Editing Task

Film originated in the 1890s, which was when camera technology had been developed enough to be able to capture motion pictures. However, because of the primitive technology, the first films made were barely a minute long, and were unedited and they consisted wholly of single, static shots. One of the first films to have more than one shot was R. W. Paul’s Come Along, Do! (1898), which showed a couple having lunch outside an art exhibition, and then follow people through the door. The second shot shows the inside of the exhibition. However, the person who is most credited in the history of film is D. W. Griffith, who is known as a pioneer of various film shots, including the 180 degree rule, establishing shot, and some claim he even invented the close up.

As the ability to create film grew, the ways to edit were created and put to use. George Albert Smith and James Williamson were innovative in their editing, tinting their films with colour and using trick photography. Filmmakers Edwin S. Porter and Georges Méliès were using more editing techniques such as the dissolve, and cross-cutting. In the early days of film, editing consisted of tampering with the actual footage, such as physically cutting and pasting two parts of film together. Or, a dissolve could be used as a transition, which was originally in camera editing, where the last few seconds of a negative would be rewound, and filming would be continued. This would make the last few seconds of the first shot fade out, then the second shot would fade in over it.

By the 1990s digital cinematography was more commonly used, and computer-editing software was being used in Hollywood as well as the original film. Editing software is now more publicly available, and footage can be uploaded and edited, not physically altered.  

This fast paced scene from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World includes several types of shots. 




Before this clip starts, there is an establishing shot of the club as Ramona and Scott enter it, this allows the audience to know where the next scene will be taking place. 

180-degree rule: this consists of an imaginary line in a scene, and all shots should be kept on one side of it. If the line is crossed, it can lead to confusion as to where the characters are in the scene and in relation to each other. An example of this can be seen at (0:02-0:05), when Scott and Ramona are talking. The camera remains over Ramona’s left shoulder when Scott is talking, and over Scott’s right shoulder when Ramona is talking. This is an example of how the 180-degree rule can be used in a shot reverse shot, which is when a person A can be seen looking at person B, then person B can be seen looking at person A.

Point of view shot: The title for this shot is self-explanatory; as they are shots are from a characters point of view. A point of view shot is used in this scene at (0:09-0:12), when we see Roxy for the first time in this scene, standing over Scott after she knocked him down.

Cutting to soundtrack: each cut is influenced by the background music that is used, so as the tension builds from (0:17), the ambient sounds are replaced by music, which then builds as a fight breaks out.

Close ups: Close ups are shots where the camera is very close to a characters face to convey subtle or important emotion. A close up is used at (0:27) on Roxy’s face as Scott realises she dated Ramona in the past. This shot is used to show Roxy triumphant and bragging facial expression, and then focuses on her mouth to convey the sexual nature of her relationship with Roxy. Close ups are often used as reaction shots. This shot shows characters reactions to events that occur. A reaction shot is used at (0:45) as Scott is seen lifting his hands to protect his face when Roxy lifts her leg to kick him.

Match cuts on action: a match on action is when an action is seen taking place in one shot, and is continued in the next, which keeps continuity. A match on action can be seen at (0:53) of this clip, when Ramona is seen throwing Roxy’s foot, and the next shot we see Roxy flying back.

Motivated editing: motivated editing is used to make the audience anticipate what the next shot will be, thus involving them more in the storyline. For example, Roxy pulls off her belt at (1:01), to be used as a weapon and Ramona is seen pulling a hammer out of her bag at (1:08), so the audience can predict that the two will fight each other.

Cutaways: This is used to give extra information for the scene, but from a different shot outside the original, and then returns to the first shot. This can be seen at (1:26-1:31) when Ramona and Roxy are fighting, and Scott stops to talk to Wallace. This break is used to create comedy in an otherwise fast paced scene. The editing rhythm of this scene is fast paced. This means that the cuts are frequent and the shots are shot to make the action sequence more intense. 

Cross cutting: This is a technique used to show two events happening at the same time, and the scenes cross over each other until they come to a meeting point. At (3:06-3:21), Roxy appears to have defeated Scott, but cross cutting is used to show Ramona telling Scott her weakness. Shots of Roxy bringing her leg down are show in between the two talking, and the dialogue is slightly slowed to show the whole moment is going a lot faster than appears on screen. The cross cutting is ended by Scott jabbing Roxy in the back of her knee.