Unit 16 - Identify and analyse editing techniques

Definition's

Continuity/ match on action - This editing technique makes the film flow smoothly and correctly as it unfolds consistently. This editing technique is about creating action whilst making the audience not notice the edits. For example, a film that has good continuity editing is the star wars fight scene. Using continuity in a fast paced scene like this made the audience excited and interested as to what happen next in the scenes. This is because when watching this the audience don't notice the edits but it also stops them from getting bored from the scene as they eager to see what happens next.

180 degree rule - This is when a camera should be placed somewhere inside 180 degrees on a particular side of the invisible line shot where two people will be filmed. The two characters should always have a left/right relationship to each other. It is usually used when people are having a conversation and are opposite each other. It allows the audience to see unseen movement. An example, of a film that uses this is the pulp fiction diner scene. The use of using this editing technique is by making the film looking realistic to the audience. This keeps them more entertained as they believe what they are watching is real, letting them get lost in the movie.

Cutting to the beat - This is when a scene cuts to a beat or a significant beat in the music to make a scene stand out. For example, using this in a movie will give it more attention as it would engage the audience to the scene. Using this would also emphasis the lyrics if the movie wants to get a clear message across to the audience.  A movie that cuts to a beat is despicable me. This is when the movie goes from soft music to an upbeat party music which would get the audience get into the music more due to the sudden change. It would also make them excited and entertained as the theme has been changed putting them into the same mood as the characters.

Shot-reverse-shot - This is when action between two characters are shown looking at each other.  An example, of a movie that uses shot-reverse-shot is dinner scene in the wolf of wall street. This shot makes the audience think they are looking at each other directly. Using this in a film involves the audience into the dialogue and the story making them apart of the movie. In this scene using shot-reverse-shot is important to use as this scene also lets us see the others reaction when they are talking. The different personalities would also make it very interesting to see what the other is thinking at each scene. As Leonardo Dicaprio is very shy while Matthew McConaughey's character is very talkative and excited making this scene interesting for the audience, to know what the other is going to say and what their reaction will be like.

Montage - The technique of selecting, editing, and piecing together separate sections of film to form a continuous whole. It is used in fast paced and tells a story. An example, of this is hot fuzz. The opening sequence to the film starts of straight away with the person telling the audience his story and the quick scenes to go with it. This is used to inform the audience and to make them get into the film as the film starts of intense which would make them want to watch more. 





Jump cuts - This is an abrupt transition that goes from one scene to another. This would be used to scare the audience by making the audience jump in fright from what they see. An example, of this being used is in the shinning. When the little boy sees the two little girls it jumps to us seeing them dead which would make the audience scared from the abrupt jump cut. 








Cutaways - Cross cutting is mainly used in film editing and is where the camera will cut away from one piece of action to another piece of action. It is used to make a sequence longer. Family guy is a great example that uses cutaway, as throughout the series they are always using this type of technique when they are showing something funny. This sort of cutaway would make the audience laugh when they see certain things been shown. 








Parallel editing - Parallel editing (also known as cross-cutting), is a film editing  technique of continuity editing  that establishes the relationship between two subjects by cutting from one to the other. One of the most important effects of the parallel edit is that of simultaneous, suggesting that two events occur at the same time. An example, of a movie that uses parallel editing is inception in the synchronized kick. This is parallel shot between the dream world and real world. This is used to create anticipation for the audience as to now what would happen next. 



Transitions 


Wipes - this is when one shot replaces another by travelling from one side of the frame to another with a special shape. It helps to distinguish between two shots during the transition. An example, of a movie that uses transitions is star wars the empire strikes back. This is a good way to show changing location to the audience so it doesn't take up too much time and it looks good. 

Fade in/out - Fades can be used between shots to create a sort of cross fade which, for example, fades briefly to white before fading to the next shot. The movie black swan uses this transition during the ending when it fades to white. This makes the ending more dramatic for the audience as it just ends with a white light as they don't know what happens next. 






Dissolves - this effect layers two clips together so there is a seamless transition from one picture to another. A dissolve is a subliminal way to tell your audience that there is a passing of time, location or subject matter without flat out saying this. This would make the audience interested into the dissolve to see what would happen next. 

Graphic match - This a cut editing between two different objects, two different spaces or two different compositions in which two objects graphically match. This cut’s intention is to skip forward or backward in time while maintaining a continuity of action and creating a metaphorical link between the images that bookend the cut. It can serve comedic, dramatic. It can be used to gain a certain emotion from the viewer or if you want to gain attention from something. Its interesting for the audience to watch and would make them want to watch more.