Crosscutting and parallel editing

Crosscutting

Cross cutting is when a series of shots are combined together in order to build up tension with the action happening in the scenes. Most of the time the process of cross cutting will occur, either in action shots or when you are trying to bring two characters closer together. It is simply moving from one shot to another shot back and forth. For example, someone is making some food the shot then cuts to someone running home; it then keeps cutting back and forth to those two characters which create a clear and understandable story. Cross cutting shows two different things happening in two different areas of a scene. However, it has continuity and creates a story.

Creating pace

Creating Pace

When an editor puts together footage a lot of how the audience will respond is through the pace of the scenes. So it could be fast paced or slow paced. In most cases it will be a quick pace if it is an action film. The reason fast pace would be used on this occasion is because a lot of action is going to be happening in scenes at a time, the editor is going to have to carry out fast paced cuts in order to keep up with the activity on screen. whereas, if it is a drama and a romance scene is taking place then the cuts are going to much slower in order to give the audience time to respond and take in what the characters are feeling and the emotion on there face. As well as the different cutting techniques used sound is also a very important factor when deciding if you want a specific scene at quick or slow pace. for example in jaws the music gets quicker and quicker when something is about to happen this also heightens what the viewers are feeling as everything is happening quicker. If music being played is slow then the chances are it is a romantic scene or a problem has just been resolved. this makes the audience feel at ease with the situation. The link below is an example of a fast paced music scene in jaws.

As you can see as the music speeds up the characters on screen react to that and also speed up. This is an example of the difference music makes compared to no music.

The link below is an example of two main characters in a fast action scene.

Creating motivation and motivated editing

Creating Motivation

When editing and cutting together a film it is essential that there is a sense of motivation in both the storyline and within the characters in the scenes. If there is no motivation then the audience watching wont want to continue viewing what is happening. There are 3 different ways to create motivation within a film or TV programme. These 3 types are story motivation, physical motivation and character motivation. Story motivation is when an editor will put certain cuts in particular places to drive the storyline forward. It is crucial that these cuts are done at the right time so the audience get the proper emotion for that scene. If not the storyline might not flow properly. Physical motivation can be linked in a lot with sound and mise en scene. An example of physical motivation could be if the camera is focusing on a character on screen and there is then a loud bang then the camera could film what that bang was as the character looks over. This type of shot urges the audience to continue watching as they want to see what the final result is, they want to know what the character is looking at. character motivation focuses solely on the characters and getting to know the characters. The use of motivation can either be positive or negative depending on how the editor wants it to come across. The same applies for characters motivation, whether the editor/director wants the viewers to like dislike or be intrigued by a character. The idea of character motivation is how are the cuts going to build and develop your character which continues the storyline further. An example of physical motivation being used is shown in this clip below.

Transitions

A transition is the movement from one shot to another shot. The transition process can either be smooth or not this depends on how good the transition is. an editor is in charge of putting these transitions and cuts in and ensuring that the two shots go well together. Almost every transition that is put in is called a cut. A cut transition is simply when one shot switches to the next instantly. although that is the most frequently used transition when editing all of the footage together there are some others. Dissolved, fade and wipe are also possible transitions that an editor can chose to put in. most of those transitions are only used to create a certain type of affect on the audience watching. For example a dissolve transition may be used to signify a dream, flashback or something that has happened in the past. It helps the viewer understand that it is not a normal shot that is about to happen. A fade transition will normally fade from a shot into a colour. normally a fade transition will go out into the colour black. this type of shot is used at the end of films the camera will gradually fade out until the screen is black and credits come on.

Continutiy and seamless Editing

Matches on action should be "seamless" meaning that if for example we watch a person enter a room approach a seat and begin to sit down in a wide shot and cut to a medium  on the action of sitting. The match on action must be refined to the point where the movement of sitting becomes one fluid motion. Continuity editing happens during the editing process, when the editor begins to cut the film together they will do it into a smooth and clear storyline in one fluid action, this is continuity editing. Films with continuity editing have a clear and understandable storyline as it all happens in order from start to finish of the film. This makes it much easier for the person watching to be able to follow and understand what is happening, it gives structure to what is happening in the scenes. The purpose of continuity system is to allow space, time and action to continue in a smooth flow over shots. When continuity editing is used it makes it seem like no editing is being used it should be invisible and smooth. Seamlessly editing is when something happens seamlessly, so editing can be seamless. Establishing shot – creates a clear narrative space, establishes the scene and presents all the action. Camera coverage – The amount of footage shot and the different camera angles used to capture a scene. Master shot – This records the whole scene from start to finish, etc. me and Callie sit down and have a fight about the laptops. I get knocked out and Callie gets escorted out the room and medical people come to take me out, if a master shot was used everything that’s happening would be filmed nothing would be missed. In some cases a master shot establishes the scene.

Following the action/Manipulation of diegetic time and space

Following the action/Manipulation of diegetic time and space.

Following the action can be commonly used within crime/horror genres. An editor will use a following the action shot to follow a person being chased or to follow the action of a car chase etc. If there is any significant movement then a following the action shot would be the perfect technique to use when filming.

Manipulation of diegetic time and space is a technique used in film to elide or stretch time. For example, an editor might apply the editorial technique of ellipses to a process that would normally take a very long time in order to get through the action faster and not have it take up too much screen time. This can be used in films when something a character is doing needs to be hurried up so they would show days and days of footage and shorten it down into 5/10 minutes.

Within this car chase clip the camera is following the action throughout. The editor starts off with the camera looking up to the car at a worms eye view shot this shows that the car will be powerful throughout the clip. As the car sets of the camera tracks it around the corner at a long shot. In the next shot that gets used which is a bird’s eye view shot manipulation of time has also been used. This has been done by skipping some of the cars journey time as the last shot we saw we were still on the back roads but when the shot moved to a bird’s eye view shot the car was now on the motorway.  The scenes then continue to switch from car shots to character shots to build the tension within the scenes. The camera then moves back to a tracking shot continuing to track the action whilst the camera angles switch from the victim’s car to the people being chased.

Shot variation

Shot variation

Different shot variations are very important in a film. If the shots remain the same or similar throughout a film it becomes uninteresting and the audience may lose attention. Shot variations are often used then to engage the viewer and keep their interest. Beyond that, they can set the mood of a particular scene. Different shots are used to represent different things. For example an extreme long shot in most cases is used to establish a scene and the surroundings of a character. A close up shot will normally be used to show expression on a characters face. In some situations a variety of different shots are placed together and we are switching back and forth from each shot very quickly this speeds up the action happening on the screen and keeps the audience very engaged.

Within these scenes the editor has chosen to start with a long tracking shot of the train, the editor has done this to establish the fact that the character is on the train or something is about to happen on the train. The editor also chose to do a variety of close ups to show the expression on the characters face and how he feels about what’s happening. Medium shots have been used to show the group of people huddled together looking at the main character.