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8/9/2019 The Development & Principles of Editing
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The Development & Principles of Editing
Analysing a Sequence: Saving Private Ryan
Introduction to EditingEditing is the post-production process, where all visual and audio material that
makes up a media product is combined. The term ‘cut’ referring to a film derives from early
methods of editing that involved literally cutting, or splicing, film footage and sticking parts
together to form a basic edit of a film. By combining multiple shots together into sequences,
the filmmaker can show a progressing narrative, or simply an idea or visual art-form. The
editing process often provides the coherence needed for film, especially if it has not been
shot in the relevant order which is known as non-linear editing. Non-linear editing has
become standard for film making since new systems were introduced in the 1990s,
previously tape-to-tape linear systems were most common.
Other progress being made in the industry is the move to digital filming, where
images are recorded onto SD Cards to be loaded instantly on to a computer. The film
industry still produces the majority of footage on film, and then converts it to digital for the
editing. There is rapid movement currently towards digital over film though, as the ability to
shoot in higher quality digitally improves. Additionally, the system of editing itself has
evolved over time. In the early days of film (1900s) there was no set out way to edit media
products, although a century on Hollywood has developed methods to create potential to
convey meaning or confuse the audience as desired by the filmmaker. A central part of thisis the continuity system, as well as the use of transitions between shots.
Continuity & Techniques
The continuity system helps the audience to understand what is going on in each
sequence of the edit by keeping certain factors consistent and seamless. Therefore if the
required product has been shot in a non-linear way the audience is not aware of this as the
film will still make sense at the end. It is important to use these factors so the audience does
not get confused because that can ruin the viewing experience.
The 180° Rule
This rule of filmmaking prevents the audience from getting
confused as it ensures characters and moving objects consistently
occupy the same half of a frame. This makes the scene’s layout
easy for the audience to work out. The clip from Saving Private
Ryan follows this rule by shooting it all from the top or left of the
beach (as shown in the diagram), showing the soldiers as they
attempt to take Omaha Beach. The clip does occasionally break
the rule, to confuse the audience in the manic situation.
X
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Match Cuts on Action
A match on action shot displays a movement between
two separate shots, starting in one and ending in
another. Spielberg uses this many times during the
beach sequence in Saving Private Ryan, including fromthe 4.00 point of the clip, as Tom Hanks’ character drags
the body of another soldier up the beach. This particular
use allows the viewer to see all the horror and gore that
is going on around Hanks, before getting closer to the
action to establish his particular movements.
Motivated Editing & Eye-Line Matches
An eye-line match is a switch between two shots, where
the first shows a character looking out of shot and the
second shows what they can see, usually as a POV. Eye-
line matches become motivated edits where the
character’s reaction to what they are seeing is
significant. It is a commonly used feature of horror films
to create suspense. In this clip of Saving Private Ryan,
Tom Hanks’ character freezes in place and looks at the
horror happening on the beach in front of him.
Establishing Shot
Establishing shots are usually used at the start of a
scene to show the audience the location where the
scene is taking place, if it is relevant to do so. The clip I
have chosen is Part 2 of the scene, so it does not
feature a main establishing shot. However, I found Part
1 elsewhere online and the establishing shot from that
is pictured above, depicting the metal tripod beach defences on the beach before the
soldiers began landing. This is useful as it suggests some of the issues the soldiers willhave to face in the upcoming attack. A few seconds later we are informed of the date
(‘JUNE 6, 1944’) and the location too: ‘DOG GREEN SECTOR, OMAHA BEACH’.
Shot-Reverse-Shot
A shot-reverse-shot is a technique used to be able to
show two characters having a conversation with both of
them visible in both frames. This is most frequently
done by over the shoulder shots, as it is in this clip. As
Hanks’ character is being questioned you can see the
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top of his head in the bottom left of the frame. The shot reverses to show Hanks’
response with the other soldier also seen in the bottom left. It is worth noting that this
section of the sequence does break the 180° rule very briefly, most likely to confuse the
audience.
Shot Variation
There are multiple different types of shot filmmakers can
use when making a media product, from close ups to wide
shots. The clip features both of these and many variants in
between too. This is done to keep the sequence
interesting to watch as the story develops. The pictured
close up features at 1.45 of the clip, the wide over the
shoulder shot appears multiple times at 0.21 and 5.07.
Most of the shots used vary in type throughout their
duration on screen, as the camera follows the action from one man to another. An
example of this is the shot between 4.42 and 5.06 as the soldiers charge further up the
beach. For the most part, the shot is a low angle medium shot; the camera looks up at
the sand bag barricade where the Nazis are attacking them from with a soldier in the
foreground. As the soldiers run further ahead of the camera it becomes a long shot, and
then a close up as it pans around to show a fallen soldier screaming for help.
Providing and Withholding Information / Cutaway
This technique is used a few times in the clip, in order to hide some of the particularly
violent and gruesome bits of action that supposedly happen. The technique allows
directors to use restricted narration, where the audience is allowed to see what happens
only to the extent that the director wants before cutting away. This is used multipletimes during Hanks’ phase of sitting still and observing the horror around him, between
0.45 and 1.48. An example, shown at 0.59 – 1.03, is when a group of men are engulfed in
flames as they head up the beach. Before we see their inevitable deaths, the camera
cuts to Hanks observing the action, and a few seconds later a wave of blood falls over
him. This is a useful technique as it amplifies the horror of war, allowing the audience to
come up with their own interpretation of events and without needing to go over-budget
on CGI.
C l o s e U p
W
i d e / O T S
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Editing Rhythm
The clip has a fast pace and rhythm at the beginning, flicking between a number of shots
showing the initial approach on the beach. However, towards the end the editing
rhythm is much slower, with the time each shot stays on screen getting longer,
particularly the shot between 4.42 and 5.06. The very last shot seen in the clip, which is
cut off halfway through, continues and lasts for just over a full minute. The change of
rhythm in editing throughout the clip may suggest that the characters are safer when
they reach the other end of the beach, but also because it allows us as an audience to
really imagine we are there on the beach with them watching it through the camera.
Multiple Points of View
The whole scene was shot mainly within 90o, and it follows
the soldiers up the beach so the points of view don’t changevery much. The shots are either from the point of view of
the German soldiers firing down, or of the Allied soldiers –
including Hanks – from multiple side on angles. The editor
flicks between these shots for variety and to show the
efforts of both armies. Examples of both of these feature
within the first 30 seconds of the clip, and are pictured here.
Transitions
Transitions are the motion that occurs between shots in a sequence. There are many
different types from a basic ‘cut’ to dissolves, fades and wipes. Only cuts are used in the
clip, a simple technique originating from the old method of physically cutting footage
and sticking them back together so when reviewing, the footage jumps between shots
immediately with nothing fancy going on.
Montage
Montage editing is a use of several shots back to back, which are not necessarily related
to each other, usually done to show progression of something i.e. a journey or training.The shots often juxtapose each other and are accompanied by music which may or may
not be relevant. This clip does not include a montage as the scene as a whole is intended
to follow the characters up the beach in real time. I have however found a montage of
action in the 1984 film Karate Kid. The scene follows the main character through several
karate fights in a tournament, but including very little action that occurs between the
fights in order to keep the film engaging to watch. The montage is set to Joe Esposito’s
‘You’re the Best ’ to encourage the audience to believe in the Karate Kid’s ability to win,
in a slightly comical way. [KK Montage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBktYJsJq-E ]
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Cutting to Soundtrack
Cutting to soundtrack is a method of editing where you have an existing soundtrack
already which the footage is then cut to, rather than producing a score after the edit.
This does not occur in the clip from Saving Private Ryan either, because the sound
consists mainly of various gunfire and explosion sound effects of a war zone. Other parts
of the film were scored by John Williams. Instead, I have found a clip from Guardians of
the Galaxy (2014) which features a very good example of cutting to soundtrack. The clip
features the main character Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) played by Chris Pratt dancing to
the 1974 song ‘Come and Get Your Love’ by Redbone on an old tape player. [Video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd5CHea6lks] This is an effective use of cutting to
soundtrack because, as the opening credits scene*, it establishes the mood and genre of
the film and establishes Quill as the film’s main character.
*This is excluding the pre-credits context scene, showing Quill as a young boy.
Parallel Editing / Cross-Cutting
This technique is used by editors to suggest that
two or more scenes are occurring
simultaneously. This is another feature not seen in
Saving Private Ryan as the action follows a set
out sequence of the soldier’s progress up the
beach. However it is a commonly used
technique by director Christopher Nolan and
seen in this clip from Inception.
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmptU7vEkNU]
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