Speed/Style of Editing

Create a blog post describing speed and style of editing. Include examples and screen grabs. Your post MUST be illustrated.

Editing - Introduction

• Editing is the process of looking at all the footage shot during the making of a film/TV programme and placing it in the desired order and joining it together

Editing - Introduction• There are two key areas to concentrate on with

editing:1. Speed of Editing – How long does each shot last?2. Style of editing – How each shot is joined to the

next?

Speed of Editing• In a film each scene may last a matter of seconds, or it

could continue for minutes but the length of each sequence establishes the pace of the film moving the action along. • The speed of editing will help to determine the mood

of what is taking place on screen

Speed of Editing• If the audience is to feel anxiety and suspense the editing will be

quick – the scenes/shots changing frequently. For example in an action sequence.

The Bourne Ultimatum

Speed of Editing• If a relaxed mood is desired, the scenes last longer and change less

frequently. For example in a romantic comedy.

Sleepless in Seattle

Speed of Editing• Nevertheless a film need

not have any editing. The film Russian Ark was filmed in one take using a steadicam and a digital camera. This required split-second timing and organisation.• http://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=pRm9pX5Re8o

Speed of Editing• A trailer for a film needs to

pack in detail from throughout the film. Therefore the editing will be very fast.• View the trailer for the film

The Man in Iron Mask• Count the number of edits

that take place. • https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=QzkiwVXsuJQ

Speed of Editing• Scenes at the beginning of a film - as it begins to tell

its story – must be long enough for us to be able to understand where we are and what is going on. It is also slow to introduce the main character(s).•As the film progresses scenes may become shorter as

the editing cuts between telling two or more storylines at the same time

Speed of Editing• For example - compare the pace in the opening

sequence of Spiderman with an action sequence from later in the film• Try to gauge the average length of shot in each

sequence

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW7m5MEzfrk

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqYHg-Ue_Cc

Speed of Editing• View the extract from Psycho where

Marion (Janet Leigh) has checked into the Bates Motel and is about to take a shower…

1. Watch the sequence again and count the number of edits a) before the attack b) during the attack

2. How does the speed of editing match the action?

3. Why do you think that the scene contains so many edits? What do you actually see?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WtDmbr9xyY

Speed of Editing

SummaryIt is important to consider:• how quickly or slowly the shots appear in a sequence• how long they appear on screen for.• EXTRACT: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP9cfQx2OZY

Style of Editing•How shots are linked together •The movement from one shot to the next is called a transition.

Straight Cut• Most common and “invisible” form of transition.

• One shot moves instantaneously to the next without attracting the audience’s attention.

• Straight cuts help retain reality. They do not break the viewers suspension of disbelief.

Fades• A gradual darkening or lightening of an image until it becomes black

or white.

• One shot will fade until only a black or white screen can be seen. Used to:• indicate the end of a particular section of time within the narrative.• Can show the passing of time• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bup_zehvBo

Exercise• View the extract from Citizen Kane (1941)• Identify the following:• Straight cuts• Dissolves• Fades• How are these used? What effect do they create?• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nYkyWQ-20w

Wipes• One image is pushed off the screen by another.• Images can be pushed left or right.• It is more common for the image to be pushed off the left-hand side

as this movement is more consistent with the sense of time moving forward.

Used to:• signal a movement between different locations that are experiencing

the same time.

Wipes• E.g. used extensively in the Star Wars films• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z72bJXrVko4

Jump Cut• A jump cut is where the audience’s attention is brought into focus on

something very suddenly• This occurs by breaking the continuity editing.• This is known as discontinuity• It appears as if a section of the sequence has been removed

Jump Cut• Continuity

• Jump Cut

Jump Cut

• The gap in action (when Seberg picked up the mirror) is emphasised by the use of a jump cut.

Used to:• startle the viewer• draw attention to something• EXTRACTS – Breathless• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KUVwKp6MDI

From the filmBreathless (1960)