Editing

There is an awful lot to consider when it comes to the editing of a short film. Some of the elements include: order of shots/shot choices, continuity, transitions, shot duration, pace rhythm and post production/visual effects. It was important to consider why each of these factors were vital to the short film and why getting them right was vital.

Order of shots- the meaning of a clip can change completely depending on the order in which they are cut together. Putting two shots together can suggest a connection or emphasise a contrast, and these both have a complete opposite effect on the target audience so it is important to keep the meaning behind each shot in mind. It can reveal who motivates the edit. Screen time also links to this as the order of shots can also show more of a particular character and give us clearer perspectives of their motives. It also indicates the importance of each character in the scene.

Continuity- in regards to editing continuity is the cutting of shots in order to tell a story with narrative continuity. It helps the viewer make sense of the action by implying spatial relationships and ensuring smooth flow from shot to shot. Continuity creates realism especially when the edit on screen is invisible so that the action appears less constructed. There are certain camera movements that make continuity much more effective.
This includes:

• Establishing shot- establishes space within which the action is taking place.
• Shot/reverse shot- highlights conversation or emotions in reactions, facing one another.
• The 180° rule- ensures that the same space is being described in each shot and to do so the shots must remain within the horizontal axis.
• Eyeline match- when a character looks off screen and the next shot shows the audience what they were looking at.
• Action match- character begins to move in one shot and we see this movement continued in the next shot.
• Graphic match- compositional elements match.
• Parallel editing or cross-cutting- when doing these shots between locations coveys the impression that two or more events are occurring simultaneously. Typically done to build tension.

Non-continuity- this is when the continuity is broken and construction of action is more apparent. This is generally done through juxtaposition and metaphor inserts. The techniques that are used to emphasise non-continuity are:

• Cut away- an interruption of the action through the insertion of a view of something else.
• Jump cuts- these shots create a lack of continuity by leaving out parts of the on-screen action. This is most effective when showing the passing of time.

Transitions- the process of cutting from one shot to another is usually done through the use of a straight cut, however there are other means of transition including:

• Fade in/out- most commonly used to establish a new setting or element of narrative and is frequently used in death or endings. It is done when the preceding shot fades into black from which the following shot emerges and vice versa.
• Dissolve/cross fade- this is when the preceding shot merges into the following shot resulting in the two shots being superimposed. The longer the dissolve is, the more noticeable the superimposition becomes.
• Superimposition- placing one shot over another shot to show characters longing or in a supernatural narrative.
• Wipe- when one shot replaces another by travelling from one side of the frame to another with a special shape. There are different types of wipe shots but the one most frequently used is the 'invisible wipe'. They are used to show a change in location or viewpoint.

The purpose of transitions is to imply the passing of time, imply a change in action, or emphasise a connection, what a character is thinking, remembering or dreaming about.

Shot duration/pace rhythm- the duration of the shot will usually reflect the narrative content. For example a short shot conveys action and urgency, whilst a long shot would create a slower pace and conveys intensity and intimacy within the narrative. Long shots allow us to focus upon facial expressions and other aspects of mise en scene which would otherwise be missed.

Post production/visual effects- visual effects are applied in the post-production process to further manipulate the mise en scene of a sequence. Here are just a few elements of short films that can be altered after filming:

• Speed- slow or fast
• Colour- exposure and composition
• Split screen- the frame is split into sections so that we can see different events occurring at once
• CG- computer generated graphics
• Elipsis- presents action in less time on screen than it does in the story
• Expansion of time- opposite of ellipses. When action presented consumes more time on screen than it does in the story e.g. slow-motion
• Inserts- a method of editing where the editor freely moves shots and clips around as they please
• Sound levels- the value and the effects applied e.g. the Doppler effect when something is moving further away
• Silence- no noise for atmosphere

When analysing a lip it is important to consider how editing techniques are used to control what information is revealed/hidden from the characters and the audience. If the audience know more than what the characters do this can provoke an emotional reaction. An example of this would be cross cutting in a film between shots of a character and shots that suggest impending danger. The character does not see this but the audience do so this may cause them to feel anxiety and tension in the anticipation of something horrible happening. Editing is vital in terms of the factors of creating a short film because the clips, actors and mise en scene could all be perfect but if the editing was not done effectively or with care, this would have a significant impact on the quality of the short film.