UNIT 16 TASK 1

UNIT 16 TASK 1  

What is editing?

Editing is audio or a video which is changed to help create an interest when watching a movie, for example, a montage would be used to compress time.

Parallel Editing

            (http://userhome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/anthro/jbeatty/COURSES/glossary.htm)

Parallel editing is the technique in which you show multiple scenes that usually occur all together but in different locations. This use is really effective as it does not exactly show a story playing out the comparison of two events gives further meaning to the actions shown. The comparison is reinforced by keeping consistency in the shot lengths and distances between the two narratives.

One example that you see on the top of the page of parallel editing is in The Godfather when someone is crosscut with a series of murders. The effect is that these are occurring at the same time. This is a juxtaposition as it shows the baptism of man’s nephew and but he has also ordered a series of murders which proves him to be sinful.

Parallel editing was invented by Edwin S. Porter in his movie The Great Train Robbery which was made in 1903. In this early picture, cross-cutting is used to show what occurs in two different places but not much else. Porter didn’t use the technique to its potential but was able to introduce the technique to filmmakers nowadays. D. W. Griffith further developed the technique by using parallel editing In The Lonedale Operator (1911), to cause suspense.

 Match On Action
(https://filmanalysis.coursepress.yale.edu/editing/)

Match on action is a technique where a scene cuts from one angle of a shot to another, keeping the continuity of the action in the scene. This cut is done in the middle of an action and is used to make the editing unnoticeable. Great editing is regularly thought to be invisible editing and the consistent continuity is accomplished by this technique by saying that it is very effective when it comes to invisible editing.

 

The example you see above is from Rocky IV. Here we see a basic style of match on action as the camera stays relatively the same level as the fighters, with a few zooms in or out. The matches on action are used to keep the fight realistic looking, as well as to keep a certain character in focus/the centre of the screen and this occurs when the punches are thrown.

D.W. Griffith was the inventor of match on action as this technique was invented way back in the early 1900s and is still used nowadays. He used the technique when he was cutting between action shots mainly all moving things e.g. hands and heads need to be in the same place at the end of one cut and the beginning of the next shot.

  180º Degree Rule
(https://freyabishopwansteadfoundationproduction.wordpress.com/2016/10/25/the-rules-of-continuity/)

The angle between any two consecutive shots should not exceed 180º, in order to maintain spatial relationships between people and objects in any given sequence of shots. This maintains continuity by ensuring that the action in a sequence of shots takes place in the half circle in front of the camera so that characters’ positions aren't reversed. Crossing the line creates a disorientating change in perspective. 

This is a rule which is used frequently in TV and Film production. The reason why it is important not to go over 180º Rule because there is a ‘line of vision’ between two characters, otherwise the viewer may not be able to make sense of the scene. The same rule applies to a moving subject in order to keep one side of the direction of motion.

Alfred Hitchcock was the inventor of the 180-degree rule as this technique was introduced in the mid-1900s and is still used nowadays. He used the technique when there are two people in a conversation in order to my the audience aware of where the conversation is taking place.

               Shot reverse shot 

                                      (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_film)

Shot reverse shot is a technique in which there during the dialogue, the camera cuts back and forth along the central line from one character to another, pushing action onwards as one character is shown looking at another, and then the other character is shown looking back. The difference between the two shots hints the viewer to think that the characters are looking at each other. 

The opening scene from The Godfather shows a shot-reverse-shot. Reason in which makes this particular scene so popular and know is the choice of framing and lighting used in the introduction. The scene begins in complete darkness. We hear someone talking and then the Undertaker is shown, shrouded in darkness. As the Undertaker continues to speak, the frame slowly zooms back to an over-the-shoulder shot that reveals Don Corleone.

Leitmotif    

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/popular_music/film_music3.shtml)

A leitmotif is a repeating sound or bit of music that identifies with a character, activity, or subject. This technique has an extensive variety of use which has is used as a method for

anticipating or for humorous purposes.

An easy way of illustrating this example is in The Imperial March in Star Wars which shows up the Imperials are presents. This technique represents the Imperial power and is frequently played to go with the presence of Darth Vader. 

Also In the Star Wars Saga Luke’s Theme which is extremely similar to the classic of Star Wars theme and represents the heroic side (the light side) of Luke Skywalker’s character. This adds further depth to the story of good versus evil and gives a better understanding to the audience of who's on the good side and who's on the bad side. 

Idea-associative montage

(https://prezi.com/rsdn7qadjsd6/idea-associative-montage)

Idea-associative montage is the juxtaposition of two unshown images to present an idea or thought. This technique was often used in the silent era during the time of linear editing. This sometimes is included in thematically related images which are put together to create a basic theme or idea. Other times, two images collide to apply a feeling or idea. This conflict can create tension. 

 

In Battleship Potemkin there is a medium shot of two objects that are different. When associated with each other, tyranny is implied. A pram is falling down the stairs and this is juxtaposed with the soldiers on the ship that is arriving for battle. Both objects represent power and when compared this way, seem to have the same goal of persecution and cleansing.