Chapter 4: How Editing Manipulates Time manipulation of diegetic time and space

On a number of different films editing is used heavily on time manipulation scenes. These are another great way of showing represented events, getting to know the characters, the location of the action and also for the pure special effects generally.

Its used to help the audience know what is going on through the time being slowed down and sometimes speeded up so that it ignores the scene and carries on as normal. There are a number of different shots through editing that are used in the time manipulation style.

Slow Motion - This is used to make the action take place at a slower rate, this signifies a dramatic event is about to happen, it can also be used within violence, Lock stock uses the slow motion technique to slow the poker scene down so that the audience knows whats happening and whats about to happen, they also use the accelerated motion technique. This is used to increase the thrill of speed and to make the slower motion shot more visible. Reverse motion is when the action takes place backwards this can be used in comical ways or to help audiences identify information which was not seen through normally.

Freeze frame - This gives a shot like a photograph and can sometimes be narrated over to explain a certain character or give a description.

Flashback - These occur in thrillers dramas and other films where a certain person has a flashback to a previous time before. The scenes are normally out of focus or defocused and dissolves at the end. Flash forward is another style which is the reverse effect of the flashback but in similar stance.

Replay - These are commonly used in sport events but to show a significant mark again and again to justify what has happened.

Long take - A shot which runs for a lengthy period of time, these are normally shown in war films where the action is all seen but at a slower pace.

Compressed time - This is when a scene is shown really quickly through the use of cuts and dissolves and is used effectively in an example called Vancouver City which shows from morning the night a day in Vancouver within 4 minutes. It helps show long journeys really quickly and briefly to look like time is passing.

Chapter 3: Transition Types

There are many different transition types which are used to help add effect to various scenes in movies, these can dramatically give purpose to how they want there scenes to act and come across. They also use these shots to bring a type of story telling towards there film, some such as the fades which are used Star Wars are a common effect for the movies, it gives a sense of "moving onto the next chapter" or "whilst this is happening here, this is whats happening here" its flicks between scenes effectively.

Another great example from V for Vendetta is the 180 degree rule this brings both characters into view at a location.

The two of them are shown in a shot and stays with the 180 degree rule whilst also showing the chemistry between the characters.

Cuts, dissolves and fades are also commonly used to switch scenes and similar to the wipe that Star Wars uses, they are great way's to finish a certain scene quickly and emotionally so that it can move on fluidly to the next part.

Another method of transition style is the L cuts, this is when the sound and video is synchronised but not with transitions. Its a way for the audience to see a person talking to another person, but as they still talk it will cut to the person listening, great way of showing dialogue in a different perspective. It also allows the viewer to see the reaction of emotional on the person who's being spoke to.

Chapter 2: Editing Styles & Conventions

There are a number of different editing styles which are used to covey the film across to the audience. There are editing methods such as jump cutting, crosscutting, point of view shot, cutaways and shot reverse shot. All these styles of editing are used correctly to bring a sense of purpose to the scene when the viewer is watching.

Jump cut is when it goes from a scene such as the film 2001 where it starts off in the pre historic time and as the ape throws the bone in the air it spans across millions of years to what is present day with a space ship. It jumps years and decades through a simple editing technique which is clearly visible to the audience.

Crosscutting is when the same scene is situated in two different locations which are happening at the same time. A prime example is V for Vendetta, where the young lady is getting ready to leave her flat whilst at the same time the man named V is getting ready to fight and prepares himself for battle. These are two completely different people but they meet as the scenes carry on. Its a clever way to show the action between two places whilst not getting confused.

Cutaways - These are simple cuts through a scene which show what action or drama is going to take place it lets the person identify what will happen through a variety of shots being used. Horror movies are perfect examples because they could use a scene of a man with a gun, then cuts to a monster, then the gun being shot and then again towards the body lying on the floor.

Shot reverse shot - These are great editing shots for discussions or when two people are together. So when a dialogue is struck it will switch between the two people as they talk.

Point of view shot - Again this is a very simple technique, this will show the shot from the person we see in the film so like a first person scene. These are used to scan areas of a location in a film or areas surrounding a character.

Chapter 1: The History & Developments Of Post-Production

The editing process is one of the most important parts of any movie and it constructs the film together. It's been around for many years and there are so many ways that editing can create different meanings in films. It takes 200 hours to edit a proper piece of film and 8 months to a year as there are alot of cuts which have to be pieced together and throughly looked at before going into the public. D W Griffiths was a pionerring American director who was the first to use different camera techniques and editing styles which have made his films famous including the birth of a nation which was a silent but controversial film showing the civil war. Many films used different ways to create film and in the early 1900's films were becoming produced there have been various examples such as:

Life of an american fireman - this was produced in 1903 and was the early usage of the editing process, they used various scenes such as having linked two scenes together, one scene shows fireman getting themselves ready and trying to put the fire out. Whilst another shows inside the house at the same time but as a completly different scenerio. Juxtaposition is used to link scenes togther which have a meaning but are shown in different ways something that is used in the "life of an american fireman".



Continuity Editing - This is an editing style which is made to look natural to the viewer.

Montage is one of these and has 3 different senses which are used in many films to date, they are:

French - For example in the french film Practises it has a very literal french meaning and this simply identifies the editing on show.

Soviet - The soviet montage is when shots are juxtaposing to derive a new meaning that didn't exist in either shots alone, so for example the film Oktober showed the storming of a royal palace and shots of people stamping on the crown/throne on gates it symbolises this in the shots that are produced.

Classical Hollywood Cinema - A brilliant example of this style is through the film Rocky. There are two different scenes which take place, between America and Russia. One is a normal human being who trains through pure hard work and determination and also using the environment around him symbolising him as a hero, whilst the Russian is more a robot with his training being given to him by other people and also he's the bad guy to the story.