Analysis of editing techniques

History and development of film

Editing is the post production part of film making and is how visual and audio material is combined. It's purpose is to make a sequence in order to present a narrative or idea to the audience and create a visual art form. Not every media text has a constant narrative and meaning is usually created through how it is edited instead. This idea was demonstrated by Lev Kuleshov in 1910 and his use of cuts between someone facing the camera and then the thing the person was looking at to create emotion and meaning within the shots.

Editing has changed dramatically over the years with the basic 'cut' originally meaning to physically cut the film and splice together again. Nowadays all editing is done digitally as it is much more practical than cutting and splicing bits of film by hand. Also digital editing allows non-linear editing as it gives you the ability to edit footage in whatever order you want as you can upload footage and access it whenever you want. However editing with film includes linear editing involving editing tape to tape with everything being edited in order. There are also other transitions used other than the normal cut to the next shot such as dissolve, fade, wipe etc. A fade out is where the shot turns to one colour (typically black) and a fade in is when the picture gradually appears on the screen. A dissolve is similar with the visibility of the picture gradually changing. Finally, a wipe involves one shot replacing another.

In early filmmaking there weren't any set rules. However gradually a system was developed in filmmaking which was designed to create an effortless effect and ensure there is no confusion for the the audience. This is now known as the continuity system and it is made of a series of rules to follow. These rules include establishing shots, the 180 degree rule, shot-reverse-shot, match cuts on action and eye line match-cuts.

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Visual analysis 

At 0:54 there is an establishing shot. This is a shot that is typically the first shot of a new scene and it's purpose is to set the scene by showing the audience where the action is happening. Usually establishing shots are wide shots so that the can fit in large landscapes or buildings. In this particular extract the shot starts off as a wide shot and then pans in to show the audience where in particular the next shot and the action is taking place.

http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/establishing.html

At 2:38 and 2:46 is an example of a shot-reverse-shot. This is a technique used to show two characters interacting from both sides giving the audience better spacial awareness of where the characters are positioned. It also builds tension and excitement as in this example the audience can see what is about to happen and then after see what the effect of what happened was on the other character. This shot was successful because it also follows the 180 degree rule. This rule outlines the rules for the on screen relationship being established between two characters. When considering the 180 degree rule you must imagine there is a line between through the characters and the camera must not pass onto the other side. This is to ensure there is no confusion about where the characters are positioned.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_reverse_shot

At 4:16 and 4:17 are match on action shots. This is where action begins in one shot and ends in the next. The shot is taken from a different view point but matches whatever is happening in the first shot. The purpose of this technique is to create an idea of continuous time for the audience and makes the cut smoother by making it less noticeable. In these shots the robber reaches for volt lock and then it cuts to him spinning the lock round.

http://www.slideshare.net/joe940/match-on-action-180-rule-shot-reverse-shot

At 3:31 and 3:32 is an eye-line match cut. This is where the first shot shows someone looking out of the frame and then it cuts to the second shot shows the audience what they are looking at. In this case the man is looking at one of the robbers who is out of the frame and pointing a gun towards him. In the second shot you see the robber on the floor and the bullet nearly hit him. This is also a point of view shot as the camera is positioned from the mans point of view when it cuts to the shot of the robber on the floor. It also pans along as the robber is trying to get away, giving the impression that hes walking and the shot is literally from his point of view. A POV shot is a camera and editing technique that helps the audience feel as though they are looking through the eyes of the character.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeline_match

Screen time is distributed usually depending on who the main character/s are in that scene. For example in the clip above the camera is mainly following and focusing on the robbers rather than anyone else in the scene. Also the first clip focuses on one robber in particular using longer shots at 1:28 and 2:05. This is because he is revealed to be the main antagonist in the story and therefore needs more screen time for the audience to form relationship with the character.

conclusion 

In the clip a variation of editing techniques have been used to add suspense and excitement as well as to construct the story line. They have used a lot of different shot variation such as at 1:23 the shot
goes from a long shot to a mid close up. This is effective as the long shot focuses on the character and the close up helps the audience direct and focus their attention on the mask. Both the character and the mask is later revealed to have significance as he is actually the main antagonist. This is an example of providing and withholding information which is also another technique used to generate suspense.In this particular example of withholding information the jokers identity is cleverly hidden from the camera when he has his mask off as the shot is from behind. This is done on purpose as the beginning of the storyline depends on his identity being hidden.

http://expertinediting1.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/shot-variation.html
http://esraelalem.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/providing-and-withholding-information.html

This scene also exemplifies the use of parallel editing as it keep switching between the different robbers and what they are doing. Parallel editing is where it is alternating between two or more scenes that are happening at the same time. It's purpose is to create tension as the audience can see all the action that is simultaneously happening. In this clip the cutting between the different action is vital in creating suspense for the end of the scene when the joker is revealed. At 2:55 a cutaway shot has been used. This is a shot of something outside of the main action but is still related to what is happening. In this case the robbery is taking place but it cuts to a shot of the man still in his office looking concerned. Cutaway shots act as a reaction shot and helps the composition of the film. Editing rhythm is used to create pace within the film. Slow cuts create a more calming feel whereas fast cuts indicate excitement and action. In the clip this is editing rhythm has been used to build tension by using quick cuts between the different robber and what they are doing.

http://www.elementsofcinema.com/editing/parallel-editing/
http://www.videomaker.com/article/13850-the-art-of-the-cutaway
http://rachelhubbell.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/editing-rhythm.html

As you can see from the clip many of the continuity system rules as well as various different types of shots are shown. However there were a a couple of important shots that they did not use in this clip. These shot types were a close up and a reaction shot. Here is an example of a close up from another clip from The Dark Knight. In this part of the film they have used a close up shot. A close up tightly frames an object or person and focuses on it. They have used this shot to display more detail of the Jokers scary image to create tension.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close-up

In this very famous scene from Psycho they have used a reaction shot. This shot is used to capture emotion in facial expressions. It's achieved by cutting away from the main action to typically a close up of a facial expression reacting to something.

http://www.elementsofcinema.com/editing/what-is-a-reaction-shot-in-movies/

The clip also doesn't show a few important editing techniques such as montage, cutting to soundtrack, multiple points of view and jump-cuts. I have found examples of each of these techniques in various clips below. Firstly a montage is where different clips are put together and are usually edited to a fast pace to construct the idea of time passing. In this clip from Rocky montage editing has been used to show months of training in just a few minutes.

http://www.elementsofcinema.com/editing/montage.html

Cutting to soundtrack is an editing technique where the pace of the cuts and action depends on the soundtrack. For example in this scene from The Fast and the Furious they have used fast music to depict the mood of the car chase and build tension and excitement for the audience. However if the scene was a sad one slow music would be used along with slower cuts.

http://aefave.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/conventions-and-techniques-16-cutting.html

Multiple points of view can be shown by cutting from one character to another. This enables the audience to see the action happening from different perspectives. This was done in this scene from Magnolia to show the action happening in different places and to different people.

http://videofilmeditingdb.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/multiple-points-of-view.html

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A jump cut is an editing technique that creates a transition between two shots and creates a jarring, disoriented effect. For example in this clip from Snatch jump cuts are used at 3:34 and 3:38 to create a chaotic effect whilst the action is taking place.

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