Editing techniques script (Assignment 2)

I will start with the basic editing techniques and transitions.

The classic style of editing between two people (or an object) is called
“shot reverse shot”. Shot reverse shot is a technique where one
character (A) is looking at another character off screen (B) and then the
other character (B) is shown looking back at the first character (A). In
other words this is the 180 degree rule.

the 180 degree rule is a guideline where two characters in a scene

should maintain the same (left and right) distance, when the camera
passes over the invisible axis connecting the two subjects (AKA crossing
the line) the shot becomes a reverse angle which then messes up the
whole shot becomes the reality is lost and the audience becomes
confused. This goes all the way back to classic Hollywood.

In order to make this technique work it is important to make sure the

actors eye lines match, or the actor eye line matches to what they’re
looking at. This helps keep the reality and less confusion to the
audiences.

The 30 degree rule helps makes this possible. In the 180 degree rule
you must also make sure you don’t break the 30 degree rule. The 30
degree rule is a guideline which states the camera should move at least
30 degrees between shots of the same subject (but also keeping the 180
degree rule). George Melies used it for his film “A Trip to the Moon” so
the technique has been out for a long time.

If you break the 30 degree rule the character will look like he is jumping
from one side to another, this again will cause confusion to the audience
and will lose the reality of the film. The film also becomes jumpy and
confusing.

Following the 180 and 30 degree rule helps keep the reality in a film. It is
a simple technique to do but it is effective in film, but if done wrong the
whole scene will have to be re shot.

Match on action (jump cut) is a technique more advanced and is hard to

do, but when it works it looks really good. Match on action is when
transitions/camera angles match perfectly to make an illusion of reality.
For example filming someone walking, going from a full body shot to a
close up of the feet- the feet should match the moving body perfectly.
This is important because it creates a sense of reality. A good example
of this is “The matrix”

Dissolves is a transition where an image is fading to another image.

They are used for many reasons such as a change in time, change in
location, time needs to be speeded up or slowed down, there is an
emotional component to the subject in the story, and when there is a
strong visual relationship between the outgoing and incoming images. It
was part of the French New Wave and used to be used quite a lot when
first invented, but hardly used in newer films made today.

Fades (fade in and fade out) is a transition to symbolise the end or a

beginning of a story, chapter, film, Tv show or video. They help the
audience see that one story has ended and a new one is beginning.
They’re not normally used in films but most commonly used in Tv shows.
The technique is very similar to “Dissolves”.

Wipe is a transition when the director is moving from one scene to

another (leaving one story and joining another). The most common used
wipe is the “invisible wipe” this is where a camera follows a person into
another room by tracking parallel to the actor. You see the use of wipes
is in Star wars all of the time because a lot of things are going on at
once, for example Luke Sky Walker flying of two space and then the
scene will change to the Death Star. The important thing about Wipes is
that they should always link just like they do in Star Wars. George Lucas
(the director of Star Wars) uses this technique inspired by Akria
Kurosawa.

Match cut helps match two different shots together showing a

relationship between them. These are commonly used in Mexican Stand
offs and duels. The transition creates a simple reality effect.

Alternative editing

Alternative editing is different to classic continuity editing. These are

often not connected with making sure the viewer is seeing believable
space in front of them. However they can still manipulate the audience
as the viewer has suspended their belief.
Montage this editing technique is when seemingly unconnected shots
are spliced to together to produce further, often a symbolic meaning. For
example a shot of a teacher and then it changes to a shot of smiling
children, this makes the audience think the children have having a fun
lesson. The shots are made to link even though they are completely
unconnected.

New Wave Editing, the purpose is where the rules of continuity editing
are deliberately broken to create ‘visible’ editing. For example the
French New Wave often made their films look ‘bad’ and unrealistic on
purpose. They did this by using jump cuts so the scenery changes and
the actors have moved within seconds. They also used unedited footage
(Rushes). They did this because they want the audience to know what
they are watching is not real.

Superimposition- superimpositions work like dissolves showing us two

different images at once (often one layered on top of another). Again
similar to a dissolve they suggest a connection between the two images.

Split-screen- it has a lot of uses. It could be used alongside montage to

show two screens happening at the same time. It can allow us to watch
two events, it can show two different versions of events eg expectation
and reality. It can also show us different angles of action happening.

Temporal effects (slow motion- speed up)

Slow motion- is the technique where it allows you to exaggerate certain
things and moments, also it lets the audience appreciate the images. It
could also be used to allow audiences to details that they might have
missed because it happens than the human eye can see. For example
blood going everywhere in a fight scene.

Speed up motion- is the technique where you can explain events in a

quick fashion (like telling a story which isn’t that relevant) or it can be
used to represent comedy and it can show comedic effect.
They both can also be used together for great dramatic effect or for
creating a rhythm and a pace in action. This technique is also known as
speed ramping.

Freeze frames- they force audiences to look at one particular shot, it can
be used for to freeze action at critical times and are perfect for narration.
Limited/no cutting- this technique forces the audience to think about
what they’re seeing, it is supposed to make them feel claustrophobic and
uncomfortable.

Visual effects- the audience is supposed to know what is being seen is

not supposed to be in the film world, the audience is supposed to know
what they’re seeing is made by special effects and is not reality.