Research On Editing Techniques

The first editing technique i looked at is the most used one and that is the Cut. A cut is a sudden change of shot from one viewpoint of another. This can change the scene, compress time, vary the view point or build up an image or idea to the audience. The brain starts to loose concentration between 6 and 10 seconds of the same image so that's why most TV programmes cut every 7-8 seconds. I will be using this in my production to compress time and to sharply change to a different shot.

I also looked at a Matched Cut this is where the shots that you are cutting between have a similar feature so the cut is made more smooth. This can be done by having a similar centre of attention, continuity of direction or a change of shot size by one step (for example a long shot to a medium shot). This is used a lot in action films where the audience are watching what is taking place and are less likely to notice the cut. (If some one is thrown threw a door, a matched cut will be the shot from inside the room and then change to a shot from the hallway) I will be using matched cut a lot to show some one running in the same direction on the scene using the 180 degree rule, also as the perosn ruinning is the similare centre of attention in the shots it will work efficiently

A Jumped Cut is a abrupt switch from one scene to another, this can confuse the audience, but has to be done well as it can look amateur if not done successfully. It can also be used to make a dramatic point. I wont be using this in my production because it will look ameteur and  there arnt any scene switches.

A Motivated Cut is used when what i has happened in the shot makes the audience immediately want to see something which currently can not be scene. For example when people are speaking, shot/reverse shot is a form of a motivated cut. As people are not speaking in mine this is not necessary.

A change in the Cutting Rate can also be used to portray an emotion to the audience, for example suddenly using more frequent cuts can be used as an emphasise or a shock or surprise. There will be quick shot in the beginning of my production to show the person running confused and adjitated.

Cross-Cut, is very simple and is just a cut from one line of action to another, i wont be using htis in my opening sequence as two bits of action arnt goign to be happenign at once.

Cutting Rhythm is normally used in music videos but i could use it in my opening sequence as it increases tension, and can slow create excitement. There will be backgorund tension music in my producrtion an di will make some of the clips cut in itme to the beat to create a sense of movement but not all of them.

A Cutaway Shot Is used when you want to show that two things are happening at one time so you cut away from each location. I wont be havvign two scenes at once, so wont need to use a cutaway shot.


You can Insert a Shot in to a bigger one which can show two things happening at once. This could be useful two me as i can only make my opening sequence two minutes long, so it means i can show the audience more in a certain time frame. Although i dont think it will be necessary to use this.

A Buffer Shot could be very useful to me, as in my running scenes, if in one shot he is running from left to right and then in another shot he is running from right to left, you can put a buffer shot in between to stop the audience getting confused,m although i will want to keep continuity an make them run form the same side.

Transitions like Fades, Dissolves and Wipes can be used to make normally cuts look less abrupt, and can give an impression of two images merging together. I wanted to ues these but then can express time duration which i don't want to do.

Superimposition's are two or more images placed directly on top of each other. I think this will look weird and out of place in my production.

An Insert is where a main shot is imposed by a reduced shot, mainly used to show a close up. But again this will look weird in my production.

Split Screen is where the screen is split in to different section showing different shots. It can be anything from two different shots and above although too many can overload the audience. And i don't think two shots is needed to give the emotions to the viewers that i want to.

Stock Shot is where you get left over footage, and realise it can go in to the production but in a different way that you planned on it doing so. I might use this as if i can improve the production by using left over clips i will do.

Invisible Editing is where you use continuity editing and make it seem like the shot is the same, this is sometimes used with transitions. I will try to do it as big productions use it a lot and in the running section this could work well.