AS Media Studies

Media Language:

Editing

What is Editing?

• Editing literally refers to how shots are put together into sequences to make up a media text – TV programme or film.

• Editing (just like lighting, sound etc…) can create meanings for the audience an create an emotional response to a scene.

Continuity Editing (or chronological editing)

• Continuity editing is the dominant form of editing in mainstream media texts.

• It is also known as ‘invisible editing’ as it is designed to make the narrative flow seamlessly (so we don’t see the joins!)

Continuity Editing

• Continuity editing is made up of rules or conventions….

• Establishing shots• 180 degree rule• Straight cuts• Match Cuts• Shot reverse shot• Three part shots

It also makes the diegesis- the world of the programme- real to us!

Believable!

Other types of Editing

• Cross Cutting: Is the linking of two different events (or scenes of action) and cutting consistently between the two.

• It is used to create tension and suspense and to speed up the narrative – often used in action sequences.

• Montage: The cutting between different events in a sequence to create meaning.

• Elliptical editing: when editing is used to take out time from a programme that is unimportant.

Task

• Identify the type of editing being used in this extract…(there may be more than one!)

• Ghostbusters

Other terms associated with editing• A Cut: the direct splicing of two shots together

• A Jump Cut – when there is not match between the shots spliced together. The scene cuts harshly from one space and time to a completely different one. It jolts the audience and disorientates them.

• A Dissolve: when one image slowly dissolves to replace the other.

• A Wipe cuts : when the next shot wipes across the screen replacing the other

• A Fade in/out: usually fading to black or in from black to signal the start or end of the scene for the audience.

Task One!

• Watch the following clip from Oldboy

• Identify the cuts being used

• Why have the producers used them? What effect do they have?

Speed of Editing

• The speed of the editing in scenes determines the mood of the programme…

• Fast paced editing- when shots are cut short – it creates excitement and anxiety in the audience

• Slow paced editing: shots last longer between cuts – creating a calm relaxed mood.

Editing Task

• Identify the pace of editing and explain why it has been used.

• ET

• Forrest Gump

Motion: Editing Effects

• Slow motion

• Fast Motion

• Freeze Frame

• Reverse

• Task: Identify the use of editing/motion in the scene from Hero – why is it used?