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.