The relation of shot to shot: editing

Editing: the relation of shot to shot

  • dimensions:

    • graphic (eg graphic match or contrast)

    • rhythmic (eg rhythmic cutting; pace)

    • spatial (construction of space; orientation

    • temporal (order, duration, frequency)

  • Movie Do the Right Thing: editing and narrative form

    • relevant also to rhetorical, associative, abstract, epistolary forms


narrative form and continuity editing (style)

  • goal is to provide spatiotemporal continuity to an action that would have been perceived as continuous in the realm of the story (though not necessarily having ever been continuous in its staging

  • spatial continuity (even if not always chronologically presented)

    • ellipsis, montage etc

  • continuity to movement of figures (characters, moving objects etc)

  • presence of discontinuity


editing and meaning

  • lev kuleshov’s experiment (1921) — meaning of facial expression changes according to shot that follows

  • constructive editing: building connections between elements that never belonged to the same place (creating meaning through editing)


Editing and clarity

  • analytical editing

    • guides the viewe: cut to close up, draws attention to relevant details (images once belonged to the same space)

  • editing also aims for clarity through the organization of events: temporal dimension


editing styles

  • analytical editing

    • cut type: medium to close up shot

  • match on action

    • continuity: space; movement/action

  • establishing shot

    • establishment of spatial relationship: girl/house (dramatic relevance apparent at the end of the sequence)


continuity editing and spatial relations and orientation

  • establishing shots (spatial relations between elements: distance, angle etc)

  • 180-degree system

    • keeps consistency

180 degree system


transition shots

  • cut to transition to different space, main connection is graphic similarity (graphic match)


types of shot transitions (joins)

  • cut

  • dissolve (brief superimposition)

  • fade (in/out)

  • wipe

this helps to specify dramatic or narrative effects, depending on the context


POV and reaction shots

  • includes split-screen effect; analytical editing

  • helps establish the spatial orientation

  • there is also an eyeline match


Graphic match and meaning

  • foreshadowing

    • inversion = dramatic effect; graphic match (or clash), color


inversion

  • inversion + opposing directions (similarity and contrast)

  • dramatic effect (building up suspense


acceleration

  • faster pace/rhythm

  • graphic (and aural) match


similar actions

  • similar actions/movements by different characters in different spaces (tension) + faster pace (temporal (shot duration); and rhythm)


editing and suspense: temporal dimension

  • cutting across different elements of the action and different spaces delays conclusion of events

  • editing is temporal dimension: duration (expanded or shortened)

  • other temporal dimensions

    • chronology

    • frequency


interactions: editing, mise-en-scene, cinematography

  • slow motion: cinematography (speed of motion)

  • camera movement and framing: equally relevant

  • graphic matches: color, shapes, acting (mise-en-scene)


discontinuity

  • frequency (repetition)

  • jump cuts

  • breaking of 180-degree system

  • things won’t really change graphically from shot to shot


beyond narrative: editing and the associative form

  • Associations (John Smith, 1975)

  • still images match words or parts of words:

    • “player” in VO matches “players” cigarette pack

    • “2” stands for “to”

    • “thyme” stands for “time”

    • an image of a general matches the word “generally” in the VO narration