Speed/style of editing

Speed/style of editing By Viktorija Petronaviciute

Editing is the process of looking at all the footage shot during the making of a film or a TV programme and placing it in the desired order by joining it together with transitions etc. by using editing programmesThere are 2 key areas to concentrate on with editingSpeed of editing how long does each shot last?Style of editing how is each shot joined to the next?What is editing?

Speed of editing

In a film each scene may last a matter of seconds, or it could continue for minutes but the length of each sequence establishes the pace of the film moving the action along.The speed of editing will help to determine the mood of what is taking place on the screen.

If the audience is to feel anxiety and suspense the editing will be quick the scenes/shots changing frequently. For example in an action sequence in a film such as The Bourne Ultimatum.

If a relaxed mood is desired by the director/editor of the film, the scenes then last longer and change less frequently. For example in a romantic comedy such as Sleepless in Seattle.

Does a film really need editing?Nethertheless a film does not necessarily need any editing. The film Russian Ark was filmed in one take by using a steadicam and a digital camera. However, this required split-second timing and organisation which is often very difficult to accomplish. Fast editing A trailer for a film need to pack in detail from throughout the film. Therefore editing will be very fast. The trailer for The Man in the Iron Mask is an example of this as it includes 156 number of edits in just the trailer

Russian Ark trailerThe Man in the Iron Mask trailer

How shots are linked together in a filmThe movement from one shot to the next is called a transition The most common and invisible form of transition is the straight cutOne shot moves instantaneously to the next without attracting the audiences attentionStraight cuts help retain reality. They do not break the viewers suspension of disbeliefFades are another form of transitions where there is a gradual darkening or lightening of an image until it becomes black or whiteOne shot will fade until only a black or white screen can be seen. Fades are used to:Indicate the end of a particular section of time within the narrativeCan also sometimes show the passing of time

Style of editing

Wipes are where one imagine is pushed off the screen by anotherImages can be pushed left or rightIt is common for the imagine to be pushed off the left-hand side as this movement is more consistent with the sense of time moving forward.It is used to signal a movement between different locations that are experiencing the same timeJump cuts are transitions which bring the audiences attention intofocusThis occurs by breaking thecontinuity editingThis is known as discontinuityIt appears as if a section of the sequencehas been removed