1.4 Basic editing terminology and concepts

Motion picture editing is the art of storytelling through visual manipulation. It's where raw footage transforms into a cohesive narrative. From basic cuts to complex montages, editors use various techniques to craft the viewer's experience and evoke emotions.

Understanding editing terminology is crucial for aspiring filmmakers. Concepts like continuity, pacing, and rhythm shape how audiences perceive and connect with a film. Mastering these elements allows editors to create seamless, engaging stories that captivate viewers from start to finish.

Essential Editing Terms

Basic Building Blocks

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• Cut: an instantaneous change from one shot to another, serving as the most basic and common type of transition in film editing
• Transition: a method used to move from one shot to another, which can include cuts, fades, dissolves, wipes, and other special effects
• Shot: a continuous piece of footage captured by a camera without interruption, serving as the basic building block of a film
• Scene: a series of shots that take place in a single location or depict a continuous action, often used to advance the story or reveal character information

Advanced Techniques

• Montage: a sequence of shots edited together to convey a passage of time, a series of events, or a particular theme or emotion (Rocky training montage, the baptism sequence in The Godfather)
• Sequence: a series of scenes that are connected by a common narrative thread, theme, or location, often building towards a climax or resolution (the Battle of Helm's Deep in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)

Edit Types and Storytelling

Transitions and Cuts

• Hard cut: an abrupt transition from one shot to another, often used to create a sense of shock, surprise, or emphasis (the shower scene in Psycho)
• Jump cut: a cut between two shots that are similar in composition or action, creating a jarring effect that can be used to convey a character's mental state or a passage of time (the opening sequence of Breathless)
• Match cut: a transition between two shots that share a similar composition, action, or visual element, often used to create a sense of continuity or to draw parallels between different scenes or characters (the bone to spaceship transition in 2001: A Space Odyssey)
• Smash cut: a sudden and unexpected transition from one shot to another, often used to create a sense of humor, irony, or contrast (the "I am Jack's complete lack of surprise" scene in Fight Club)

Parallel Action

• Crosscutting: an editing technique that alternates between two or more scenes happening simultaneously in different locations, often used to create suspense, contrast, or to show the relationship between different characters or events (the climax of The Silence of the Lambs)
• Parallel editing: a technique similar to crosscutting, but the scenes being juxtaposed may not be happening simultaneously, instead drawing thematic or emotional parallels between different storylines (the baptism and murder sequence in The Godfather)

Continuity Editing Principles

Maintaining Spatial Continuity

• 180-degree rule: states that the camera should stay on one side of an imaginary line, called the axis, to maintain spatial continuity between shots and avoid disorienting the viewer
• 30-degree rule: suggests that when cutting between shots of the same subject, the camera angle should change by at least 30 degrees to avoid a jump cut and maintain a sense of continuity
• Eye-line matching: ensures that the direction of a character's gaze remains consistent from shot to shot, helping to maintain spatial continuity and guide the viewer's attention
• Match on action: a technique where a cut occurs during a character's movement, making the action appear continuous across two shots and maintaining visual continuity

Establishing and Emphasizing

• Establishing shots: wide shots that show the overall location or context of a scene, often used at the beginning of a sequence to orient the viewer and establish spatial relationships (the opening shot of The Shining)
• Insert shots: close-up shots of specific details or objects that are relevant to the story or character, often used to provide additional information or to emphasize a particular element within a scene (the glowing briefcase in Pulp Fiction)

Rhythm and Pacing in Editing

Timing and Tempo

• Rhythm in film editing: refers to the pattern and timing of cuts, which can be used to create a sense of momentum, tension, or emotion in a scene
• Pacing: refers to the speed and tempo of a sequence, which can be manipulated through the length and frequency of shots to create a sense of urgency, suspense, or relaxation
• Cutting on action: can help to maintain a scene's rhythm and pacing by creating a sense of continuous movement and energy
• Varying shot lengths: can be used to control the pacing of a sequence, with shorter shots creating a sense of intensity or chaos, and longer shots allowing for moments of reflection or contemplation

Sound and Juxtaposition

• Music and sound effects: can greatly influence the perceived rhythm and pacing of a sequence, with faster or more intense music often used to heighten tension or excitement (the use of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" in The Social Network)
• Kuleshov effect: demonstrates how the juxtaposition of different shots can create new meanings and emotional responses in the viewer, highlighting the power of editing in shaping the rhythm and pacing of a film (the classic Kuleshov experiment with the actor Ivan Mosjoukine)