Editing technique research

What is editing?

Editing is the film making process in which sound and images are organised into an overall narrative. The process is used to enhance the original shots and create a more enticing film for the audience to watch. 

Continuity editing

This is the most common type of editing in the film industry, which aims to create a sense of reality and time moving forward. It is also named 'invisible editing' referring to how the technique doesn't actually draw any attention to the editing process. Continuity editing establishes a smooth link between shots to ensure that the audience are focused on the narrative rather that the editing used to link the scenes/shots together.

 An example of this is in the film Tsotsi:

Jump cut

A jump cut is an abrupt, disorientating transitional device in the middle of a continuous shot in which the action is noticeably advanced in time/ and or cut between two similar shots , usually done to create discontinuity for artist effect. The jump cut is a useful type of editing to show distinct changes in the narrative or plot and to show a significant move in time.

An example of this is in Love, Rosie, where the film goes from the two main characters as children, to when they were teenagers.

Cross-cutting

This is the editing technique of alternating, interweaving, or interspersing one narrative action scene/sequence with another - usually in different locations or places, thus combining the two. This editing technique usually suggests parallel action (that takes place simultaneously). Often used to dramatically build tension and/or suspense in chase scenes or to compare two different scenes. Cross-cutting is also known as inter-cutting or parallel editing.

An example of this is in the film Inception:

Eye-line match 

This is a type of edit which cuts from one character to what the character has been looking at. Eye line match is an effective way of informing the audience what the character is facing and so allows the audience to empathise with the character in their situation. 

An example of this is in Star Wars:

Shot reverse shot

A shot reverse shot is and editing technique where the shots switch back and forth between two characters interacting with each other. This type of editing is often used to present the relationship between two characters, and depending on the proxemics of the characters can show them as a love interest in the film.

An example of this is shown in The Hunger Games:

Freeze frame

A freeze frame is the effect where the film seemingly stops on a particular in order for the focus to be on a certain event or element. A freeze frame signifies the importance of the event for the audience.

An example of this is in Goodfellas:

Flashback

This is where a scene or moment in a film in which the audience is shown an event that happened earlier in the film's narrative. It informs the audience of something key that happened in the past that is important in order to follow the narrative.

An example of this is shown in The Lion King:

Graphic match

Graphic match is an edit effect in which two different objects of the same shape are dissolved from one into the other. It allows a slick continuity between shots.

An example of this is in Tarzan:

Match on action

This is a shot that emphasises continuity of space and time by matching the action of the preceding shot with the continuation of the action. For example a shot of a door opening after a shot of a close up of a character's hand turning the door handle.

This is shown in the film Bringing up Baby:

180 degree rule

This rule states that when a conversation between two people, next to or facing each other, the camera should be be on one side of an imaginary line to avoid confusing the audience. It enforces continuity within the editing and the film; and the line should be drawn perpendicular to the camera's viewpoint in the establishing shot of the scene. Breaking the rule will lead to confusion of the audience as well as them losing focus and becoming disorientated. The only way to go around the rule is to show the camera movement e.g tracking or panning, so the audience are able to follow where the camera is going.