Editing

Editing is a vital part of filmmaking that requires filmmakers to carefully consider how to arrange a series of shots to convey meaningful information.

Introduction

Unless a film text is being broadcast or streamed live, an editor has the opportunity to carefully arrange the images and sounds that have been captured by one or more camera operators. 

Even though digital tools are now available, editing can still be a lengthy process (just as the process of editing our writing takes time and care). Editors must choose which pieces of film to include in a scene, when to stop and start each shot, and how the "story" of a scene can be communicated in the most effective way.

Understanding Editing

Before we begin our study of editing, it is worth clarifying some key editing terms.

So, let's make sense of this. 

Imagine we use our phone to take a picture—in the language of filmmaking, this photograph can be considered a single frame. 

Okay, so now imagine we use our phone to take a video—this video can be considered a single shot. 

Now, if we walk to the other side of the room and take another video, these two shots can be edited together to form a scene.

However, where it gets interesting for filmmakers is how these shots can be combined through creative editing. 

Let's examine a few ways this can be done.

Transitions

A transition refers to a switch from one camera shot to another. This capability gives directors and editors a god-like omniscience, allowing them to show audiences exactly what they need to see or hear at any given moment.

For example, during a scene involving dialogue, the camera can switch to whomever is talking, so that the audience can see their facial expressions and body language. However, the director can also transition to any character, object or space within a scene, if there is a reason to do so. This could involve switching to a wide shot of the distant sky if the weather is changing, or a close up of a suspicious package if a bomb is about to go off. 

There are two types of transitions that are commonly used by filmmakers: cuts and fades. 

Cut

A cut involves a switch from one shot to another with no animations or effects. 

The suddenness of a cut can be used to dramatic effect, providing a jarring contrast between the two shots which alters the mood of a scene.

When the action briefly cuts from the subject, to something else within the scene, and then returns to the subject, this is known as a cutaway.

Cutaways are a useful way to  provide additional context or insight about what is happening within a scene.

Fade

A fade is more gentle than a cut, and involves some kind of 'buffer' between one shot and the next. 

In a crossfade, one shot fades into another so that both are visible on the screen for a brief moment. Because this is lengthier than a cut, it signals to the audience that something significant has changed between shots (such as a transition from one scene to another). If a crossfade is particularly lengthy (more than 2 seconds) it is referred to as a dissolve.

In a fade to black transition, the current shot gradually changes to a black screen, signifying the end of a significant moment. The editor can then cut directly to the next shot to signify an abrupt start, or use a softer fade from black. 

Montage

First used in the "Odessa Steps" sequence of Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 film Battleship Potemkin, a montage sequence includes a succession of shots featuring action and movement that signify some kind of progression or change.

In the original Battleship Potemkin montage, which lasts several minutes, the audience witnesses a (fictional) massacre of the citizens of Odessa by soldiers of the Russian Tsar. The film cuts to many different shots of actions and reactions, showing the soldiers' grim progress down the stairs and the civilians terrified retreat.

In contemporary films, montages are often used to signify some kind of development or improvement, such as a warrior training for an upcoming battle or a team preparing for an upcoming match. 

Sound Transitions

It is worth noting that editing applies equally to sound as well as images. We will discuss the different types of sound in the next entry; however, for now it is enough to note that sound editors can cut or fade between sounds as softly or abruptly as needed.

NEXT:
Sound