An introduction to editing.
What is editing?
Editing is selecting from different shots, and joining together to create a story.
What is Elliptical editing?
Elliptical editing is when the story is moved on more quickly, filling in gaps, this takes up less time on screen.
Why are long shots used?
A long shot is used so the shot is in and out of focus.
What is ‘non-diagetic sound’?
Non-diagetic sound is music is added to create tension and unease for the character. The viewers can hear the music but the character can’t.
How do we know she is bending down to pick up the ring? (What shots are used and why?)
She looks down on the right as she bends down the editor chooses to show us the ring, This tells the viewer that is looking at the ring. The director could have shown a longer shot of her bending down all the way; cutting the 2 shots it was a quicker way.
Hussel
Overhead establishing shot – what does this achieve?
In a overhead establishing shot the director set out the space and the characters position in the room,
What is Shot-Reverse-Shot?
Reverse shot is when the camera cuts back and fourth between two characters in conversation. Though they are not seen together in the same shot the viewer knows they are in conversation.
What is Eye-line matching?
Eye line matching is when two characters are looking at each other the viewer know this from looking at the angle of the characters eyes. For example when the man standing up looks off screen and down and the man sitting down looks off screen and up.
Why do we cut to the other members of the group?
The editor cuts to the other members of the group individually and in two shots, this is to see their faces and the reaction to the plan and towards each other.
What is a wipe?
A wipe is used to move the shot to another location and time the editor chooses a diagonal angle to show the viewer a disoriented view of a building site, the wipe fits in with trendy hip style of Hussel.
What is the effect of using quick cuts?
The con artist have to work quickly and the idea is used in the shot by using quick cuts they used 26 shots some of the shots were long and others lasted a second or two, this created a fast rhyme which moved the story along and the viewers interested in watching.
Editing: The Invisible Art
What is crosscutting?
Crosscutting is when shots change frequently, from one character to another from long shot to close up.
What are reaction shots?
Reaction shots are used to build tension this keeps the story moving along and the audience interested.
What is seamless editing?
Seamless editing is when the work of the editor is not noticed. Seamless editing keeps the viewer engaged and the viewer doesn’t have time to think about how it is put together.
What is a jump cut?
Jump cut is when the editor makes the audience think about the editing and also lets the audiences think about the film making process.
What is a flash back and what does it achieve?
A flash back is used to take the audience from one point in time to another; they are used to show back-stories a key moment or period in a character life which explains how they got to where they are now. A flash back is used so the audience understands how the past is related to the present.
How can editing be used poetically?
Poetical editing is used to make the audience think about how the shots think about how the story is connected together.
Playing with time
In the film The Gloaming the editor starts off with a poetic start, a woman and a man who have just got married riding a motorbike across a field, we don’t see the mans face. Then the editor uses elliptical editing by moving the story along and now the woman is walking alone and looks frightened, the editor uses a medium close up shot as she looks around and eventually turns around. The editor uses the flash back shots, then the editor returns to the scene of the women before the second flash back and once gain before the third flash back. Before the third flash back the editor cuts to the lake, this makes the audience feel as though they are in the water. After the flash back the women looks down towards her right, as the women bends down the editor then cuts to the ring. This helps the audience understand what the woman is looking at. The editor focuses on the woman’s hand picking the ring up. As the woman looks directly at the ring poetic music plays and then the editor goes into another flash back, then the editor cuts back to the woman looking at the ring and the poetic music continues to play, this makes the audience feel that the character is very intense. The editor uses another flash back the editor also uses a long shot of the woman sitting by the fire, then a close up shot is used of the woman burning the paper the audience also get a glace of the man, as the paper burns away the woman falls asleep and another flash back is played. Two flash backs are played and the music end at the beginning of the second flash back. Then sounds of the wind and birds and the natural world around her. As the woman enters the caravan the editor uses non-diagetic sound this creates tension for when the women moves the towel and screams, before the towel is moved there is a shot of the towel this is so the audience know what the woman is looking at. Then the editor uses a wipe and also a long shot of the woman sleeping on the grass alone near a fireplace. After the long shot the editor uses an out of focus blurry close up, this might makes the audience feel a little seasick. A close up shot is used when the woman looks around as she looks around she has very quick flash backs of the man. The editor then uses the lake and also has the woman walking towards the lake, and then the woman fades away into the clouds.
The editor’s role
The editor works closely with the director before shooting, this is so the editor can decide what type of screenplay to create. Editors begin their work in the cutting room. The editor has to check technical standards and has to create a story and the actors’ performance. This is because scenes are shot and edited out of sequence. The editor takes the takes that are best and edits them together, when the film is finished the editor spends hours reworking through scenes to cut them together to create a rough assemble. The editor and director work closely together to refine the assembly edit into the directors cut, which them has to be approved by the producers. When the picture edit is given the final approval the editors work on the music, track laying and the sound mix. Editors are usually one of the key heads of department; they are also responsible for first assistant editors on bigger productions, also second assistants and trainees. Directors often work long hours, and they are usually under pressure in an edit suite or cutting room. Editors are employed by producers they are usually freelancers. Sometimes with the approval of the film's financier, this is down to their experience and reputation. Editors work on feature films and on television drama. The process of becoming an editor is that they start off as runners then trainees, second assistant, first assistant and finally become an editor. Trainees need a minimum of two years training to progress onto assistants working on low budgeted films for a period of time. From time to time big budgeted film productions take on trainee and second assistants to keep up to date with films in preproduction. All editors must have a degree, and a plenty of experience in the post production process, they have to know how to use range computer editing equipment. Editors have to be creative under pressure, they have to have a rhythm in timing and story telling they have to have good communicational skills and work well as a team leader. The editor has to have an understanding of narrative and good imaginational skills. They have to have good organizational, skills and they have to have good vision awareness. And they have to have knowledge if the health and safety requirements.
