Editing Techniques

Editing techniques

What is film editing?

Editing is the creative part you do in the post production stage of film-making. Editing is how visual and audio is combined. A film editor would work with the raw footage and select the shots he wants to combine together into a sequence to create a motion picture. The use of editing helps viewers not get confused and helps present the narrative for the audience and give meaning through edits. 

The term film editing is from the traditional process of working with film but now it increasingly involves the use of digital technology. When using the traditional process of film, film makers would use something called a film splicer. A splicer is a device which is used to physically join together lengths of photographic film. There is quite a few different types of film splicers such as a cement splicer, tape splicer, ultrasonic splicer and thermal paper splicers.

Continuity

Continuity editing is a system used to help the audience to understand the narrative without getting confused and help make each shot look smooth. This allows us to follow the action in a film without becoming aware of the constructed editing.

The continuity system consists of: Establishing Shot, Match on action, 180 Degree Rule, Shot-Reverse-Shot and Motivated editing (Eye-line match).

Establishing Shot - At 0:03 there is an establishing shot. An establishing shot helps tell the viewers the location where they are now with the characters. It shows us where everything is in the location so viewers won't get confused where the characters are. In this extract an establishing shot is used to show the viewers they have moved to a new location (The Arena). The establishing shot with panning is used to show the entire arena and helps and helps show the vast size of the arena.

180 Degree Rule - At 2:55 there is the use of a 180 degree rule. A 180 Degree Rule is when the camera stays on one side on a 180 Degree axis. This is used so the viewers don't get confused when watching the film, when shooting you will have to think about which side you want the camera to be when recording and then stay on that side. Until something changes or if there is a reason for you to switch sides. For example if you're filming two people on one side and then suddenly change to the other it will look like the characters on screen have switched places which may confuse your audience. In this extract the 180 Degree rule is used when Maximus and Commodus are fist fighting. This is used so the audience don't get confused in the action.

Shot-reverse-shot - At 5:45 there is a shot-reverse-shot. A shot reverse shot is where one character is shown looking at another character and usually having a conversation with them. Then the camera would cut to the other character looking back at the first character. The shot reverse shot helps show the audience characters having a conversation. Since the characters are facing opposite directions when the camera cuts to them, we assume they are looking at each other. In this extract a shot-reverse-shot is used when Lucilla is talking to Maximus on his dying breath. This is used to show the emotion on each of the characters faces and helps the audience connect to the scene.

Match on Action - Gladiator uses many Match on actions in this extract for example 1:38, 2:05, 2:58 are all Match on actions. A match on action is when an action begins in one shot and cuts to another shot finishing the action shown in the first shot. Match on action is used to make the action more exciting by using more than one shot. The action carries through creating a "visual bridge"which draws the viewers attention from slight cutting or continuity errors.

Eye-line Match - In my extract there is a eye-line match at 4:06 - 4:11. An eye-line match is when a character is looking off screen and the audience are wanting to view what the character is looking at on screen. The camera would then cut to thing the character is looking at. This is used to show what the character is looking at by not confusing the audience. If the character looks off screen and the camera cuts to an object the audience would instantly assume it's what the character is looking at. In my extract this is used many times from a spectator reaction watching the fight between Maximus and Commodus and then cutting to the them two fighting.

Identification of characters

Screen time - Screen time is how often we see characters on the screen. The main character in a film will have the most screen time. For example we would expect to see the protagonist on the screen for longer than any other character in the film. In my extract Gladiator this is the case, we see the protagonist, Maximus have the most screen time out of any other character. This is closely followed my the antagonist, Commodus.

            Protagonist                                                                                          Antagonist 

Point of view shots - In this extract there is a point of view shot used at 5:28 and 8:19, there is also many other POV shots used throughout this extract.  A Point of view shot is a shot looking from the characters perspective, this helps draws the audience into the scene by putting us into the characters shoes as if the audience are there as the character. A point of view shot is used when Maximus is dying and sees his wife and son in the field in the afterlife. This POV shot is used from Maximus's perspective looking at his family, this helps create emotion by putting the audience in Maximus's view as he finally sees his family again.

Reaction shot - In this extract there are lots of reaction shots used, a few examples of reaction shots in this extract are at 00:21, 1:08, 2:08 and 4:04. A reaction shot is a camera shot of a character's response to an event or statement made by another. A reaction shot is used when Maximus slashes Commodus arm and then the camera changes to the reaction of the crowd cheering. This tells the audience the crowd are rooting for Maximus to win the fight.










Close Ups - In this extract there is many close ups used, a few examples are used at 0:43, 0:45, 0:48 2:16, 2:22, 2,20 to 2:58(During the knife struggle between the two characters and Commodus death), etc. A close up is when the camera gets close to an object or person like just their face shown in the shot to see their facial expression clearly. Lots of facial close ups are used when Maximus and Commodus are fist fighting and struggling for the knife. close ups of the two characters fighting are used here to show their emotion, exhausted and struggling facial expression.

Jump Cuts - In this extract there wasn't a jump cut used. A jump cut is when two shots which are the same are slightly taken from a different camera position. This edit gives the effect of jumping forward in time, it makes the audience feel like they've moved ahead of time. Many jump cuts are used in the film Snatch, in the opening title sequence the characters are taking off their disguise and the camera position slightly changes causing the scene to go slightly ahead of time of them getting changed so the scene isn't too long and boring of them getting changed, it helps make the scene more interesting.

Montage - In my chosen extract a montage is not used. A montage is when a series of shots are edited together into a sequence. A montage is used to give the effect of the passing of time and the development of something. For example in Rocky 1 a montage is used when Rocky is training and shows a variety of different shots of Rocky exercising/training which are edited together to show his development and him getting better and better over a short period on screen but really its a lot longer in the film.

Cutting to Soundtrack - In my chosen extract cutting to soundtrack isn't used. Cutting to Soundtrack is when the pace of the cuts edited together compliments the soundtrack in the film depending how fast it is. For example a fast, upbeat soundtrack would have fast paced cuts and a slow while a sad soundtrack will have slow cuts and longer takes. 

Cutaways - A cutaway is when a continuously filmed action is interrupted by a different shot of something else in the same location, (if the shot is in a different location/scene it is called a cutaway scene.) It is then usually followed by a cutback of the first shot. It is used to help the editor assemble a longer sequence.

Editing Rhythm - Editing rhythm is similar to cutting to soundtrack however the pace of the edited cuts compliment the action in the film. For example a fight scene will have fast paced cuts, aggressive feel to the edit making the action on screen more exciting. While a sad scene of a character dying will have slow, steady and longer takes capturing every emotion and action making it sad and difficult to watch with the long takes.

Parallel Editing/Cross Cutting - My extract doesn't use cross cutting but it is used in Inception where the camera will cut to the characters are in the dream world and then cut back to the real world of them in a car chase happening at the same time. Here the shot consistently cuts back and fourth the two scenes. Crosscutting is when two actions are happening at the same time in different locations and the camera will keep cutting from one action to the other action.







Providing and Withholding Information - Withholding Information is when the audience know more information than the characters in the film or the audience are in the dark and trying to find out information for example a who did it murder film, the audience want to know/find out with the characters who is the killer, this keeps the audience on the edge of their seat. Providing Information is when the audience know information the characters don't  for example the audience know who the killer is who is in the same room as another character it will create more tension in the scene.