LEARNING OUTCOMES h

Section 1: Understand the development and principles of editing.

Learning Objective 1: Understand the development and principles of editing.You must have an understanding of the following: in-camera editing; following the action; multiple points of view; shot variation; manipulation of diegetic time and space; film, video; analogue; digital

Research question 1: Can you name some of the pioneers of film making in the late 19 th Century and early 20 th Century? Why were they pioneers?

Early pioneers of filmmaking.

Why were they considered film pioneers?

Examples of their film production with images and references.

Thomas Edison [American inventor]

Thomas Edison was a pioneer as he invented the first motion picture Kinetoscope in 1888. A Kinetoscope allowed people to see moving images for the first time.

This was from the film A Trip To Mars in 1910; it was produced in his Home Kinetoscope in 1910, which was the first American science fiction movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np7VImsSMQM

The Lumiere Bros [French inventors]

The Lumiere Brothers devised an early motion picture camera and projector called the Cinematographe.

This was from their film called Exiting the Factory in 1895 that was the first ever projected film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO0EkMKfgJI

R.W Paul [English electrician]

Robert W. Paul pioneered a system of projecting motion pictures onto a screen.The use of his Theatograph in music halls up and down the country popularized cinemas. He started to edit to establish continuity.

His film ‘Come Along, Do’ in 1898 was one of the first films to feature more than one shot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLIitJyQo50

Cecil Hepworth [British film director]

Cecil Hepworth is the pioneer of ‘Comic’ films; he placed emphasis on story telling.

His film ‘Rescued by Rover’ in 1905 contains more than 20 shots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlhNxHfyWTU

Edwin Porter [American producer and director]

One of Porter’s many duties included the illegal duplication of Méliès films. He would take apart one act reels and combine several of these into a fifteen minute programme.

The Great Train Robbery in 1903 benefited from a strong storyline, well composed, sophisticated camera work, long shots and no cuts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0oBQIWAfe4

Georges Méliès [French illusionist and film maker]

Georges Méliès used a combination of traditional theatrical elements to motion pictures. This was discovered from an incident of his camera jamming on shoot of his film.

His film ‘A Trip To The Moon’ in 1902 uses transitions and special effects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FrdVdKlxUk

D.W Griffith[American Film Director]

D.W. Griffith was one of cinema's earliest directors and producers, known for his innovations and for directing the 1915 film Birth of a Nation.

‘The Birth of a Nation’ in 1915 made pioneering use of advanced camera and narrative techniques and also set the stage of the feature length film in the United States, however his film has been highly controversial because of its storyline that positioned the creation of the Ku Klux Klan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=302YMeiDSrI

Research question 2 : Can you list some examples of early film production? Include screen shots where necessary. Why are these good examples?

Give early examples of film production.

Discuss why these were good examples and detail specific scenes/shots which are interesting and demonstrate pioneering developments.

Come Along, Do! (1898)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbje9K0KsBQ

‘Come Along, Do!’ was important in film editing development because it was one of the earliest multi shot fiction films. It is a two shot film shot entirely on a constructed set and is thought to have been joined by a simple slice.

A Trip to the Moon (1902)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FrdVdKlxUk

‘A Trip to the Moon’ was one of the earliest known science fiction films. Also, a segment near the end of the film was animated, making it one of the first animated films as well.

The Great Train Robbery (1903)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BINBZE5XFR4

‘The Great Train Robbery’ was important in film editing development because the film used simple editing techniques where each scene is a single shot and the story is mostly linear, being one of the first narrative movies. This film also caused an effect on the audience as in the film, the final shot of a gun being fired toward the camera; the audience thought they were actually going to be shot.

The Big Swallow (1901)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxcVzs88xRg

‘The Big Swallow’ is important for the development of film editing as it has imaginative use of an extreme close up of a man advancing towards the camera, in perfect focus until this mouth appears to swallow the lens. It then cuts to the photographer who is

apparently disappearing into a black hole.

Stop Thief! (1901) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kcc6eux9Qg

‘Stop Thief!’ advanced development in film editing, as it was one of the first ‘chase’ films to be made. It features three sequential shots

with high-speed dramatic action and a fully worked-out narrative with a clear beginning.

Tarzan of the Apes (1918)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFwhKVRpC8QThe Jazz Singer (1927) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkUKloVCzcM

‘The Jazz Singer’ was the first feature-length movie audible dialogue. It was also the first film musical. This movie was the decline of the silent film era.

Blackmail (1929) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4UkbBUOOcg

Generally acknowledged as the first British talkie, and definitely the first sound-on-film British talkie. Much of the film was originally shot silent; when sound became available during the course of shooting, director Alfred Hitchcock re-shot certain scenes with sound.

Research Question 3: What would you say are some of the characteristics of early film production? Think about the type of shots, framing, pacing.List the characteristics of early film production.

Why was this technique used? Provide examples.

FramingA film frame is one of the many still images, which compose the complete moving picture.

LightingIn early film production, filmmakers didn’t know about artificial lighting so they relied entirely on bright daylight. So they would either shoot outside or inside a studio built with either an open-air design or a glass roof.

Shot times

Movement

Analogue editingAnalogue editing, which were before computers, were all done with hand. They took the film and cut it in different parts using a splicer and pasted it onto different places of film to create the cutaway. With analogue editing it then had to be fed through a machine.

Research question 4: Modern Day Film Makers An auteur is a filmmaker who has an individual style and has complete control over all elements of production, which gives a film its personal and unique stamp. Using the stimulus table below discuss some of these key modern day directors and their key films which demonstrate their style.

Modern auteurs of filmmaking.

Why are they considered auteurs?

Examples of their film production with images.

Alfred HitchcockHe is known for his command over the thriller/suspense genre, and all of his films feature key themes, symbols, artistic and technical choices that make every one of them true to him.

Martin ScorseseHis films have consistent themes, pacing, and aesthetics. From a story stand point many of his films depict a character's rise and humbling fall and are often narrated.

Quentin TarantinoTarantino is well known for his pop culture references, he often incorporates elements of other director's work as a way to pay homage to his influences. His films are instantly recognizable by their mixture of humour, violence and complete madness.

Stanley KubrickHe has very specific ideas and he has a very specific way of filmmaking, he uses similar shots, similar sound tracks, and even similar crew and filming locations. His films were known for their amazing and unique cinematography, attention to detail, realism and beautiful soundtracks.

Steven Spielberg

Activity 5: Create a timeline of the development of editing. Use a site such as Popplet or Padlet to present the development. Use images and state why this was a key development in the editing process. Use the following subheadings to gather your research:

Editing Development Why was this significant in the development of editing and can you think of examples of each? Look back at your research above.

In-camera editing;

Eg. Hitchcock ‘Rope’. Think about how he achieved this and why?

In camera editing is planning a lot so that the shots are filmed in the precise order they will be presented. Some of this time can be reclaimed as there is no editing, cutting out or reordering scenes later one.

Following the action; shot variation;

Think about how as films developed directors became more creative with their shot variation (multi camera techniques) and how this adds pace to the scene. Use specific examples.

Shot variations are filming something from different distances. This was significant in the development of editing as it allowed to audience to see the scene from different distances. A long shot is where the audience get to see the bigger picture during the film as it will show a couple of characters and their surrounds. A medium shot shows one characters emotion and a bit of surrounding/bit of action during the film, but it also keeps some information out that the audience may find out later in the film. A close up only shows one characters expression or emotion. This normally happens when something big happens to show the audience how that certain character about the situation.

Manipulation of diegetic time and space; multiple points of view;

Remember this is how an editor creates a sense of time, space and unfolding narrative for the audience. Think about why this is an important factor in filmmaking and identify SPECIFIC examples and techniques employed by directors.

Film,

Early editing meant that editors had to be very precise when cutting the film. Invention of the ‘splicer’ meant that this sped up the editing time.

Video;

Video is an electronic

medium for the recording, copying and broadcasting of moving visual images. Early videotapes could record up to one hour. WE have since now moved on to digital which is a cheaper method of video production.

Analogue;

Eg. Tape based editing. Editing in linear fashion. Flatbed editing, ‘Splicing’

Digital

Modern method of editing using computers. Allows for more creativity and special effects. Final Cut, Avid etc.

.

Section 2: Purposes of Film and Video EditingYou must have an understanding of the following: storytelling, eg engaging the viewer, development of drama, relationship to genre, creating motivation; combining shots into sequences; creating pace.

Activity 1: Using appropriate terminology (use your editing convention glossary) gives examples of the techniques and the purpose of these techniques in a range of media. Media Techniques used Purpose of these

techniquesFilmWe Need To Talk About Kevin [Dir. Lynne Ramsey, 2011]

Continuous shots, graphic match

In the film ‘We Need To Talk About Kevin’, continuous shots are used in the beginning scene to create confusion and tension for the audience as they are watching. Graphic matches were used during the scene were the girl is playing with her doll and is her hitting her off the table, it then cuts to a boy bouncing a basketball but it uses the same sound effect as the girl playing with the doll.

AdvertJohn Lewis advert 2014Music promo videoLady Gaga ‘Bad Romance’TV DramaThe Missing [BBC1, 2014]

Section 3: Conventions and TechniquesYou must have an understanding of the following: seamless; continuity; motivated; montage; jump-cutting; parallel editing; 180o rule; splicing; transitions, eg cut, dissolve, fade, wipe; cutaways; point of view shot; shot-reverse-shot; providing and withholding information; editing rhythm; crosscutting; cutting to soundtrack

Activity 1: Create a glossary of key editing and camera terminology and give examples of each. Remember to fully reference each film.

Technique Why would this technique be used?

Give a detailed film example and discuss the purpose of this and the effect this has on the audience.

Seamless This would be used to show a continuous and natural flow of scene.

Seamless is the flow of action on screen, for example, people walking.

Continuity editing The purpose of continuity editing is to smooth over the inherent discontinuity of the editing process and to establish a logical coherence between shots.

Continuity editing is the predominant style of film editing and video editing in the post-production process of filmmaking of narrative films and television programs. For example, the film Twilight, when the vampires are running, it shows the scenes from different angles but keeping the scene continuous.

Motivated This technique can be used in horror films to increase tension.

A motivated edit is when the scene cuts to another scene or object that was not in the previous science. Can be used in horror films, for example Scream, when in the first shot she is on the phone and the camera is facing her and the doors are behind, then the next shot is the swing in the garden slowly swinging, suggesting someone is out there.

Montage This technique is used to condense space, time and information so the viewer doesn’t get bored and they constantly intrigued in the film. Montages also inform the audience.

This technique is used in film editing in which a series of short shots are editing into a sequence to condense space, time and information.For example, Dirty Dancing uses this technique to show the woman’s improvement in dancing using only a few shots.

Jump Cutting Jump Cutting is used to show disorientation or state of mind of a character.

A jump cut is an example of the elliptical style of editing where one shot seems to be abruptly interrupted. The background will change while the individuals stay the same. For example, in the film Royal Tenenbaums when the actor is cutting his hair, it uses very short clips rather than long shots.

Parallel editing/cross cut

Parallel editing is used to add interest and excitement to an otherwise boring sequence. Parallel editing is often applied to create suspense.

Parallel editing is a technique used to portray multiple lines of action, occurring in different places, simultaneously. A film example is Inception to show someone in a hotel rushing, but then another scene of a car chase but both of the scenes link in some way.

180 degree rule The 180-degree rule is used so that the viewer doesn’t get confused when watching. The only time you can cross the line is if you show it on camera to the viewer.

The 180-degree rule is a basic guideline regarding the on-screen spatial relationship between a character and another character or object within a scene.

Splicing Splicing is the cutting and then joining of two bits of film.

Transitions eg. Dissolve, fade, wipe

Transitions can be used to invoke emotions.

A transition can be used to suit the mood of the film narrative.

Cutaways Cutaway shots are used in dramatic films to adjust the pace of the main action, to conceal the deletion of some unwanted part of the main shot, or to allow the joining of parts of two versions of that shot.

Cutaway shot is the interruption of a continuously filmed action by inserting a view of something else. A film example is The Godfather when Michael is telling Kay about his father’s relationship with singer Johnny Fontaine. It happens right after

Michael says, “That’s a true story.”

Point of view shot Point of view shots can be used to involve the viewer as it can be as though the viewer is also looking at what the character is looking at.

A camera shot, which shows the viewpoint from a particular subject. Usually from the characters point of view. A film example is Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2, when Bella wakes up as a vampire; her eyesight is much better so it shows you what she can see.

Shot reverse shot Shot reverse shot is used to show people talking so you can see both people talking rather than just one. Also, rather than panning from both characters.

Shot Reverse Shot is where one character is shown looking at another character and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other. A film example is The Hunger Games when Peter and Katniss are talking and it shows you them both.

Providing and withholding information

This technique makes the narrative more dramatic by giving the audience more information or taking away information.

The editor decides what information the audience needs to make sense of the plot but they will also withhold information to hook the audience and engage them.

Editing rhythm Long takes can be used to build suspense or capture the attention of the audience without breaking their concentration by cutting the film and quick cuts are used to heighten drama and speed.

Pace of the edit. Long takes are simply shots that extend for a long period of time before cutting to the next shot.Quick cuts are used to heighten drama and speed.

Cutting to soundtrack This technique can invoke emotion but also excite the viewer depending on the pace of the shots and the song.

Cutting to soundtrack is when the pace of the cuts are motivated by how fast the song is. The song