Why do we edit film? Film editing is used to tell a story to the viewer
which creates rhythm. Editing is also used to create a sense of time and place
for example fast motion which shows time passing rapidly. We also edit films
because producers can get rid of their unwanted footage. As producers want
their films to be interesting they will not want to keep unnecessary footage
because they want to keep their audience interested. By editing film this also
lets the director cut to a different setting’s and sceneries however the film
will still flow otherwise the film could be very long and boring as each scene
is taking so long to get too. You can cut in films to bring scenes together
faster which still remains appropriate to the film.
Early filmmaking developed in France, USA and Britain in the
1890’s. Early films were not edited as their audience soon became bored.
The earliest films in the 1900’s were all done in camera, meaning there was no
editing involved and the entire film was filmed in order. They would be seen in
theatre showing just one reel of film played once. The Great Train Robbery is a
1903 Western film written, produced and directed by Edwin S. Porter. This film
was 12 minutes long. The film used a number of techniques including cross
cutting. Cross-cuts were a new sophisticated editing technique for that
particular time.
Editing
has allowed films to become more interesting for audiences through aspects such
as camera angles, narrative, actors and many more. In D.W Griffiths film ‘House
of Darkness’, there was use of some aspects of editing and fades but compared
to the 21st Century films have changed a lot due to the type of
software that we have and the type of technology and the knowledge. Below
is D.W Griffiths – House of Darkness.
There is
a clear difference between the films to this day than in the early years as
editing makes a film more interesting and fun to watch.
Comparing
the ‘D.W Griffiths – House of Darkness’ to the films these days such as Batman,
Batman use a lot of special effect and different camera angles to create an
interesting and exciting film to watch. By using all the different techniques
it creates a film the audience want to see. Below is trailer of The Dark
Knight Rises.
By
comparing both the two it is clear to say that editing makes a film a lot more
appealing and attention-grabbing as apposed to a film with no cuts or edits
because they have to play all of what they have filmed rather than cutting to
different parts in the film.
The Lumiere Brothers
The Lumiere Brothers were two brothers that on February 13th 1895 they had invented their own device combining a camera with printer and projector and called it the Cinématographe. The Cinématographe was patented on 13th February 1895 and the first footage ever to be recorded using it was recorded on March 19th 1895. This film was known as La Sortie de l'Usine Lumière à Lyon and showed workers leaving the Lumiere factory in France. This was often referred to as the first moving picture. Below is a link of the clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nj0vEO4Q6s
This Youtube video shows the clip The Lumiere Brothers
The most
famous Montage editing technique is used in Psycho (the shower scene). In
cinema ‘The shower scene’ is Alfred Hitchcock's most famous scene. The whole
scene lasts 45 seconds and it required 7 days of shots and 70 camera positions.
Psycho is a 1960 American suspense/horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
In 1973
Saul Bass claimed that he storyboarded the shower scene and was permitted to
direct it. He had already mocked up a short reel to prove that the scene could
be done in montage. He said that as it was such a time-consuming scene Alfred
Hitchcock stepped directed the scene instead. Alfred Hitchcock claimed that
although he had hired Bass to storyboard Arbogast's murder; he ended up not
using his montage.
Continuity/Realist
editing is the most common form of editing in television. This is instigated
during the Classic Hollywood cinema class narrative studio system of 1920-1960.
Continuity/Realist editing is the type of editing which follows certain rules
such as the 180 degree rule. The 180° rule is where two characters who are in
the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each
other. If the camera passed over the line the audience would become confused as
the viewer guesses the relationship has been broken as they no longer have the
same left and right.
Below is
an example of the 180 degrees rule.
As you
can see by the clip above technically the rule is broken but this scene shows
how if you are going to break it. You have to do is ensure that both characters
are in frame in both the shot and reverse-shot. To understand where the line is crossed, 40 seconds-2.05 minutes they are both looking to the left of
frame. This would indicate crossing the 180 degree line but because they are
both framed in every shot the viewers are not disorientated.
Fast
Cutting editing is used to build suspense when watching film and tension. An
example of this is ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’ which was released in 1966.
It is an Italian western film directed by Sergio
Leone. Below is a clip of the finale of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
By looking at the clip there is definite tension as the clip goes on.
The editing techniques used to create suspense and tension is a combination of the use of
music, close-ups and the length of the shots getting shorter and shorter. The
music is very dramatic by getting louder and quieter as the clip goes on. In
some points the music can occur very loud. When the music becomes quieter the
audience suspects something will happen which puts the audience on the edge of
their seats because the music is so tense and the awkwardness of the actors in
the scene. As the clip goes on the close up’s get closer and closer for example
close up’s of their face, then their eyes. This makes the scene very tense
because you can interact with the actor’s emotions.
Cross-Cutting/Parallel
editing is the use of alternative shots from two sequences. This editing
technique is used to give a sense both scenes are happening and taking place at
the same time. Below is an example of this is from DW Griffiths Corner in
wheat.
This
scene uses cross cutting to create an emotional response as it shows the
wealthier people having a dinner party. The dinner party includes a lot of food
and the people involved are wearing suits and luxurious dresses however in the
other scene there are poorer people who are struggling to get food to feed
herself and her child. An example of this is when you can see in the clip the
poorer people are having a conversation about the bread and they have to give
it the man back after seeing the sign below the stool. This editing technique
in clip puts life into perspective and shows the viewers how different people
live. By using this technique it is good to see two scenes one after another
with the thought they are happening at the same time.
Shot
reverse shot is an editing technique where one character is shown
looking at another character and then the other character is shown looking back
at the first character. Below is a clip using this editing technique.
Since the
characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that
they are looking at each other.This editing technique is where one character is
shown looking (in this clip off-screen) at another character, and then the
other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the
characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that
they are looking at each other. For example in the clip 17 seconds in the male
actor looks at the other actor and the camera is just focused on him and the
viewer assumes he is looking at the female actor. This happens again 21 seconds
in when the female actor is looking at the male actor. This editing technique
is clever because the actor may not be necessarily looking at the other actor
however the technique is trying to show they are.
Slow-motion
editing is most commonly used in films to add dramatic moments. A lot of
slow-motion editing is used in violent scenes. Below is a clip used in the film
Raging Bull. This film is a 1980’s American biographical sports drama directed
by Martin Scorsese.
By
looking at the fight scene from the film Raging Bull, slow-motion editing
occurs. 36 seconds into this clip one boxer punches the other and this is when
the slow motion occurs. This creates tension in the film and suspense. By using
slow motion it helps the audience get a better view of the reaction after the
boxer has been punched.
Fast-motion
editing is used to fast forward passing time. A film example of fast-motion is
used in Amelie which is a romantic comedy Film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
and written by Jeunet with Guillaume Laurant. This film was released in 2001.
Unfortunately there isn’t a video on Youtube showing this clip.
During
the film Amelie, the director uses editing techniques such as fast-motion for
instance when Amelie forgets a letter from her landlady’s lover to help the
landlady heal a broker heart they use fast-motion on this scene. By using this
technique it compresses time and separates the fast-motion scene from the rest
of the film. This is very effective because they help speed up the film.
Jump-cut
editing is a transition between shots which is disorienting such as space and
time. For example the shots are on the same subject which is taken from camera
positions that slightly vary. This editing technique gives the effect of
jumping forward in time. Below is an example of the use of Jump Cuts in the
film Breathless which is a 1960 French film directed by Jean-Luc Godard.
Jean-Luc Godard’s use
of jump cuts would focus in on a character and as they spoke, the camera would
jump cut to another scene while still focusing to the same character sitting in
the same chair or car and the character continuing their dialogue. The scenery
around them changes around them changes but the dialogue stays. This gives the
intention that the two actors have been talking for quite some time. This
editing technique is good for passing time.
The
Cutting on action editing technique is used where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches
the first shot's action. For example if two shots have actually been shot hours
apart from each other the editing technique cutting on action gives the
impression of continuous time when watching it after it has been edited.
In the film Alain Resnais's - Muriel ou Le temps d'un retour which was
released in 1963 they use the cutting on action technique. Cutting on action is
used, instead of accentuating the continuity elements of the action, to trick
and confuse the viewer.
A
Straight Cut is an editing technique which is a basic cut. For instance two
shots will be edited closely together as one shot quickly ends another quickly
begins.
The
editing technique ‘Dissolve’ consists of a gradual transition from one image to
another. An example of this editing technique used is in the opening scene of
Citizen Kane which is a 1941 American drama film,
directed by Orson Welles. Below is a clip of the opening scene.
During
the opening scene the camera introduces the estate using the dissolve editing
technique. Each dissolve shows the audience a different part of the estate.
This has been done so they don’t have to film all the estate therefore they
chose to film multiple shots. Each view of the estate is shown however they
still remain connected by the editing technique dissolve.
The
editing technique ‘Fade’ consists of an image from normal brightness to a black
screen. This is called a fade-out. A fade-in is the opposite. In film editing
this signifies the passing of time.
The
editing technique ‘Wipe’ is an editing device which is usually a line that
travels across the screen which is usually pushing off one image revealing
another.
