Friday, 11 December 2015

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.  



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