Lesson 4Lesson 4:EditingEditing
Professor Aaron Baker
Previous LecturePrevious Lecture
• Mise-en-Scene• Narrative Function
in Smoke Signals (1998)
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This Lecture This Lecture
• Editing• Continuity and
Discontinuity in The Limey (1999)
Part I: EditingPart I: Editing
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Editing Editing
• Coordinating One Shot with Next
• Most Analyzed Aspect Film Form
• First Films Just One Shot
• Now Hollywood Films 1-3 K
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1896 - Edison's film entitled The Kiss saw May Irwin and John C. Rice re-enact the final scene from the Broadway play musical The Widow Jones - it was a close-up of a kiss.
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Ways to EditWays to Edit
• In-Camera• Storyboarding• Editing Table• Now Computerized• Final Cut Back on
Negative
Shot RelationsShot Relations
Four Principles by Which to Connect Shots:
• Graphic - Composition• Rhythmic - Length• Spatial - Build Space• Temporal Relations - Define Time
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Graphic EditingGraphic Editing
• Continuity
• Contrast
• Pictorial Content
• Movement/Stasis
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RhythmicRhythmic• Temporal Length of
Shot• Long Shots –
contemplative • Short Shots –
energy• ASL in Hollywood
Now: Few Seconds
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Spatial RelationsSpatial Relations
• Editing Can Create Story Space
• Spaces Juxtaposed to Suggest Contiguous
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CrosscuttingCrosscutting
• Parallel Editing • We See Simultaneous Actions in Different
Spaces• Spaces Linked• Cause and Effect Relationship Between Actions in Two Places
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Crosscutting (continued)Crosscutting (continued)
• Unrestricted Range of Knowledge
• Please watch the clip to see e.g. of crosscutting in Syriana (2005).
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Four Spaces ParalleledFour Spaces Paralleled
Editing Here Connects Four Spaces:
• Convoy
• CIA
• Oil Execs at Banquet
• Clooney Character
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Editing and Time Editing and Time
• Controls Time of Story• Supports Plot’s Manipulation of
Story• Determines Order, Duration, Frequency of Story Actions
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Part II:Part II:Continuity and Discontinuity Continuity and Discontinuity
Editing in Editing in The LimeyThe Limey
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OrderOrder• Usually Chronological• Flashbacks• Flashforwards• Please watch a clip
from The Limey.
• Back and Forth in Conversation, Plane, Gun, Warehouse
MemoryMemory• Present Tense: Wilson in LA for Revenge
• Flashbacks to Memories: Plane, Jenny as Girl, When She Confronted Drug Smugglers
• His Motivation
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RevengeRevenge
• Flashforwards Show What Wilson Wants
• Hint at Why Won’t Satisfy
• Violent Future Can’t Change Past Failed Relationship
E.g. Editing Often EllipticalE.g. Editing Often Elliptical
• Events Shown With Less Screen Time Than in Story
• Less Important
Events Omitted By
Plot
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Overlapping Editing Overlapping Editing
• Repeating an Action to Expand Story Time
• Lends Emphasis
• Please watch a clip from Do the Right Thing (1989)
• Important Action: Can Hits Window Twice
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Continuity EditingContinuity Editing
• Dominant in Hollywood Film
• Certain Rhythms: Long Shots Longer than Close Ups
• Main Objective: Clear Space and Time to Tell Story
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Continuity TransitionsContinuity Transitions
Move Story Forward, Demphasize Editing:
• 180 Degree Rule
• Match on Action
• Eyeline Match
• Shot/Reverse Shot
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Other TransitionsOther Transitions
• Fade out/in• Dissolve • Time Passing• Wipe • Iris • Straight Cut• Still Aide Story
Less Invisible
More Continuity DevicesMore Continuity Devices
• Establishing Shot – Whole Narrative Space
• Breakdown (Coverage) – Closer Views
• Restablishment Shot – New Character, Action
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Such Analytical Cutting Such Analytical Cutting
• Directs Our Attention
• Emphasizes Dialogue, Reaction,
Cause and Effect
• Create Narrative Continuity
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The LimeyThe Limey
• Please watch a clip from The Limey that illustrates analytical editing.
• In this scene, Wilson hunts Valentine down in his Big Sur house.
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Establishing ShotEstablishing Shot
• Of driveway • Followed by closer
shots in house• Gunfight• Restablishing shots
as Valentine escapes house, Wilson follows
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Intensified ContinuityIntensified Continuity
• 1930-60 Classical Continuity Style
• 300-500 Shots
• Now 1-3 K
• New Continuity to Match New Pace
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Contemporary EditingContemporary Editing
• More Close Ups (CUs)
• Closer Framing Easier to Understand When Shots are Short
• Mobile Camera
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1960- Present1960- Present Films Seen on TV Films Seen on TV
• Faster Editing, Moving Camera Energize Smaller Image
• Holds Viewer Attention in Era of Distraction
• CUs Present More on Smaller Screen
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Discontinuity Editing Discontinuity Editing
• Connections Not Obvious, Invisible
• Viewer Interprets
Assigns Temporal,
Spatial, Causal
Relations
Between Shots
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Discontinuity DevicesDiscontinuity Devices
• Jump Cut:
Transition from one shot to next “jumps” on screen
• Makes viewer aware of editing
• What is filmmaker presenting in these shots?
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Discontinuity in Discontinuity in The Limey The Limey
• Please rewatch the first part of the clip we saw earlier from The Limey.
• Jump Cuts as Eduardo and Wilson Talk
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Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions
• Why these jump cuts?
• Asking Us to Evaluate Characters?
• Post a response on the eBoard to these questions and the comment of a colleague.
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Summary Summary
• Editing• Continuity and
Discontinuity• The Limey (1999)
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Next Lecture: Cinematography36
End of Lecture 4End of Lecture 4