Film Editing Definition

Film Editing Definition

Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking. It involves the selection and combining of shots into sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling. Film editing is the only art that is unique to cinema, separating filmmaking from other art forms that preceded it (such as photography, theater, dance, writing, and directing), although there are close parallels to the editing process in other art forms like poetry or novel writing. Film editing is often referred to as the "invisible art" because when it is well practiced, the viewer can become so engaged that he or she is not even aware of the editor's work.

Film Studies - Editing Techniques

Film Studies  -  Camera Shots

As part of my film studies class I reviewed all the different techniques involved in editing from the early days of movie production to the present day. I covered all the different camera shots used in film production and how different shots can convey certain emotions and feelings.

1.     EWS (extreme wide shot) This is a wide camera shot and generally used to set the scene of the film.

2.     WS (wide shot) A wide shot takes in a lot of the environment and can include the actor/ actress.

3.     MS (mid shot) A mid shot is generally used to show the subject from the waist up while taking in some of the environment. It is often known as the cowboy shot in westerns.

4.     MCU (medium close up)  A medium close up is a shows the subject half way between a close up shot and mcu. Less of the environment is included and focuses more on the subject.

5.     CU (close up) A close up shot is used to convey expression in the face of the subject. It is a very effective way of showing emotions from the subject.

6.     ECU (extreme close up) An extreme close up generally focus on the eyes of the subject. This shot is used widely in horror movies to show extreme fear and emotion in the eyes of the subject.

7.     Cut-In. This shot is used to show something other than the main point in the film. For example a cut-in maybe used to focus on concealed murder weapon or something secretive.

8.     CA (cut away) A cut away shot is used generally to show something other than the subject within the film. It can be used to show something other than the main plot.

9.     Two-shot. A two (or more) shot can be used to show more than one specific subject in the shot.

10. OSS (over the shoulder shot) This shot is often used to convey a dialogue between two subjects.

11. Noddy shot. This shot generally contains one subject nodding to the camera to give the impression that he/she is listening.

Basic Editing Techniques

Basic Editing Techniques

The four basic ways an editor can transition from one shot or visual element into another are :

1.    Straight cut  -  An instant change from one shot to the next. The last full frame of picture for one shot is immediately followed by the next shot.

2.    Dissolve  - a gradual change from one shot into another. The end of the first shot dissolves into the beginning of the next with a slow fade.

3.    Wipe  - a line moving across the screen at some angle removing the image on screen and replacing it with the next shot as the screen unfolds.

4.    Fade  - A gradual change from a solid black screen into a fully visible image. The screen can fade in from black or fade out to black.

  

Cutting

CUTTING

The art of editing is based on how the editor cuts the pre-produced film into the scenes to tell the story. An editor may have hundreds of hours of footage to view before deciding where to cut. There are 6 general factors an editor must consider before determining when and where to cut.

1.     Information  - The editor will cut were a scene or subject presents new information.

2.     Motivation  - An editor will cut were the film present motivation to cut. For example the viewer may feel the need to learn something new in the shot.

3.     Shot composition  - The editor can only control the cuts within a film. The director determines the camera angle and where the camera points. The editor then has to get the most out of the footage he is given.

4.     Camera angle  -  Editors have strict rules to follow when cutting between shot. Camera angles can throw the viewer off if the rule of thirds isn’t followed correctly.

5.     Continuity  -  Editors must keep the scenes and cuts smooth to allow the film to flow and the edits should be unnoticed by the viewer.

6.     Sound  - As well as movie clips the editor has to work with sound clips attached to most movie clips. Keeping sound in sync with the movie is extremely important.

Advantages and disadvantages of New Social Media

Advantages and disadvantages of New Social Media

A media theorist called Marshal Mc Luhan believes that the type of media used to portray a message can have a huge impact on the final out come of the desired effect. Ever changing methods of getting your message online is becoming easier and easier on a daily basis. Everything from the News, Smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Youtube, Myspace and emails are growing at an extreme rate. The ease of access to these vast communities of online users can have its advantages and disadvantages. Everyday people of all ages, cultures and race access the Internet to source information on any number of subjects. At the touch of a button users can access un-moderated information to almost anything. One main advantage to the general public is it highlights increased transparency in governments and ruling organizations. This brings us back to Marshal Mc Luhan’s theory. Anyone can access the internet and post false and misleading information for the world to see. The medium carrying the message being the internet cant always be 100% accurate because of its availability to the public and therefore can have serious negative effects. The internet may not be the medium for carrying 100% accurate information in some cases but it allows the public important access to add their own information and views.

New social media such as Skype has transformed the lives of many people, companies and family’s. People are now able to communicate with each other via video and audio link from all over the world with the touch of a button. With Skype being completely free companies and people have saved huge amounts of money on international calls and conferences. Many family members are now able to contact each other on a daily bases, were as before a five minute phone per year would have to survice. With the invention of the Smartphone the internet is now more portable than ever. The Smartphone has been described as a miniature computer in your pocket and it is consistently opening up new avenues and opportunities for people to access every type of social media available on the net.

Marshal Mc Luhan’s theory comes into effect a lot more with the disadvantages of new social media. Misleading and false information can easily be available on the internet through various unregulated mediums such as youtube, facebook, twitter, blogs etc. There are very little regulations in place to moderate information uploaded to the internet and therefore sorces can be often biased and unreliable. The internet has also been cause for a number of cases of online bullying and child abuse such as pedophile rings contacting children via social networking sites. A new wave of videos and websites have been uploaded to the internet by terrorists for purposes of propaganda and recruitment. These sometimes graphic images/videos are often posted on many social networking sites that children regularly use and can have huge impacts on their lives. The ease of access to violent, gruesome images is all to easy. 

People’s privacy of personal information is also undertreat from hackers, spam and respectable companies who all want to access your information to suit their needs. Hackers can access credit card information and important personal details in order to commit fraud and steal money from bank accounts. Spam mail is a consistent annoyance on the Internet and is accounted of 90% of mail sent per day. Respectable companies eagerly want your information in order to better their selling points and to entice you to purchase their products. The frightening this about this is people willingly release personal information on to various websites on a daily bases. Everything from credit card details, address, phones numbers, names etc.

With this virtual world interesting us so much it is extremely had to balance a real lifestyle and virtual life online.