Understanding the development and principles of editing research and script

Introduction Films that are seen in modern day have been greatly influenced over the history of film making by the development of different techniques, creation of new styles of filming by pioneering directors and the use of new ideas that are used for a purpose to create different effects in film. First we will look at the development of different styles and techniques and also the directors who pioneered to create them. We will then look at the purposes of different effects used in film and finally the different kind of techniques used in the shooting of a film and editing.

Development 1. Shot Variation   The use of shot variation was first seen in the early 1900’s by Edwin S Porter in Life of an American Fireman and The Great Train Robbery who combined a series of shots together from different points of view. The different types of shots commonly used in film are the Close up shot, medium and long shots. Other variations of these shots include, extreme long shots and medium long shots which are used in combination with creative shots including tracking shots, high and low angle shots, point of view shots and shots from over the shoulder. The pacing in an action film during a fight scene tends to be very fast; this can be portrayed in the cuts used in shot variation. On the other hand, slow creeping shots with slow pacing could be used in a Horror films would include shots like close ups, medium shots, high, low angle shots and over the shoulder shots. This used with music and sound effects help to create a tense, dark atmosphere that is much more interesting to the viewer. Dark Knight robbery scene Uses combinations of close ups, medium and long shots to establish the scene and show the expression of characters. Slow creeping shots are used at the beginning of the scene to build suspense to the action and set the atmosphere. High and low angle shots are used to show characters to portray them as weak or strong compared to the other.

Development 2. Following the action When following the action in a shot it is basically just different cameras from different angles following whatever action is happening within the shot. In films in modern day technology is available to get angles and views we couldn’t before. We can use rigs attached to cars to hold cameras to give a different point of view we couldn’t get before. We can now physically move the camera with the action by putting through the use of different equipment.

Development 3. Development of Video – Analogue & Digital – Analogue editing was around before it all changed into digital editing. Before computers were created they used analogue editing for films, which was all done by hand, nothing was done by using software. You had a copy of the positive film where all the footage went onto when it was filmed. They then took the film and cut it in different parts using a splicer and pasted it onto different pieces of film to create the cutaways. With analogue editing it then had to be fed through a machine, now it can all be done on a computer digitally. The editor works with raw footage, selecting shots and them putting them in sequence on the timeline to create the finished film. With digital editing you can go back and forth and change things if you don’t like them or if you want to improve a piece of film, but if you had to do it through analogue editing, that cut you made would have been your only cut and you have had to move on to another piece of footage. With digital editing being a lot easier than what analogue editing was it means that they have gained more responsibility with sound and can include special effects that couldn’t be done in reality. There is also a lot more editing programs available now than what there was for example Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere.

Development 4. In camera editing In camera editing is when filming is shot in completely chronological order rather than shooting all scenes in one location before moving on to the next. In camera editing was originally used by the the Lumiere Brothers. they would plan out the order in which they would film scenes beforehand and then shoot them all at once. This can be seen in their film from 1895 Exiting the factory. Many films have used the in camera editing technique including more recently A Beautiful Mind which mostly consisted of in camera editing, filming all scenes sequentially, having to revisit locations and settings multiple times to keep the film in order.

Purpose 1. Storytelling Storytelling is about presenting a series of events as words, images and sounds that are of such interest and novelty to an audience that they become fully engaged in the presentation. Stories teach and entertain. The purpose of storytelling is to get the viewer engaged and interested with what is happening and what may happen. Telling a story gives a purpose to what is happening on screen and will keep the viewer watching until the end to find out what happens at the end of the story. Storytellers can create their own spin on this structure by mixing up the characters, settings and genres, and even by putting the end at the start and the middle at the end. When telling stories, audience is the most important consideration, and new audiences expect to be surprised and intrigued, so storytellers work hard to keep them interested with quirky twists and unexpected outcomes.

Purpose 2. Creating pace  Creating pace in films is done in the editing process; it cuts shots faster or slower to have an effect on how the audience perceive scenes. It is used in all different kinds of film genres to create certain effects such as suspense and tension. Music is often used in all genres of film to express the atmosphere and affect the pace of a scene. Dramas would make use of much slower music from particular styles, whereas action films would be fast paced and use opposite styles to drama. Transporter 2 chase scene Makes use of face paced cuts, different camera angles that display speed and a build-up of suspense. Music is fast paced and creates speed. Jurassic park kitchen suspense build scene Makes use of slower and normal speed cuts, camera angles build up tension and suspense by showing raptors coming closer and closer to characters and music is drawn out to build up suspense.

Purpose 3. Relationship to Genre – When it comes to editing a specific genre of film, Individual editing techniques and styles are used to illustrate the genre of the film. How the film is edited affects the way we interoperate the movie and how our emotions and nerves change throughout the film. The editing technique is used to capture the audience and get them engaged into the movie.

Purpose 4. Development of drama Development of drama is very important in film as it creates the tension and suspense that makes a film good, without this it becomes dull and boring, with editing you can show different angles of a scene to build up the drama of the scene. Development of drama depends on camera shots to make it that bit more intense and interesting, it can show expression and reactions from the drama to the characters. Certain shots can be used to build of the drama as an example a murderer could be walking towards someone and different shots show that person slowly getting closer and closer each step, the expression on the person getting chased could then be shown to show how scared and panicked they are. Developing drama is all about building up emotions and suspense.

Technique and conventions 1. Continuity Continuity editing is generally used in feature films and television. This approach belongs to productions where scenes can be covered from multiple angles, the scenes are sometimes repeated with the same action and dialogue to gather the number of shots required the same action and dialogue. Continuity errors can be subtle but sometimes can be distracting from the film. During the editing stage of the film, the variety of shots can be put into sequence to make a realistic scene that doesn’t confuse the audience through bad continuity.

Conventions and techniques 2. Cutting to Soundtrack - Cutting to soundtrack editing is when the pace and beat of a song can determine how fast scenes can cut. The editor will be given a soundtrack to work to and the soundtrack will act as a guide. This can attract audience’s attention because if it is a fast beat and it cuts fast it can get you interested into what it will cut too next.

Conventions and techniques 3. Point of View – A point of view shot is a short film scene that shows what a character (the subject) is looking at (represented through the camera). It is usually established by being positioned between a shot of a character looking at something, and a shot showing the character's reaction. The technique of POV is one of the foundations of film editing.

Conventions and techniques 4. Montage – The montage technique is used regularly in many films of different genres. It consists of a series of different shots being edited into sequence with one another often transitioned between using various effects such as a fade or wipe. The montage technique is used to combine together shots that are related to each other, this could consist of a series of small clips following each other in a sequence in an action film or to show a characters journey through a series of short clips that are condensed together to depict the passing of time to the audience without jumping from one scene to another that is far apart which could be difficult to follow. Hot Fuzz Introduction Montage The introduction of the film uses the montage technique to introduce a characters back story showing a series of short clips that use various transition effects to change from one to the other. What the audience is visually seeing is also being explained in a voice over by the character as they are unfolding. It is an effective way of conveying information to the audience while remaing interesting.