Conventions of Filming & EditingPutting it into Context

Starting point - early film

It is useful to look back at early examples of film, in order to understand the basic

conventions of filming and editing that are so familiar to us today.

Watch the first two short films:

1. The Miller and The Sweep (1897) - https://youtu.be/C7DVlePBQts

2. The Great Train Robbery (1903) - http://youtu.be/69grwvuVEec

Note down what they do in the second film that is different from the first (i.e. development in

terms of filming or editing) – what difference does this make for the audience?

Modern Day

Now watch this more recent example from Skyfall (2012) and note down any differences

from the first two films and the impact this has on the audience:

Skyfall scene - http://youtu.be/eZ_Ki2yfkKQ

Modern Day

The following modern day clip from Public Enemies (2009) also provides a useful comparison to The

Great Train Robbery example.

Watch the clip and note down what you know about Johnny Depp’s character by the end of the clip.

Public Enemies scene - http://youtu.be/Ywd-UZnkfR8

How does this compare to what we learn about the robbers in the 1903 film? What is it about the

way in which Public Enemies is filmed that gives the audience this character insight?

You should now be able to discuss the impact of at least three filming and editing

techniques on meaning created for the audience.