Editing Techniques

Objective:

            All: will be able to explain the purpose of one editing style

            Most: Explain 2-5 different editing styles

            Some: 6 or more different styles using accurate media language.

Reaction:

Any shot that shows a persons reaction for example if someone was insulted the camera will show persons reaction to the insult.

Invisible editing: 

Used in most films to support the narrative and support what people see on screen.

Montage:

Is the speed of editing, where shots are quickly juxtaposed together to create excitement, will look bury and unnatural.

Slow editing:

When clips are juxtaposed together at a slower pace and this is to create suspense show more information of location and narrative, time each edit takes place is longer apart.

Straight cut:

An abrupt juncture occurs which has no significance to what is happening at the moment.

Fade Out:

The screen fades to black and this often means an editing to an episode usually slowly then music follows can be at the beginning of episode.

Dissolve:

One image slowly disappears showing another shot below it without no editing or cutting.

Wipe Out or Wipe Cut:

Where a main scene is pushed out of screen showing another scene.

Jump Cut:

When a film suddenly focused on something goes from a long shot to a close up.

Linking of sections:

Is where one section of a film is linked to another scene which has significance.

Linking shots:

Is where a number of shots are linked together to add emotional impact.

Timing Shots:

In the editing stage some shots are either edited slower or quicker to add emotion impact or suspense.

Kuleshov effect:

Two random images put together to show some kind of significance or show some kind of narrative, we as an audience put together.

180 degree rule:

You must keep the same left right symmetry so if the camera is placed on the left side of conversation is stays on the left side.

Shot reverse shot:

This is used mostly used in conversation when someone is talking.

Graphic matching:

Is when one shot goes into the next shot with a similar shape for example blows out a candle the shot goes to a train with smoke coming out.

Micro Element Seen In Opening Scene Of Seven

	Point	Evidence	Explain
Cinematography	Establishing shot (Kitchen)	In a house or apartment	When film begins first thing we see is a character in a kitchen(Morgan Freeman)
Sound	Police sirens (opening scene)	As character first emerges on screen	Add the suspicion of the film being a type of crime genre
Editing	Water tap ( Dripping water)	not originally in scene	The sound of the dropping water has been made louder
Mise en scene	Police badge, knife	Been placed on the bed side table in a certain way	Character has a routine so he places everything in a certain place which he picks up one by one
Target audience	Appeals to All ages But target audience IS 18+	18 age certificate also it is a thriller which appeals to 15 and above.	Thrillers aren’t suitable for anyone below the age of 15 and the film you need to focus to understand what is happening.
Surprise (to see)	When he picks up the police badge confirms it is a crime/thriller type film	Also he has a throwing knife next to his guns which is also surprising	When you see a crime story of policemen you do not expect to see them carrying throwing knife
Shock/suspense	Guy cutting off hit finger tips	In the title sequence you see him cutting off his finger prints	He is obviously a villain or murderer and has removed his finger tips so they cant be traced or found at crime scene

Task 2

I think Se7eN is a thriller because it is a movie that concentrates on more than scaring the target audience SE7EN makes you listen and focus on the storyline so you have to think also get involved in the action and imagine what is going to happen next this is also a suspense creating tactic to make the audience on the edge and completely focused on the film, also they have added scary motion building music thought-out the scenes.

Task 3

By watching SE7EN many times I have found they use low key lighting and dark, scary music when they are about to reveal something, or something is going to happen I can use this method in my thriller. Also in this film they keep the murderer unidentified till the very end but he is shown to the audience as a dark figure never showing his face always covered and slightly blurred. I can also use this in my thriller to ad tension

Micro Elements Seen In Opening of Panic Room

	Point	Evidence	Explain
Cinematography	Establishing shot (City)	Name of film is in big bold lettering in-between buildings	Film is set in a city first thing we see is city
Sound	Non Diegetic music	As credits are shown it has slow beating music playing	This is probably to add suspense and keep audience focused on the screen
Editing	Added film credits in the middle of a city	not originally in scene	This is to draw the eyes of the viewers but also these are not originally in the scene and are added
Mise en scene	Buildings, estate agent, family (mum and Daughter)	Been placed on the street in a crowed, girl on a scooter	Characters are going somewhere, camera focuses on them. Then zooms in
Target audience	15+	Its a thriller film also age certificate on case is 15	Thrillers aren’t suitable for anyone below the age of 15 and the film you need to focus to understand what is happening.

Task 2- Panic Room is a thriller because starts off with strange suspense building music also the title Panic Room shows the audience or gives them a clue to what may happen one other thing that makes this film a thriller is it is set in a old empty house typical thriller/horror film is based characters are alone and they are being watch by some mysterious characters.

Task 3- in the film Panic Room they also use suspense building music, and low key lighting this is a good way to show the film is a thriller. I will use this technique in my thriller film because its a quick way to get the audience involve and focused on the film, also it creates suspense which is needed in a thriller film.

Prom Night Analysis

Discuss the ways in which the generic conventions are used to inform the audience that they are watching a thriller film?

In this essay I will discuss the way this scene uses the generic convention to inform the audience it is a thriller film.

At the begging of the scene we see a glamorously lit up prom we know it’s a prom because all the people in the scene are dressed smartly in suites and nice dresses, also the title of the film tells us this is a school event, shortly after we are introduced to the location a police officer walks in telling everyone to evacuate the building because of an emergency this tells the audience that something has happened the officer is presented to the audience looking like a serious character dress in dark colours and giving everyone orders this tell the audience that the officer is in charge of the situation and is a very serious and powerful character this is common in a thriller film as it shows the audience this situation is very dangerous and very real.

The way in which lighting is used in the clip tells the audience it’s a thriller film when the girl goes up to her room to get something the scene goes from glamorously lit up (known as top lighting) to low key lighting this gives the scene a dark and eerie atmosphere to it which tells the audience something is going to happen, also we have lots of flashing lights down on the main floor where everyone is gathered this helps create a panicky atmosphere and creates anxiety in the audience because it tells the audience that there is an unorganised atmosphere and a side of confusion and chaos. The low key lighting used after the victim enters her room makes the audience feel isolated and that the girl is alone this is because of the silence we hear in as she exits the lift and enters her room but also the dark low key lighting used, which shows the room as a scary and empty place as we cannot see anything, this technique also is conventional to thriller films as most action happens in isolated areas, where she cannot be seen.

The sound used in this scene helps create tension and suspense it does this when the girl exits the lift it goes from shouting and screaming busy atmosphere to completely silent and scary atmosphere, with non-diegetic music slowly getting louder in the background this technique helps create suspense and capture the audience’s attention. As the character enters her room we hear another door creaking then shut this tells the audience someone is there with her and makes the audience feel tension and suspense, the silence is used in this part of the scene to create suspense when she exits the lift this sets the tone and atmosphere of the scene as now we see she is alone and in darkness, then again we have silence used as she calls out “hello” in her room this also is used to create suspense as she is expecting a replay and does not get one this tells the audience the character is feeling uncomfortable and thinks someone is in the room with her. This is common also to thriller conventions as it sets the audience up and tells them something is going to happen.

Another generic convention used in this scene is Mise En Scene, the audience is shown in dresses and suites to show the audience they are in some kind of prom also the location is a fancy hotel which sets the audience up for the scene to come, we also see some other examples of Mise En Scene for example as the attacker comes into the scene we see him in dark clothing with his face covered and hidden this is common to most thriller films as it makes the character look scary and dangerous, knives and guns are also presented in this scene when the attacker is looking for the girl he realises she is stuck and he pulls out his knife this presents the audience with an aspect of fear and danger, as knifes are used to send a aspect of danger to the audience this is also the same for guns in thriller films as they are used in dangerous situations to add the feeling of fear and suspense to the scene.

Cinematography in this scene helps the audience understand the situation from the very start, As the group of people are told to evacuate the building in a case of emergence we are shown at high angle shot from the top of the building as all the people are running to safety this tell the audience everyone is panicking and presents the aspect of chaos to the audience. One other example is when the main character is looking through the door into the hallway we are presented with a point of view and can see what she is seeing this technique allows the audience to feel a sense of fear as we then see the attackers face appear looking right back at the girl. This is used to create suspense and shock when the victim is hiding under the bed holding her mouth a close up is used to capture all the emotion going on in the scene this shows to the audience she is crying and we can see tears and make up running down her cheek but yet she is trying to hold it in as she does not want to be found by the attacker this is important in thriller films to use close ups in scenes like this as it captures and shows the character facial expression and emotion she is experiencing and allows the audience to relate to them  

Another generic convention used in this scene is editing at the start of the scene slow editing is used to help the audience understand the narrative and get to understand whats happening this is used mainly at the introduction of films as it allows the audience to take in information, fast editing is also used in Prom Night when the main character meets her attacker inside her hotel room and he tries to catch her, Editing like this is used to make the audience feel suspense and tension also to show the action going on  in the scene, another editing technique used is Non diegetic music as she exits the lift, it starts of quite in the background this creates suspense and makes the audience on edge, then as the attacker enters her room and starts chasing the main character the music becomes loud and up tempo this creates an element of fear and suspense as we do not know what will happen all these techniques are used in horror film to attract the audience into the action and help emphasis the feeling of fear in the scene

Cinematography

L.O. today’s lesson we need to show understanding of the word Cinematography and how it is used in Thriller films. Some: Will be able to use media language correctly to analyse the effect of the camera shot shots with appropriate examples. (A) All: describe at least one camera element. (E)

Starter: What are the three main elements?

Ø  Camera movements

Ø  Camera angles

Ø  Camera positioning

Camera positions:

Long Shot (LS): a shot where you see most of an object (such as a characters body), yet enough background to see what kind of situation there in.

Extreme Long Shot (ELS): The camera is further distance from the subject, emphasising the background and also reducing the importance of the subject, sometimes used as an establishing shot.

Establishing Shot: similar to the Extreme Long Shot but defines the location and gives the audience a perspective on the action that is to follow, Also they are often essential to defining a genre of the film in question. E.G. (Horror will be dark and low lit maybe dark gloomy house).

Master Shot (MS): are also similar to establishing shot and are used at the beginning of the sequences as a reference point for the rest of the sequence to follow.

Medium Long Shot (MLS):  When the shot is focus on the subject from the knees upwards, it also permits a balance between the subject and surroundings. (We see both the subject and the background at the same time).

Medium Shot (MS): Is when the camera frames the actor from waist up, shows the characters body language and helps us understand the subject’s mood.

Close up (CU): shows a fairly small part of the scene and emphasises on something. Such as a characters face and neck in detail that it fills the scene (helps capture emotion).

Extreme Close up (ECU): singles out a portion of the face isolates detail and magnifies the minute, (this helps capture emotion).

Point Of View (POV): A shot that shows us what the subject/actor is seeing (Adds suspense). (Put yourself in characters position)

Two Shots (TS): is where to people are featured in the frame. (Creates suspense).

Over the shoulder shot: where the camera is placed at shoulder level in a scene and is shot this way.

Overhead shot: shows the subject and surrounding to get more of an impact on what is happening. (Brings the audience closer to the scene).

Camera Angles

Straight on angle: most common angle used, an angle that is at eye level facing straight on.

High angle shot: a shot that captures the action or subject from high up looking down.

Low angle shot: a shot that captures the action from a low down looking up.

Camera Movement:

It says camera elements because its made up of 3 different types of elements which come under 1 micro element they are camera positioning, camera angles and camera movement.

Will be able to use media terminology correctly to analyse they effect of the camera angle has.

Zoom: when zooming the camera does not move and the lens are focused down which is closer to the target so the shot goes from a long shot to a close up, whilst recording.

Tracking (known as dolling): where the camera follows a subject/actor when moving smoothly towards or away from the subject while the focus is constant. Tracking is (like zooming) draws the audience into a closer relationship with the subject, moving away tends to create emotional distance.

Tracking back: tends to divert attention to the edges of the screen and the speed of tracking may affect the viewer’s mood.

Pan: the camera moves from left to right or right to left to follow a moving subject.

Whip pan: is when a very fast pan causes the subject to blur, for example in sports relief the panning shot on YouTube blurs Richard Hammond and the lady next to him going back and forth when they are speaking.

Hand held camera: is used to produce a jerky, bouncy, unsteady image/footage which can create a sense of immediacy or chaos.

Steady cam: a hand held camera worn as a kind of harness. It uses a gyroscope system to ensure the camera remains perfectly level and smooth as the camera moves.

Tilt Shot: is where the camera moves from up to down or down to up from a fixed point.

Crane Shot: a camera is mounted on a crane and it moves around at a distance above ground level and it can move up or down left or right used for most panning shots. Example is when brad pit is chasing the killer in the film seven over the roof tops when he is walking on an air duct.

Rolling Shot: a camera moves diagonally, which makes the image askew (often used to show that a character is drugged/drunk). 

Aerial Shot: is where the camera looks down on something and it is like a birds eye view shot.

If your confused about any of the camera movements, angles or shots watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1japIhKU9I