Task 10: Understanding Pace

Engaging the Viewer

The pace of editing is helpful when trying to engage the viewer. If the audience is not engaged with what is going on then they will not be interested and are unlikely to sit and watch it. By using editing techniques, the audience will become engaged. 

Speed of Editing / Creating Pace

In a film each scene can either last a matter of seconds, or continue for minutes. The pace of a film moving the action along is established by the length of each sequence. Speed helps to determine the mood of what is taking place on screen.

If filmmakers want the audience to feel anxiety and suspense, the editing will be at a very fast pace and the shots will be changing quickly. An example of this in in 'The Bourne Ultimatum.'

https://youtu.be/uLt7lXDCHQ0

On the other hand, if a relaxed mood is desired, then the scenes will last longer and change less frequently. This is used a lot in romantic comedies. An example of this is in 'The Notebook.'

https://youtu.be/T9JTfU7YtGQ

A trailer for a film needs to pack in detail from throughout the film, therefore the editing will be very fast. An example of this is the trailer for 'The Hunger Games, Catching Fire.'

https://youtu.be/HhODs_xGOBY

Scenes at the beginning of a film must be long enough for us to be able to understand where we are and what is going on. They are also slow to introduce the main characters. As the film progresses, scenes may become shorter as the editing cuts between telling two or more story lines at the same time.

Cross-Cutting

Cross-cutting is a technique used to effectively develop a sense of drama. It means to edit together two sequences that the audience need to know are connected in the same way. It can be used to show that something is happening at the same time in different locations or to show a character reliving a memory. 

An example of cross-cutting to create drama is 'Casey's death scene' in 'Scream.' The death of Casey is made more dramatic by the cross-cutting to her parents approaching and almost making it home in time to save her. 

https://youtu.be/ulykPn5ZUVs

Another example of where cross-cutting is used to create drama and tension is in the gunfight scene from 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.' The gunfight scene uses cross-cutting between the guns and a close up of the men's eyes. This builds up tension and creates drama. 

https://youtu.be/4LcVQJ4IBtM

Cutaway Shot

A cutaway shot is the interruption of a continuously filmed action by inserting a view of something else. The cutaway shot does not necessarily contribute any dramatic content of its own, but is used to help the editor assemble a longer sequence. 

Development of Drama

The use of music and cross-cutting can both be used to effectively develop drama and tension. It makes the scene feel much more dramatic and the audience begin to worry for the characters in question.  

Task 9: Non-Continuity

Non-Continuity Editing is a style of film making that was made popular throughout the 1950's and 1960's. Filmmakers may choose to use Non-Continuity editing because it leaves gaps in continuity which gives emotion to a scene and gives attention to important parts of the scene.

Filmmakers such as Jean Luc Godard and François Truffaut created a new style of editing called 'French New Wave.' These films used a 'carefree' editing style and did not conform to the traditional editing etiquette of Hollywood films. 'French New Wave' editing drew attention to itself by its lack of continuity and its self-reflexive nature. They often used material not often related to any narrative which kept the audience surprised and intrigued.

The two most effective Non-Continuity editing techniques are:

• Jump Cut
• Breaking the 180 Degree Rule

Jump Cut

A jump cut is an abrupt transition from one scene to another. This technique is used to startle the viewer, draw attention to something, speed up the action and to create emergency.

One example of a film that uses a Jump Cut is 'Breathless' by Jean Luc Godard.

https://youtu.be/1ov4mQJIHhc

  

In this clip 'Jean Luc Godard' deliberately uses non-continuity editing in the form of a Jump cut when Seberg picks up the mirror and then  it's suddenly gone again. 

Breaking the 180 Degree Rule

By breaking the 180 degree rule, it creates a startling effect and conveys something is going wrong, It creates a sense of confusion. Two examples of films where this technique is used 'The Shining' by Stanley Kubrick and 'The Hunger Games' by Gary Ross.

It is done in 'The Shining' by Stanley Kubrick to create confusion within the audience. By breaking the 180 degree rule it emphasises that someone is in danger. This intrigues the audience.

It is also used in 'The Hunger Games' by Gary Ross. It emphasises the disorientation that the character is feeling and creates the idea of danger. 

   

      

Task 8: Using Continuity Editing Techniques

Our task was to film a short sequence to demonstrate our understanding of the key conventions of continuity editing. It had to take place in school and had to have at least two characters. We had to include:

• Eye-line Match
• Match on Action
• 180 degree rule
• Shot, Reverse Shot

https://youtu.be/hl1-iJyzVGo

Eye-line Match

For this technique, the first shot shows character 1 reading and then suddenly looking towards the door as something as caught her eye. The second shot reveals what character 1 was looking at. This shot demonstrates a good understanding of eye-line match. To improve the eye-line match, we could do a close up of the characters eyes rather than the face and possibly have better timing. Also, there is some level of background noise and it would be better if that couldn't be heard. Below is an example of eye-line match taken from the internet, and the example of eye-line match from my video.

Match on Action

For this technique, the first shot shows character 1 walking through a door and in the second shot, the action is continued as character 1 comes through the door and shuts it. This demonstrates a good understanding of Match on Action, however, the timing of the door closing in the second shot is a bit off which could be improved to continue the flow of the sequence. Below is an example of match on action taken from the internet, and then the example from my video. 

 

180 Degree Rule

In our sequence, the 180 degree was not broken. For this technique, one shot shows character 1 walking through and closing the door, and then walking straight forward. The second shot shows this action happening again but this time from a different angle. The 180 degree rule was not broke because we stayed on the same side of the 'Imaginary Axis.' Throughout both shots, both characters stay at the same angle, character 1 does not walk in from the right and then walk in from the left, in both shots she walks in from the right. The camera stays on the same side of her face throughout both shots. I think this shots shows a clear understanding of the 180 degree rule and that it was carried out fairly well. This shot could be improved by not showing character 1 walk through the door for the second time, and just having her continue walking in the second shot from another angle. By showing character 1 walk through the same door twice, it disturbs the continuity of the shot. 

Shot, Reverse Shot

For this technique, we showed character 1 and character 2 having a conversation about their weekends. To demonstration shot, reverse shot, the camera constantly swaps over the shoulders of the characters to portray the flow of the conversation. In one shot, the camera is over the shoulder of character 2, as character 1 listens to what she is saying, and then in another shot, the camera is over the shoulder of character 1 as character 2 speaks. This shows a understanding of shot, reverse shot and also flows nicely. However, it can be improved as in some shots the lighting is really bad. Also, we could possibly use a boom operator so that the conversation can be heard more clearly. Also there is a slight cut in the video where the flow of the sequence is disturbed which could be improved. Below is an example of this technique taken from the internet, and then the example from my video.

Task 7: Understanding Continuity Editing

"Continuity Editing" is what became known as the popular 'classical Hollywood' style of editing. It was developed by early European and American directors such as D.W. Griffith in his film 'The Birth of a Nation.' It ensures temporal and spatial continuity as a way of advancing narrative.

Techniques include:

• Eye-Line Match
• Match on Action
• Shot, Reverse Shot
• 180 Degree Rule

It is important because it helps to retain a sense of realistic chronology and creates the feeling that time is moving forward. It doesn't mean that you can't use flashbacks or flash forwards, as long as the narrative will still be seen to be progressing forward in an expected or realistic way.

Eye-Line Match

This technique links two shots together. We see a character looking at something off screen and then we cut to a shot of what they are looking at, this allows the audience to see what the character in the film is seeing. 

Filmmakers may use this technique to create a realistic chronology in their films, they may use it to emphasise that a character is looking at something in particular. This technique makes temporal and spatial relationships clear to the audience, it allows audiences to understand what has captured the characters attention. It creates a sense of mystery and tension. If a filmmaker does not use this technique then the scene wouldn't make sense or seem realistic. The shot will not create as much mystery or tension. The audience won't understand what the character is looking at. 

Match on Action 

This technique is when we see a character start an action in one shot, the camera then cuts to a different angle and we see the character finish the action in the second shot. This technique ensures that the motion appears to continue uninterrupted.

  

Filmmakers may use this technique to link shots together, it creates a continuous shot. The camera can be placed at different positions to film two shots. They can then be put together in the correct order. This allows the shots to flow without interrupting the continuity. If a filmmaker did not use this technique then the shots will not be continuous as it will create a jump shot. 

Shot, Reverse Shot

This technique is mainly used in conversations. The first shot reveals one character and then the second shot reveals the second character. This allows the audience to connect the two characters and realise that they are interacting with each other.

Filmmakers may use this technique to engage with the audience and make them feel like they are interacting with the characters. It is used to focus on the characters speaking rather than the whole scene. If filmmakers did not use this technique then it would be one long continuous shot which may make the characters feel bored and not focused.  

The 180 Degree Rule

This is a basic guideline that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called 'Crossing the Line.' When filming, the camera should always stay on one side of the imaginary axis. If you cross the line the characters will appear to swap positions on the screen.

Filmmakers may use this technique to enable the audience to visually connect with the movement happening around the characters. If a filmmaker did not use this technique then its creates the feeling of confusion, mystery and disorientation.
However, a filmmaker may purposely choose to break the 180 degree rule if they wish for the audience to feel confusion or disorientation and to build up mystery and tension.

An example of where the 180 degree is purposely broken is in 'The Shining' by Stanley Kubrick.