The Development & Principles of Editing

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.

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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



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.

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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 ]



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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The Development & Principles of Editing