FILM LANGUAGE Editing

 Sequences the shots into something that makes sense for the audience, in terms of time and space.  Most common editing technique in use today is called ‘Continuity Editing’

Continuity Editing  Makes sense of the spatial (space) relationships  Progresses events  Shows reactions to previous actions  Allows the film to shift through time  Gives the film rhythm  Calls the audience’s attention to significant objects / characters / events in the narrative

Making Sense of Space Continuity Editing

Spatial Relationships  The Establishing Shot  All edits should be motivated  Action / Reaction  Eye-Line Match  180 degree rule  Shot Reverse Shot  Match on Action  Diegetic Sound

The Establishing Shot

The Eyeline Match

180 Degree Rule

Shot

Reverse Shot

Match on Action

Making Sense of Time Continuity Editing

Time Relationships  Fade In / Out  Ellipsis  Slow Motion  Parallel Editing  Flash Back

Parallel Editing

Silence of the Lambs Fooling the Audience

Bullet Time (Slow Motion)

Cutting Speed

‘PSYCHO’ In this sequence, note where and when the editing changes pace and to what effect.

Style

Editing Styles  Straight cut  Fade out  Dissolve  Wipe  Jump cut

Transition Style

The Star Wars Wipe

Spud’s Interview

ANOTHER STYLE OF EDITING IS CALLED…

Used to show a passing of long periods of time and progression of a character or relationship. Montage Editing

Montage Sequence

“...montage is an idea that arises from the collision of independent shots“ Eisenstein Soviet Montage

Battleship Potemkin (1925) Eisenstein

GRAPHIC MATCH

Example 1

Example 2

Graphic Match

Editing Controls Text Progression: Picture relationships Rhythmic relationships Time relationships Space Relationships