"Invisible Art" - The History of Editing

 An Editor is in control of the coordination of one sot to the next. They also remove unwanted or useless footage that serves no purpose towards the meaning of the movie.

Shot/Reverse Shot:

This is a filming technique where an actor is looking or having a conversation with another actor off-screen and then the shot focuses on the other actor and vice versa throughout the conversation. This type of filming technique is a part of the Hollywood style of 'Continuity Editing'. They refer to this as eye line match, which is transitions between shots between the two or more characters.

180 Degree Rule:

This next filming technique is where two shots edited together that alternate characters, typically in a conversation situation or an argument scene. Usually having one actors face one direction and then the other actor looking in the opposite direction but still facing each other.

30 Degree Rule:

Another filming technique is a guideline which states that the camera should move at least 30 degrees relative to the subject between successive shots of the same subject. if the camera moves less that 30 degrees, it can look like a jump cut which could distract the audience from the meaning or story, the video is trying to portray.

https://youtu.be/Sud_wMH7L18?t=57 

In this clip, between 0:57 and 1:05, it gives 2 clip examples of the difference between using and not using the 30 degree rule and you can see the noticeable difference.

Cut In:

This next filming technique is created in the post production process while editing the film or clip. The use of a cut is sudden in filming and can be used as a transition into another scene. As editing developed overtime, the cuts can be changed into things such as swiping or dissolving into another scene.

Crosscutting/Parallel:

Crosscutting is the technique of alternating two or more scenes. These scenes are typically happening at the same time in the film however in different locations, comparing the differences.

Establishing Shot:

An Establishing Shot is a extreme long shot or just a long shot, that presents a majority of important figures, objects in the scene may be important and the area they are in, as well as setting the scene. Body language and facial expression are key in this type of shot because that is what people tend to notice first and get a first impression from all the important characters.

These images are from 'The Shining' and this establishing shot give a extreme long shot of the hotel which the whole movie is based and shot around.

Match on Action:

This filming technique is when one shot cuts to another shot portraying the action of the subject in the first shot. Doing this creates a sense of continuity as the action carries on so it creates a 'visual bridge' which draws the viewers attention away from the obvious cuts and focuses onto the action occurring in the scenes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_u0LKmga5U 

This youtube clip give multiple examples of match the action and then examples of how the person who made the video actually used the into his wedding video. Showing how match the action can be used in any type of film or video.

Temporal Overlap:

Temporal overlapping is when you disturb the chronological order of a film or clip, this could be done by adding flashbacks or flash forwards to remind the audience of a memory or is just a key part of the story or meaning of the film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVd6CnKLPgY

This youtube clip is an example of a flashback in Ratatouille that gives the audience an understanding of a characters background which could be important to the storyline.

Kuleshov Effect:

This film editing effect is demonstrated by Lev Kuleshov, a Russian Filmmaker. He used this editing technique in 1910's and 1920's. His experiment consisted of cutting back and forth between a man and three different objects or subjects to see what emotion could be created with each cut. The Kuleshov effect was amazing at the time because it was able to show filmmakers that they could manipulate the audiences emotions with editing.

Eisenstein Montage:

A group of soviet filmmakers, lead by Lev Kuleshove began to experiment with film more intellectually. They used a structural device which allowed them to get to point A to point b without without wondering where you are. They used this idea with time and space in mind. So they applied meaning within a series of interlinking shots, essentially they were manipulating time and space which then became known as the 'Soviet Montage'.

Sergi Eisenstien was a part of this filmmaking group and his film made in 1925 called 'Battleship Potempkin' was known for pushing cinematic language even further. He did this by manipulating the audiences perception of time by stretching out the crowds flight down the steps for seven minutes, this would be much longer than it would take normally in real life.