Editing refers to how shots are put together into sequences to make up media text
Three Areas
When analyzing editing you must break it down into three areas to help the quality of the analysis
- Transition- how one shot Moves to the other
- Continuity- how one shot Merges into another
- Shot Duration- how Long a shot is
Transition
Different transitions can create slightly different meanings for the audience
- The Cut- The point where two shots come together
- Dissolve- The blending of two shots to communicate a passage of time and /or location
- Wipes- When shots change across the screen
- Cross Zooms- When it starts small and gets bigger on screen
- Flash Frames
- Jump Shots- Normally to do with props or objects.
When Creating a short film The Cut and Dissolve are the best to use.
- Fade down ( of sound)- Gradual diminution of sound level
- Fade in (of Pictures)- Gradual appearance of the image
- Fade to black- gradual disappearance of image into black screen
Shot Duration
The duration of a shot will usually reflect the narrative context
- Short shot duration- conveys urgency
- Long shot duration- conveys detail and intimacy with narrative
Continuity
- 180 Degree rule- A rule which maintains that the line of action should not be crossed in the interest of fluid continuity. You can cross the 180 degree line, but you must show that you have moved. you can not just cut to the other side as you will confuse your audience
- Cross Cutting- Also known as parallel editing. alternation between two or more different scene which are (usually) developed simultaneously
- Cut Away- a brief shot that momentarily interrupts continuity action by briefly inserting another related shot.
- Eye Line Match- a common convention to maintain continuity is a character looks at something and in the next shot we see what they are looking at.
Cinematic time- The time a sequence takes to play on screen as opposed to 'real time'. In film time can be expanded and shrunk.
- When you see Match on action in a film this is cinematic time and therefore real time.
During editing you can:
- Shrink time- Through a series of fast paced cuts we can see things that would take a long time in just a few seconds on the screen. Instead of watching a character get in a car and drive for 20 minutes we see then get in and get out, letting us assume that the journey has taken place.
- Expand time- The editor can expand time by adding additional details. For example, someone is sitting in a chair waiting for the phone to ring. in real time this might only last half a minute, but the editor can build up tension by including shots of the person's eyes, tapping fingers (to show impatience) etc, drawing the scene out to a minute or more. here we are looking at Film time not 'Real Time'.
- Finding Rhythm- Editing sets the rhythm or pace of a scene. this could be dictated by either the music used behind a scene or the mood that the editor is trying to create and the pace that you edit. To build up tension in a scene you might cut from one shot to another very quickly. however, in a relaxed scene the editing will progress at a much slower pace, dwelling longer on each shot.
