Introduction to editing 16.1.1
Editing is the process of selecting different shots to tell a story. There are different aspects to editing e.g. elliptical editing. Elliptical editing is when two images are put together to condense time. Different shots are put together that allows the story to continue quickly.
Long shots are used in editing to get the geography of the surrounding. This is an establishing shot that makes the viewer feel that you are in the production. Another feature used is ‘non-diagetic sound’. For example; dripping water is a natural sound from the environment of a scene but there is a note of music playing quietly. We as the viewers can hear the music but the character cant. This adds suspense to the scene. In the scene of a short film, a girl is picking up a ring. Even though the editor didn’t show her physically picking up thee ring, we know the character is picking up the ring because she looks down out of the frame, then there is a close-up of the ring. After there's a close-up again of her holding the ring. These condenses time down and is quicker for the audience to realize what has occurred.
An overhead establishing shot is when the director sets out space where the action occurs and so the audience can view the characters position in their area. It portrays the logistics of the scene so that we may understand the relationship between the characters. Shot-reverse shot is when the camera cuts back and forth from characters either in a conversation or type of interaction so that we can understand the characters. We as the viewers assume they are in conversation.
Another thing that is used is eye-line matching. This is when two characters look in a matching angle towards each other. For example if a character is looking off screen down right, the other character will look up left, out of frame. This creates the illusion of them looking at each other. The precise angle margined is within 30 degrees. The camera cuts to the other individual members of the group to show their reaction. To move action to a different time and location, editors use a technique called “Wipe”. One style of wipe is disorienting the angle of the next setting. It could fit with a twisted genre of a piece. Quick cuts keep the audience engaged and a fast tempo. This could build suspense.
Another feature used to add to suspense is changing the pace of the shots. The number and frequency of scenes adds to tension. Shorter shots and more frequent shot selection contribute significantly. Pacing the editing condenses time and prevents the viewing from becoming long and boring.
Cross cutting condenses time between two scenarios. It’s when one character is shot then it moves to the next character. From a long shot to close-up, back and fourth. Reaction shots have the same effect. It cuts back to the other characters (audience) to show their reaction. This builds tension to a scene. Due to drama, sequence and the storyline of a movie we don’t acknowledge the editing. Us as the viewers exceptions take over the construction. This is known as ‘seamless editing'. The shots that are pooled together make you put a story together in our minds causing us to not be aware of the editing. A jump cut is a moment of discontinuity in editing and a flashback is where a scene cuts to another scene of a characters moment in life in a non-linear order
