Task 1: Understand the Development and Principles of Editing

Task 1: Understand the Development and Principles of Editing

Development of Editing:

Shot Variation: It is important that when a film/television program is being made and edited for the moving image, that they film and use a variety of different shots. Sticking with the same types of shots can make the final product rather dull overall.

This video shows many examples of different shot types. All of the shots shown in this video are well-known in the media industry and are all used in film and television.

Multiple Points-of-View: Multiple Points-of-View is when the camera is used to show what is happening to more than one character. For example; in a fight scene, we will see what is happening to both people who are involved in the fight.

This video is a visual example of Multiple Points-of-View being used in the moving image. The film that is used to show these Multiple Points-of-View is 'Magnolia', which was released in 1999.

Following the Action: A follow shot (also known as a tracking shot) is when the camera follows the subject that is being filmed. They are normally used in films/television programs to create audience alignment with the viewpoint of the character being followed.

This video shows examples of some follow shots that are used in moving image. Most, if not all of this shots are used in modern day films and television programs.

In-Camera Editing: In a nutshell, in-camera editing is editing before digital editing existed. When digital editing was not available to mankind, film shots had to be filmed in order. It's near enough portable editing during the progression of filming something.

This video shows a modern example of in-camera editing. This also shows that old techniques are still used today, which is important to know. This is because nearly all editing is done digitally nowadays because of how far digital technology has come, however, it's important to remember that old techniques/ways of editing are still used today.

Purposes - Storytelling:

Engaging the Viewer:  In order to keep a product alive and active, a sustainable relationship between filmmakers and the audience is needed. The way they can do this is that they can allow the audience to participate in the storytelling of their films/television shows, which undoubtedly enables the viewer's emotions and imagination participate in the film/television show. Here is an interesting quote from a Russian film-maker.

"Never try to convey your idea to the audience - it is a thankless and senseless task. Show them life, and they'll find within themselves the means to assess and appreciate it." - Andrei Tarkovsky.

Development of Drama: For films and television shows that focus on drama, it is down to how the footage is edited that determines how intense the scenes can be. In drama films, many reaction shots are used to help show how one or more characters respond to a situation that has happened. 

Here are some examples of reaction shots, however, these reaction shots are from an animated film (Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs), not a drama film.

Creating Motivation: When producing moving image, creating motivation is key to keeping the audience intrigued. In order to correctly edit moving image, the editor has to always look for and identify motivation in their cuts/editing, which overall affects how the audience's feelings/emotions about the end product. Creating motivation incorrectly could ruin a great piece of moving image.

This scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a great example of successfully creating motivation in the moving image.

Creating Pace: Pacing is when the editor for a film or television program changes the length of the footage. Faster pacing suggests to the audience that what is happening visually is exciting. Slower pacing suggests to the audience that what is happening is relaxing/calm.

Here is an example of Faster Pacing in Moving Image. It is from the film 'Kingsman: The Secret Service'. It has a fast pace because near enough all of the visuals shown in this scene involves action, violence and death.

Here is an example of Slower Pacing in Moving Image. It is from 'The Godfather 2' and it has a slow pace because near enough all of the visuals shown in this scene involves dialogue, no action etc.

Conventions and Techniques:

180 Degree Rule: This is where a camera must remain on one side of an imaginary line that is drawn vertically to the camera's viewpoint in the beginning shot of a scene. An example of this rule is; a jogger is running from left to right. In the next shot she must enter the screen from the same side that she entered the previous one in, so she must enter from the left side. This is very important to follow when in the production for moving image and breaking this rule will most likely confuse the audience and more.

Continuity: To be able to produce a successful piece of moving image, continuity is very important. Continuity is a structure of cutting, which is used to keep narrative action strong, interesting and continuous. It does by following a few rules. 

The rules are to use the following:                       

    The benefits of continuity editing are:

Montage: Montage editing is the procedure where an editor cuts up film/footage and edits it into a screened sequence, and this is done to save time in a production. An example would be that an editor could take 20 minutes of footage of a women preparing for a marathon and edit it into a montage (which usually just has a soundtrack playing over it, not much dialogue etc.). The end result of the montage turns out to be 2-4 minutes. Just by doing a montage, the editor has saved over 15 minutes of time in the film, as well as has shown to the audience that the women has done many activities to prepare of a marathon.

Here is a visual example of montage editing. This montage from the film 'Rocky 4' shows the main character, Rocky, preparing for a big fight against a Russian boxer. This montage has a fast pace and it also uses music that helps show to the audience how much Rocky is working out and preparing for his fight.

Parallel Editing: This is an editing technique which consist of the editor cutting between two or more actions that are related and that happen in two locations that are separate/points that are different in time.

The following is a brilliant visual example of parallel editing in moving image that is from the film 'The Silence of the Lambs'.

Jump-Cutting: Jump-cutting in an editing technique for moving image where the editor cuts two shots of the same subject (the shots being consecutive) that are recorded from the same camera positions/angles (which could potentially differ). The effect that this editing technique is supposed to give off to the audience is that time has jumped/leaped forward.

Transitions: 

Cut: Cutting in editing is where you cut a piece of footage into many parts, which is possibly the most common part of editing, as well as trimming. Editors may cut for many different reasons, one of which could be cutting a clip in half to place a different clip in the middle.

Point-of-View Shot: A Point-of-View shot (also known as P.O.V) is when the camera is representing what a character sees in first person in moving image.

This is a small visual example of what a Point-of-View shot looks like. The shot shows someone looking down as they walk.

Fade: This is an editing effect where one shot fades out (normally to blackness) and the next shot fades in (from blackness to shot). This is one of the most common editing effects that are used, especially for learners, as it is simple to do and it can be used rather effectively.

This is a visual example of fading. As you can see in the video, one shot fades into blackness and the next shot appears from the blackness and leads to the actual shot.
  
Dissolve: This is an effect that is used in editing rather commonly. It's when one shot dissolves into the next shot. This means that you can still partly see the first shot for a small amount of time when the second shot appears.

This is a visual example of this effect. As you can see, one shot is still partly visible for a short amount of time when the next shot appears.

Crosscutting: This is an editing technique which is very commonly used in films. It is used to show action happening at the same time in two different locations. The camera will normally cut away from one piece of the action to another piece of action, and it usually has a fast pace.

This video shows a good, short and accurate visual example of crosscutting being used. It involves a man in a hoodie looking for and eventuality chasing after a women.

Wipe: This is an editing technique that involves one shot gradually being replaced by the next shot in a regular pattern. The wipe itself could vary between simple straight lines to multifaceted shapes. It is quite a common technique to use, as it is easy to use etc. If an editor wants to show a way of a change of viewpoint or location, this effect would be good to use.

This is a good, short and simple visual example of this transition taking place. In this video, it shows a teddy bear disappearing from a flat surface.