subject of his experiments. Kuleshov found that a subjects

appearance can changed depending on what is placed next to it. For example Kuleshov found that

Mozzhukhin looked different when associated with a smiling young girl rather than with a coffin.

In the early 1900s there was no fixed way of editing for meaning. As you can see from the above

examples though the use of combining shots into sequences to create narrative was fast becoming

the thing to do. A system gradually developed through Hollywood which would mean that the

viewers didnt become confused when watching media text, this would go on to be known as the

continuity system. This is basically a set of rules about how shots should be combined

Editing is much different nowadays compared to the days of cutting and splicing. In East Norfolk we

use non-linear editing and edit video that has been uploaded from either DV tapes or SD cards.

There are three different types of video editing technology in-camera editing, linear editing and

non-linear editing. In-camera editing is where you shoot the footage in the order of the final

Here you can see Mozzhukhin

closely associated with a smiling

child with a teddy bear. This would

of course be placed in back to back

frames in film but these are only

stills. If you look at Mozzhukhin in

this he looks happier than the

example below.

Same face, different emotion this

is the key finding from Kuleshovs

effect. By placing shots into

sequences it is clear that a narrative

can be created. This was a really key

finding in the evolution of editing.

sequence and most people start with this if they have a low budget. This would be a good way of

creating narrative without editing software such as Premiere Pro.

Linear editing is the most out of date type of editing and involves tape to tape. This was the most

predominate type of editing until the 1990s before it was taken over by non-linear editing which is

now seen as the norm. Non-linear editing is where you can combine uploaded footage whilst being

able to instantly access individual shots and frames without having to trawl through reels of footage.

Non-linear editing has been made possible thanks to the progression of technological equipment.

Transitions:

Cut: A cut is simply slicing the footage so one image ends and the next begins. The term cut came from when film used to literally be cut to separate footage. Cuts are the most common transition

used within an edit and doesnt break the suspension within a narrative but instead represent a

continuous transition. Cuts can often be used when there is a change in camera angle or in sections

of dialogue to employ close ups without disturbing the movement in camera.

As you can see from the above images a cut has been used in my chosen film clip. As you can see in

the first image a close up has been used of the button to lower the lift and then in the second image

a different camera angle has been used to show the lift going down. This is a good example of a cut

as most are used for a change in camera angle or time, this does the former.

Dissolve: A dissolve is a gradual transition from one image to another. The dissolve overlaps two shots for the duration of the effect usually at the end of one scene and the beginning of the next.

Usually dissolves are used to help indicate that a period of time has passed between two scenes.

Dissolves can be used for different time lengths and shorter ones may be used to soften jump cuts

when this may startle the viewer.

A good example of the dissolve is shown above in this sequence from The Butterfly. I have shown the

first image in the sequence which then dissolves into a new setting and shows that time has passed

a perfect example of the dissolve.

Fade: A fade is where a shot gradually fades to or from a single colour which is usually black or white. Usually a fade signifies the beginning or end of a scene. Much like the dissolve the fade could

also connote a change in time; the amount of time that has passed depends on the speed of the

fade. A quick fade to and from black could indicate a time change of a few hours whereas a long fade

indicates a much bigger change.

An example of a fade can be found in these pictures above. The full film can be found here. The fade

in this example is a long one and stays on the black screen for a while; it signifies a progression in

time and is the end of one scene and the start of another.

Wipe: This is a transition where one shot replaces another by travelling from one side of the screen to another. George Lucas made this transition famous thank to his work with wipes in his Star Wars

films.

Much like the other transitions the wipe transition can be used to show the passing of time,

especially the clock wipe although its not commonly used due to some viewers finding such

transitions tacky.

Visual Analysis from my extract:

In this section of this assignment I will be looking at different techniques used in my media extract

which is where James Bond fights OddJob in Goldfinger.

Continuity:

This is a system that has been developed to help the audience understand the relationships of shots

and avoids confusion when watching. This system consists of the following:

Establishing Shots:

Usually an establishing shot is the first shot in a scene designed to allow the audience to see where

the scene is taking place. The best suited camera shot for this is a long shot or an extra-long shot.

As you can see above this shot is taken from 0.37 and is an establishing shot so viewers know where

the following fight scene is about to place. This is important as without it viewers may get confused

as to where scenes are happening, if the start of the scene was to go straight into a close up viewers

would feel disorientated and it would go against the continuity system.

180 Degree Rule

In media, film makers use an imaginary line which you cannot cross and this is called the 180 degree

rule. If you cross this line it creates confusion and distortion for the viewer. Crossing the line

basically means that you shoot from different sides in consecutive shots which create distortion. You

rarely see any continuity errors in media but one example is the Mikado Advert which breaks the

180 degree rule.

Here you can see that the man in the cream tank

top is approaching from the right hand side.

As you can see here though the 180 degree rule

has been broken and the man in the cream tank

top is now coming from the left. This means that

the creators have broken the 180 degree rule and

evidently created distortion.

In Goldfinger they do not make such a mistake though and instead follows the rule so the viewer is

not confused.

This clip can be found at 2.37 and is the perfect example of the 180 rule executed properly. Due to

the camera being placed on the same side of the imaginary line for both shots there is no confusion

for the viewer.

Match Cut On Action

This is another hugely important piece of the continuity rules and helps viewers over the edit

smoothly. The way this rule works is an action starts in one scene and then ends in another which

creates a smooth transition. It basically creates a visual bridge that helps distract the viewer from

the cut in the film.

This clip can be found at 2.06 and it sees Oddjob throw his hat in the first shot and then his hat hit

the electricity cables in the second shot. The match cut on action provides a smooth transition and

creates that visual bridge that you need.

Shot-reverse-shot

Due to Oddjob not speaking throughout the James Bond films the chance of a conversation in the

scenes he is in is pretty slim. That doesnt mean there arent any shot-reverse-shots though. I used

the same example in the 180 degree rule but the shot-reverse-shot rule also applies in this same

shot. By using this rule correctly it means that you dont have to have both people in the frame and

instead film one character talking to the other in one way and then the other character in the

opposite direction.

As you can see above the shots are just reversed which still complies to the continuity rules but

makes it much easier to capture conversations or where two characters are interacting.

Motivated Editing Eye line match cuts

Motivated editing is where shots are carefully chosen to push a story along and make the audience

believe what they are seeing. For example if a character is walking around it usually cuts to their

viewpoint so you get a feel of the character. Normally the latter shot is a POV although this isnt

always the case. As the character gets closer the connection with the subject also becomes closer.

In the above example we see Bond approach a security guard that has been chucked off the top level

by OddJob. Bond first of all identifies the guard and then you can see him look inquisitively towards

the guard. The next shot is then a POV of the guard which then zooms to the guards pocket where a

key is visible. This is a great example of a motivated edit- in this case an eye line match. The

audience gets to feel like Bond as they can see in his viewpoint.

Identification with the main protagonist or other characters:

Screen Time: To be able to connect to the protagonist and realise that they are a main character they need to be on screen for most of the film. In my particular clip James Bond and Oddjob are on

screen for pretty much 100% of it, that is of course because the fight scene is between the two of

them. Oddjob is one of the villains in Goldfinger so isnt on screen as much as James Bond

throughout the film.

This is one of the main parts of the fight scene where Bond realises that Oddjob will not be physically

beaten as he gets hit with a gold bar and simply smiles. From this fight scene alone and the screen

time both of the characters get it allows the audience to be involved and identify them as main

characters,

Close-ups: Close ups are vital within film so you can connect with the protagonist. There are some fantastic close ups from the fight scene I have chosen and it allows the audience to connect

emotionally and almost feel like you are with them.

In this particular scene it is vital that the audience connects with how the characters are feeling

throughout one of the most important fight scenes. Here we have two close ups that would suggest

Bond is beaten, and physically he was. Bond was no match for Oddjob physically but mentally he was

stronger- of course. After being punched in the face by Bond, Oddjob simply smiles showing once

again that he does not feel pain and the close up of Bond shows his tiredness and dismay to being

seemingly beaten by Oddjob. This scene and these close ups are also vital for the whole film itself in

a sense of connecting with the characters. The close ups show key emotions that carry out through

the film, Bond has wit and is mentally stronger than any of his enemies while Oddjob is one of the

strongest henchman Bond has ever seen with all of his communication coming through facial

movement.

Reaction Shot: A reaction shot is one that cuts away from the main scene in order to get a reaction from another character. Normally reaction shots are used to capture emotion so they work

best with close ups. Usually reaction shots dont include dialogue either with simply facial

expressions being captured to portray emotion.

Here we see Bond reacting to missing Oddjob with his own weapon the bladed hat. Bond does not

speak in this clip and the emotion shown is done just through body language. The shot is also quite

close up which means the audience can distinguish the emotions he is showing easier meaning the

connection towards the protagonist is more straightforward.

Point of view shot:

Point of view shots are where the shot cuts to what the character is looking at making identification

with the protagonist much easier. If you are able to see what the protagonist is seeing you can relate

with the scene more and feel more involved.

Here we can see a POV of Bond looking at the bomb he has been strapped to which he is trying to

escape from. If this POV wasnt used then the scene wouldnt be as connectable as you wouldnt be

able to place yourself in the viewpoint of Bond. James Bond is the main character in this film and

when the POV is based on him the audience sees events through the leading actor's eyes, as if they

were experiencing the events themselves. This whole process simply makes the identification with

the main protagonist as easy as it can be.

Generating appropriate involvement in the storyline, pace, tension and

suspense:

Its all well and good having a main protagonist but the audience are only going to be interested if

something exciting happens to them. To be able to show this in film the construction of the storyline

and how suspense and excitement is shown is paramount.

Providing and withholding information: This is closely linked to restricted narrative. This is where a filmmaker limits what the viewer can see by framing shots. This can either be done when

shooting the scene or in the edit depending on what works best. Restricted narrative is a popular

technique used by directors in James Bond films to create a mysterious feeling to the scene. A good

example of this is the opening scene of On Her Majestys Secret Service. Bond has always been

portrayed as a secretive character and this is proven in the opening scene of this movie.

As you can see all you can see is the back of Bonds head in silhouette form making the feeling

mysterious. The viewer may not even know its bond which adds that extra element of surprise to the

scene. This technique allows filmmakers to create interest in the protagonist by giving extra

information or taking it away to add an extra element to the overall narrative.

Montage: Is an expressive use of juxtaposing shots. Juxtaposition is the positioning of two shots in order to compare of contrast them. This is a very popular way amongst filmmakers to provide

viewers a way of comparing the relationships between the main protagonists. In my chosen scene

which includes OddJob and James Bond the director positions two shots closely next to each other

to compare the two characters.

As you can see from the above shots the differentiation in facial expressions and body posture

shows some key characteristics with the protagonists. Bond is seen laying down which proves he is

the weaker one when it comes to strength but makes up for that with a quick and clever thinking

brain. On the other hand Oddjob is far superior that Bon when It comes to strength but is fairly

dopey and smug which is shown through his swagger and smile. By placing these shots consecutively

in the scene it allows the audience to become involved in the relationship and storyline.

Cutaways: A cutaway is when a scene will cut to a separate shot in what is otherwise a continuous flow. For example if the scene cuts to a danger of death sign this would connote a negative

atmosphere, on the other hand cutting to a butterfly would connote a positive feeling.

Here we see the fight scene cut to the bomb which is located in the same room. The fight scene is

shot in a continuous flow except for this one cutaway. The viewers already know that Bond is in

danger but this simply adds to the tension. It also adds a sense of urgency to the scene and helps

with the pace of the scene to keep is fast paced and concise to avoid is becoming stale.

Parallel editing/cross-cutting: This is where it cuts between two scenes usually showing that they are happening at the same time and that they relate in some way. This is used a lot in Oceans

11 when they are carrying out their plan in separate places but at the same time. Usually this

technique is used in heists so the viewer can follow the action in different places without the pace or

tension being affected. By cutting between different places in different scenes it means that the

narrative can be easily followed by the viewer.

Jump-cut:

Jump cuts are when two shots are placed next to each other but change very slightly giving the

effect of a jump forwards in time. This kind of cut is very abrupt and is mainly used to show the

audience that time is moving and links closely to the pace of the narrative. It is used a lot in fight

scenes that Guy Ritchie produces and the above pictures are from Snatch which is full of abrupt

jump cuts to show the passing of time. If you notice though the camera angle does not really change

and when it does filmmakers very rarely break the 30 degree rule which theorists say is the

maximum angle you can move the camera angle for it to look seamless.

Shot Variation: Shot Variation is the technique used in filming to create a sequence of images using movement; these types of shots include a wide shot as this type of shot is commonly used at

the start of a sequence to set the tone of the scene as well as enabling the audience to grasp the

concept of the scene. Long shots are used to enable the focus of the audience to remain on a certain

character; this is commonly used to introduce main characters. Medium Shots are primarily used in

dialogue scenes or action scenes to enable the audience to follow the narrative. Variations of this

shot are a two shot or a three shot. Using a Close Up means the camera is concentrating on a certain

item or character. In my chosen scene all of the above are used in different ways to set different

tones and provide an exciting sequence for the narrative.

Extra Wide Shot

Medium Shot

By combining all of these different shots it allows the narrative to be followed in the most effective

way and engage the audience. It also helps the pace continue as one shot that stays the same slows

down the pace, this is a technique that can also be used when long stints of dialogue may be

necessary.

Editing Rhythm: Editing rhythm is the speed of succession in cuts to meet the pace of the narrative. If the storyline is moving quickly then a quick succession of cuts will be needed to keep up

and translate the fast narrative to the audience. If it is moving slightly less quick then more subtle

transitions such as fades may be used or the cuts will be slower in succession to translate a slow

narrative to the viewer. The rhythm is key as this is what the viewer will see and how they will follow

the storyline.

Cutting to soundtrack: This is an editing technique used to match the speed of the visuals with the speed of the soundtrack. This is most often found in music videos and TV commercials. By

cutting to soundtrack it provides a better experience for the viewer as they have visuals and sound

in sync. Sometimes it is better in terms of structure to have the audio first and then add the visual.

Alesha Dixons song Drummer is a great example of this with quick succession of cuts in the

beginning of the video to match the pace of the audio. Again this technique is all about pace of the

storyline and it interests the audience more than a plain cut which is out of sync with the audience.

As I said earlier its rare to see this technique in film but is more commonly used in music videos due

to the more frequent changes in pace with audio.

Multiple points of view: This really is what it says on the tin. Sometimes in scenes it is shown through both of the protagonists. This can mean the viewers can follow the scene through both

characters which can cause and interesting effect.

As you can see above the scene I chose has been shot from multiple points of views from the main

protagonists. By doing this it allows the audience to follow the action through both viewpoints which

creates that extra bit of excitement. The storyline is also easier to follow as there is more than one

view point and creates the contrast between good/bad in this particular scene.