28 Editing

Chapter & Discussion

This chapter includes a presentation that can be navigated in a classroom setting or independently. You can access the presentation via the link below.

Film Elements: Editing

Work through the different sections of the chapter and discuss ideas and topics as they arise. If you’re working independently, take notes instead. Notes and active discussion will be helpful in navigating this week’s assignments.

Overview

At its heart, editing is a storytelling tool. It can have a significant impact on the audiences’s engagement and emotional experience when watching. Effective editing should serve the narrative and enhance the audience’s connection to the story, characters, and themes, all while remaining unobtrusive and seamless.

We can say a lot about a film’s editing when we discuss it. This practice will help us become stronger and more critical readers.

Invisible Editing

Invisible editing is a fundamental principle in filmmaking. The goal is for viewers to become fully engrossed in the story without being consciously aware of the editing process.

• Effective editing ensures that the story flows smoothly, with a natural progression of scenes and shots. When done well, viewers don’t notice the cuts or transitions; they are absorbed in the story.
• It’s essential for editing to serve the storytelling process, emphasizing emotions, character development, and plot progression rather than drawing attention to the technical aspects of filmmaking.

Continuity Editing

Continuity editing is a specific style of editing that aims to establish and maintain a seamless sense of time and space within a film.

• When characters in different shots appear to be looking at each other or when each shot logically follows the one before it in chronological order, viewers easily understand the relationships between characters and the progression of events.
• This style of editing is commonly used in most films, ensuring that the audience remains engaged in the narrative without being distracted by jarring or disorienting cuts.

Editing for Meaning

Editing can be a powerful tool for conveying additional layers of meaning in a film.

• Montages, for example, compress time and condense a series of actions or events into a shorter sequence, conveying progress or transformation effectively. They are often used to show character growth or the passage of time.
• Cross-cutting involves switching back and forth between multiple scenes or storylines happening simultaneously. This technique can create suspense, contrast, or thematic connections between different narrative elements.

Transitions

Visual transitions, such as wipes or fades, are not just technical choices but artistic decisions that impact the audience’s perception and emotions.

• Crossfades, for instance, can be used to indicate the passage of time or create a dreamlike atmosphere. They often blend two images together, creating a smooth, continuous transition.
• Smash cuts can show contrast between things that are very different or far away from each other.

Assigned Reading

Here are this week’s readings. Additionally, please read for your own personal enjoyment for 1/2 hour each day. This will be called your “Reading Zone” reading and it will coincide with many upcoming activities.

Editing by Russel Sharman (via Moving Pictures)