film language: editing explanation examples and worksheets

editing

editing:Editing is the way in which the

story is placed into order or the way in which the narrative is presented to the audience.

As film students we need to be able to identify how editing has been

used in a film and what affect it has on the audience.

editing:we are going to be looking

at two main areas: pace and style (transitions)

editing: pace

pace:Pace of editing is when we see the

screen change from one shot to another. how quickly (or slowly) this happens is

known as the ‘pace’ of the scene. this can be easily seen by how often (or not)

the shots change.

how quick (or slow) is the pace here?

what do we learn? how are we supposed to feel?

What is the pace like for clip 1? How can we tell?

What affect does it have on the audience? What does it make us do or pay

attention?

pace:

What is the pace like for clip 2? How can we tell?

What affect does it have on the audience? What does it make us do or pay

attention?

pace:

how quick (or slow) is the pace here?

what do we learn? how are we supposed to feel?

amazing editing video:

pay attention to the descriptions of editing!

editing: style

style:The choices made by a director and editor will help to create the editing

style. Part of this is the pace chosen and created. However, there are techniques such as transitions and cuts that can be

used to create style.

transitions/cuts:jump cut fade-out dissolve cut away

wipe match-on action graphic match

jump cut fade-out dissolve cut away


transitions/cuts:

includes: montage, cross

cutting, smash cut

jump cut:a jump cut is where the action

seems to jump from one scene or moment. This is also known as a

straight cut: there is no transition.

jump cut:refer to a straight cut if the action just cuts from one thing another in the same scene, a jump cut if it

jumps from one scene to another.

jump cut:

jump cut:refer to a straight cut if the action just cuts from one

thing another in the same scene.

jump cut:refer to it as a jump cut if it

jumps from one scene to another. this is also known as cross-

cutting.

jump cut= cross cutting

jump cut:why does this work?

your brain fills in the gaps. you make meaning without being told what’s actually happening between the

gaps.

jump cut:Jumping between action or moments in time also allows films to use montages. these show a variety of short sections from various moments in time, usually to time passing or progress being made. They are often set to music and help to show people training, the passing of

time to a change that happens over time.

montage

jump cut:one way this can be explained is by the kuleshov effect:

kuleshov effect:

jump

cut

cros

s-cu

t

smas

h cu

t

fade out:Complete the table as you watch

the clips and read the descriptions. Many examples have been listed and

provided for you. a blank copy is on the next slide.

fade out:

fade out:SNATCH / OLDBOY

A jump cut is where the action seems to jump from one scene or moment. This is also known as

a straight cut: there is no transition.

fade out:a fade out is when the picture is gradually replaced by black screen or any other solid colour. Traditionally,

fade outs have been used to conclude movies. Fades are used sparingly because they imply the end of a

major story segment. Fades are also utilized when allowing the audience time to catch their breath after an

intense sequence.

fade out:

fade out:PSYCHO

dissolve:dissolves happen when one shot gradually replaces by the next. One disappears as the following appears. For a few seconds, they overlap, and both are visible. Commonly used to signify the passage of time.

dissolve:

fade out:RETURN OF THE JEDI

CITIZEN KANE

cut away:As the name implies, in the basic cutaway, the

filmmaker is moving from the action to something else, and then coming back to the action. Cutaways are used to edit out boring shots or add action to a sequence by changing the pace of the footage.

these get used a LOT in family guy.

cut away:where the camera cuts away.

either to show someone is looking at something or for the sake of the

audience!

cut away:

fade out:

WALL-E

wipe:Wipes are dynamic. They happen when one shot pushes the other off frame. George Lucas deliberately used them throughout the Star

Wars series. they usually happen quite quickly but are a useful way of seeing where the action

goes from and then to.

fade out:

STAR WARS

match-on-action:is a cut that connects two different views of the same action at the same moment in the movement. By carefully matching the movement across the two shots, filmmakers make it seem that the motion continues uninterrupted. For a real match on action, the action should begin in

the first shot and end in the second shot.

http://everything2.com/title/cut

http://everything2.com/title/shot

match-on-action:

fade out:

THE MATRIX

graphic match:this cut helps to show two otherwise

disconnected scenes by establishing a relationship between them. this is done By ending one shot with

a frame containing the same compositional elements (shape, color, size, etc.) as the beginning

frame of the next shot.

graphic match

fade out:

PSYCHO

matc

h (g

raph

ic) c

ut

practical exercise:use the worksheet to make a note of the editing style. begin by noting/describing the pace with evidence to explain why you’d describe the pace as being slow/

fast.

pick out the cuts (and/or transitions)

what do we learn? how are we supposed to feel? how do the cuts help up to communicate to the audience?

advanced:

practical exercise:

slower version:

this example is quite tricky: watch a few times and stick to picking out just a few examples of transitions, perhaps 4 or 5.

practical exercise:use the worksheet to make a note of the editing style. begin by noting/describing the pace with evidence to explain why you’d describe the pace as being slow/

fast.

practical exercise:then, watch carefully and note down what type of transitions are used

and when.

practical exercise:finally, use the box at the bottom of the page to explain, in full sentences, what the editing is like, with examples and an explanation of why you think

it’s like that.

in your book: what is Your reaction to this clip?

how do YOU feel watching? is the clip any good?

once you’ve explained your reaction, try to explain why you think you

reacted that way.

what is your reaction? what do we learn?

why do we react this way? how does the editing help?

editing: pace: how often are there cuts? style: how do we transition from

one scene to another? how do these combine?

Think about the reaction the Director wants you to have or what he wants you to learn…

(POINT) “In the opening from once upon a time in the west, the audience Watches as… the editing in this clip is generally… which helps the audience…

(EVIDENCE) “an example of this editing is when…

(EXPLANATION) “This example helps us to…”

(POINT) “In the clip from mad max: fury road, the audience…(reaction) the editing in this clip is generally… which helps the audience to react…

(EVIDENCE) “an example of this editing is when…

(EXPLANATION) “This example helps us to feel…because…”

I think this scene is meant to help set the scene and introduce us to the characters. I also think that this scene is meant to tell us about the place that the characters are in and show what they’re like as people. The editing helps in this because…

dont forget:QUIZLET!

There is a quizlet on editing that is VERY useful. it can be found here:

https://quizlet.com/_279x8m

https://quizlet.com/_279x8m

film language: editing explanation examples and worksheets

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