Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Key conventions of editing


In editing, there are a few conventions or techniques that are followed to ensure a film is produced perfectly. I have put some links with each of the conventions. Try and identify the convention.
Continuity

This refers to the cutting process whereby shots are cut in a sequence where they flow fluently to form a logical coherence between shots. Continuity editing often focuses on one action using techniques such as match on action whereby different angles are shown of the same angle. Also, techniques such as an establishing shot help give the audience a wide view of the action before focusing on individual subjects. Continuity is often used during dialogues.


Parallel editing

This type of editing is used to show two actions simultaneously happening at once. To create this, cross-cutting is implemented between many shots which are often from different locations. First introduced by pioneers such as D. W Griffith in his 1911 film ‘The Lonedale Operator’, parallel editing simply portrayed cross-cutting between two different locations, however, much more digital films such as ‘Fast and Furious’ use parallel editing to show what different characters are doing at the same time but in slightly different locations.



Editing rhythm

Editing rhythm is one of the last post-editing processes done. It includes the pacing of shots, movements within shots and sound to make the footage more coherent thus having continuity. Editing rhythm includes changing the speed from slow motion to fast motion to normal pace, also working with sounds and cutting the action to the beat of the song. Editing rhythm results in varied shots; some will be long while others are short abrupt cuts. This contributes to Rhythm to the mood and impression that the viewer will have regarding the film.  It is a balance of all the footage.


Montage

This is a technique where many short shots are edited together into a sequence to form one whole footage. Space, time and information are condensed to fit into a timed sequence and often the shots are juxtaposed in a fast-paced motion. Montage was invented by the Soviet film maker Sergei Eisenstein in the 1920s and it was mostly used by the Soviet Union for propaganda as the fast-paced shots would cause the public to make quick conclusions.


180 Degree Rule

This rule covers the directions for the on-screen spatial relationship between a character and another character in a scene. Using an imaginary 180 degree line, that has two axis that connects two characters, the camera is situated in the middle of both characters. Therefore, the rule ensures that the characters look like they are in the same position and you can see both of them at once. This usually happens in interrogation scenes.


Crosscutting

Cross-cutting is a technique where shots are cut to show two different actions simultaneously. You usually see one scene then it cuts to another different scene and this can be continuously repeated.


Jump-cutting

Just like cross-cutting, jump-cutting is a change between two shots, however, the visual information which is what is shown in the shot doesn’t really change much. It can be from one side of someone’s head to another. It is often regarded a violation of continuity editing.


Transitions

This is a post-production technique used to combine shots together to create one finished product. These are the following types of transitions:

·         Cut – basically this is when a scene is cut from one shot to another

·         Dissolves – one scene is progressively mixed with another scene to create a softer and smoother transition. This can be done by pixelating a shot into another

·         Fade in/out – While fading in or out from one scene to another, the action will fade into a black screen and then fade into a new scene. If its fade in then it starts with a black screen, if its fade out then it finishes with a black screen. This happens a lot at the beginning or end of a film. 

Cutting to soundtrack
Cutting to the soundtrack is a technique where the editing is determined by the soundtrack that is played. Therefore, the action will be edited according to the beats of the song.


 

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