2. 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 19th Century and early 20th Century?
Why were they pioneers?
Early
pioneers
of
filmmaki
ng.
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/watc
h?v=np7VImsSMQM
The
The Lumiere Brothers
devised an early
This was from their film called
Exiting the Factory in 1895 that
3. Lumiere
Bros
[French
inventors]
motion picture camera
and projector called
the Cinematographe.
was the first ever projected
film.
https://www.youtube.com/watc
h?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/watc
h?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/watc
h?v=LlhNxHfyWTU
One of Porter’s many The Great Train Robbery in
4. Edwin
Porter
[American
producer
and
director]
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.
1903 benefited from a strong
storyline, well composed,
sophisticated camera work, long
shots and no cuts.
https://www.youtube.com/watc
h?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/watc
h?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/watc
h?v=302YMeiDSrI
5. 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/w
atch?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/w
atch?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/w
atch?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/w
atch?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.
6. Stop Thief! (1901)
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?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/w
atch?v=dFwhKVRpC8Q
The Jazz Singer (1927)
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?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/w
atch?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.
Framing
A film frame is one of the many still images,
which compose the complete moving picture.
Lighting
In 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
7. Movement
Analogue editing
Analogue 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 Hitchcock
He 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 Scorsese
His 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.
8. Quentin Tarantino
Tarantino 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 Kubrick
He 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
9. 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
10. 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.
.
11. Section 2: Purposes of Film and Video Editing
You 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
techniques
Film
We 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.
Advert
John Lewis advert
2014
Music promo video
Lady Gaga ‘Bad
Romance’
TV Drama
The Missing [BBC1,
2014]
12. Section 3: Conventions and Techniques
You 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
13. 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
The 180-degree rule is
a basic guideline
regarding the on-
screen spatial
relationship between a
character and another
14. show it on camera to
the viewer.
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
15. 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