Lecture 3

Question 1

Editing definition

Answer 1

Uk/USA: cutting
France: montage

film editing is the art, technique and practice of assembling shots into a coherent sequence. The job of an editor is not simply to mechanically put pieces of a film together, cut off film slates or edit dialogue scenes.

Question 2

Who is Lev Kuleshov?

Answer 2

He is considered to be the very first film theorist as he was the leader of the Soviet montage theory. For Kuleshov the essence of the cinema was editing, the juxtaposition of one shot with another. =Kuleshov effect

Question 3

Define coverage

Answer 3

This is a single shot that gets all the action so the advantage is that it’s a quick way for the audience to establish what is happening.

A disadvantage is that it may lack detail and precision and may be flat and eventually dull.

Question 4

What is conventional cover?

Answer 4

Wide/long shots (the master shot)
Medium-long/medium shots
Close ups

Conventional cover is the usual shots used in production

Question 5

What is the Time Code?

Answer 5

Precise editing usually down to 24th of a second.

HH : MM : SS : FF
Hours : Minutes : Seconds : Frames

E.g 01: 12 : 36 : 17

SMPTD Timecode
(Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers)

Question 6

How is it displayed?

Answer 6

The way timecode is designated and displayed/ recorded may vary from one device to another and may be either done automatically or by selectable setting.

E.g time of day timecode is usually automatic.

Alternatively HH (hour) 01, 02, 03ah be set manually and used to represent ‘reel’ - media / card, with sequential timecode recorded continuously until reset.

Question 7

Why is a timecode used?

Answer 7

Every frame of a film has to be uniquely identified by its timecode, in order to ensure that the computer software accurately retrieves and handles every frame of every clip properly.

Question 8

When must a timecode be used?

Answer 8

It is also crucial when exporting an electronic EDL (Edit Decision List) to covert an offline edit (low resolution- smaller, ‘faster’ files) to an online edit of the original media (full resolution - larger files / film)

Question 9

How is timecode recorded?

Answer 9

Timecode is recorded as invisible ‘meta data’ hidden by default but available in file properties, along with all other technical AV/digital information.

Timecode is displayed within editing software. Timecode counter may be displayed as ‘burned in’ timecode visible in corner of picture to assist post production.

Question 10

Cutting room 1: logging

Answer 10

Taking your rushes and labelling and sorting them into ‘bins’

Usually the first time the editor sees the film it is out of sequence and context. It is there job to find the fluidity and nuances will later be incorporated into the film.

Question 11

Cutting room 2: Assembly

Answer 11

The editor considers all the visual and audio material collected on the shoot for each scene and then reorders it in the way to tell the story best.

The larger the Film budget the sooner editing starts. Usually when the filming first begins.

Question 12

Cutting room 3: rough cuts

Answer 12

The editor may work alone and show daily cuts to the director/ producer.
Scenes are placed in order and checked for continuity. This allows for revisions and new ideas to be tested.

Question 13

Cutting room 4: ‘First’ Cut

Answer 13

The first cut is the rough cut that is accepted by the editor, the director and the producer.
The sequence and order are basically fixed but changes can still be made.

Question 14

Cutting room 5: fine cut

Answer 14

The fine cut no longer focuses on the entire film, but on the details of each and every cut.
The fine cut emphasises and strengthens the rhythms and structures identified in the first cut.

Question 15

Cutting room 6: final cut

Answer 15

One a fine cut is agreed with the editor, director and producer, the sound designer, music composer and title designer.
Sound effects and music are created and added the final cut.
This is when the film goes to print for audience testing and distribution.

Question 16

What are the seven basic principles of editing?

Answer 16

Choose the best footage (‘print’/ select usable takes) 
Create a coherent narrative 
Develop a cohesive flow
Adjust style, pace and mood 
Support the films angle/view/message 
Polish with effects, graphics and music

Question 17

Basic edits: The Cut

Answer 17

Instantaneous change from one shot to another.

Second (incoming) shot replaces first (outgoing) shot on the screen.

Question 18

Basic edits: jump cut

Answer 18

When two shots of the same image are cut together without major change in camera setup. The angle of the camera may be changed slightly.
This results in a noticeable ‘jump’ in the image on the screen, often making time removal visible.

Question 19

Transitions: fade in/ out

Answer 19

Fade in = a (normally) black screen that gradually changes to an image as the shot appears.
Fade out= a shot that gradually disappears as the screen darkens (a.k.a ‘fade to black’)

Question 20

Transitions: dissolve

Answer 20

A transition between two shots in which the first image gradually disappears while the second image gradually appears.
For a moment the two images blend in superimposition

Question 21

Transitions: the wipe

Answer 21

A transition between shots in which a line passes across the screen, eliminating one shot until it had completely replaced it with another.

Question 22

Editing techniques: rhythmic editing

Answer 22

Creates patterns in editing based on the tempo of the cuts, as well as the duration of the shots.

So Cutting together longer takes with fewer edits can slow a films pacing.

And using shorter takes with more frequent edits can accelerate pace.

Increasing the tempo of the editing as a scene progresses can be a way of increasing tension or building suspense.

Question 23

Function of editing 1: list four functions of editing.

Answer 23

Editing may also have a symbolic function.
Mise-en-scene & cinematography create implicit meaning within shots
Editing creates implicit meaning between shots
Editing shapes our perception of spatial (special awareness ) and temporal (relating to time) relationship between shots as well as between scenes.

Question 24

List four key editing techniques

Answer 24

Continuity editing
Elliptical editing
Parallel editing
Montage editing

Question 25

Continuity editing

Answer 25

A set of editing techniques used to create a cohesive sense of space and a sense of continuous time by maintaining consistent graphic, spatial, and temporal relationships between shots. Designed to flow unobtrusively. (Invisible editing)

Question 26

What is an eyeline match shot?

Answer 26

First shot shows character looking offscreen.

Second shot shows us what the character is looking at.

Question 27

Shot-reverse shot

Answer 27

Alternatives between two shots framed from reverse angles.

Classical and typically used for dialogue/ conversations scenes

Question 28

Match (cut) on action

Answer 28

Action begun in the first shot is completed in second shot

Maintains continuous action and therefore continuous sense of passage of time across edits.

Question 29

Parallel editing/ crosscutting

Answer 29

Continuity editing techniques that alternates back and forth between scenes.

Used in two ways:

To depict simultaneous action by cutting between two or more events taking place in different locations at he same time.
To create thematic parallels by cutting between action taking place in spectate locations at different points in the same time are linked theme.

Question 30

Elliptical editing

Answer 30

Editing techniques that remove part of the visual narrative action deemed unnecessary to plot development so that it takes less time to unfold on screen.

Question 31

Cuts in action

Answer 31

Elliptical editing techniques that uses cuts to eliminate parts of the action in order to condense the amount of time it takes to play out onscreen.
Often we just see beginning and the end of the action, with the middle cut out.

Question 32

Temporal ellipses

Answer 32

Using editing to signify the passage of time.
A fade in/ out between scenes is one example of this since the brief period when the screen goes black often signals a passage in time from one scene to the next.

Question 33

Empty frames

Answer 33

When the shot is held for a brief period before/after the character exits the frame, so that the frame is briefly empty of action.
Shots often begin before the character enters the shot, and may be held briefly after he/ she exists the shot.
Empty frames are a techniques often used as part of elliptical editing, emphasising a sense a time passing when changing scene I.e changing place and or time.

Question 34

Cutaway/ insert shot

Answer 34

Character begins action in first shot.
Then there is a cut away from the action to something else.
This is followed by a cut back to the character completing a the action begun in the first shot.

Question 35

Montage

Answer 35

A montage sequence is an elliptical editing technique often used to depict actions that take place over and extended period of time.
Condenses the passage of time into a shot succession of shots, so that they take much less time to play out onscreen.
Or shots within a Montage sequence may temporally unrelated