Purpose 1 Time: Montage, Cross Cutting- ALTERNATIVE
A montage is when the editor changes the speed and flow of
the film to show the audience a long period of time, condensed into a much
shorter time. A film can use the montage to skip past hours, day, months or
even years. One of the best examples of this would be in the 2004 film “Team
America: World Police” when one of the major characters is training for the
final confutation with the antagonist, even a song called “Montage” is playing
in the background to get the audience hyped for this final battle. Thought his
training is taking place over a long span of time it’s sped up to 1 minute and
20 seconds when it would have taken much longer. This makes the audience aware
that it’s been a longer period of time; this also means that the director and
editor can add more footage in the film seeing as it’s shortened down what
could have been a long part of the film by showing all the days/weeks of
training. Its purpose is Time.
Cross Cutting-MAINSTRAM
We would utilize a technique like cross cutting when the
director and editor wants the audience to follow narrative, but stay in mused
with the action over a huge set with different characters. A good example of
cross cutting is during the battle of endor is Star Wars when the narrative
switches between the main cast. The pace is fast and with cross cutting editing
it allows the pace and continuity the keep flowing, without the audience
becoming distracted by the editing itself. Also without this technique of
editing the transitions between the characters and the action around them would
be clunky and slow the pace down. Its purpose is space.
Slow Motion-ALTERNATIVE
When we would want everything around an object or individual
to start slowing down, coming to an eventual stop we use slow motion. Slow
motion has a surrealness and almost dreamlike feel to it, making the audience immersed
and connents the feeling that something isn’t right/very surreal. The very best
example of slow motion having this surreal feel to this is in the film
“Inception” during a dream that the main character is having. It starts by
having random objects explode into midair, then slowing down till they freeze
in the air (An example of Freeze Framing). These effects are what make this
scene so strange and dreamy to the audience, which is what the film what you to
feel and gives almost gives a since of uneasiness about what is happening in
the world around the main character. Its space and time.
Transitions-BOTH ALTERNATIVE/MAINSTREAM
Transitions vary is how they are used: for example the
transitions being very fast and close in one film, but can also very slow (Like
fades, wipes and dissolves), but are generally used to show interaction between
characters. An example of a more fast paced transition being in the film
“Snatch” when two characters are having a discussion over a phone. While the
two characters are having an argument the screen changes size to who is
talking. After one of them decides to fly over to London we get fast shots of
them preparing, flying and arriving is only a matter of seconds. This keeps the
pace fast and prevents the scene from getting boring. Some of the first
transitions (dissolves and fades where used by George Meilies to create special
effects in his films. While the reason for using these transitions are
different the purpose of keeping the audience’s attention hasn’t changed.
180 Degree Rule-MAINSTREAM
The 180 degree rule is one the most basic rules of film. The
rule applies when two characters are in face to face conversation, the rule
states that the two characters would be on the line of action while a camera is
placed on an axis to the left or right, and that all shots should be kept
within the 180 degree arc on the same side of the line. This the actors looking at each other instead
of looking in the same direction, thus keeping continuity. The purpose is space.
Eyeline matching-MAINSTREAM
Eyeline matching happens when a character onscreen is
looking at an object off-screen where the audience can’t see it, this is
usually followed by the next shot having that object or individual that the
character was looking at. Editors and directors use this technique to create
suspense and uneasiness in the audience, and to extend a scene for a dramatic
purpose. This can be seen in “The
Amazing Spider-Man 2” when one of the major antagonists the “Green Goblin”
arrives after a fight. The audience sees Spider-Man looking around while a
maniacal laugh is ringing throughout the power plant, this along with the slow
and brooding music that starts to play creates a very uneasy feeling, creates
tension and sets up the next fight all within a few shots. its purpose is space.
Match on Action-MAINSTREAM
The Match-on-Action editing technique is when the editor cuts
from one shot to a different view that fits the first actions shot. Editors use
this technique to make the audience focus on an action that a character is
making, from different viewpoints and angles. We can see this being used in the
YouTube video “Walking up the stairs” in which a individual is walking from the
entrance from a building, up the stairs at to his final destination. Its purpose is space
Shot Reverse Shot-MAINSTREAM
When a character is having a discussion with another (often
off-screen), we would need to use a technique called the Shot-reverse-shot. This
has one actor looking at the off-screen character, then jumping to the other
actor looking at the first actor, it always has them looking at the opposite
side of each other. An example of this being used is in the original 2002
“Spider-Man” when the main antagonist is having a discussion with his own
reflection while complicating what he’s next move should be. This not only show
that the character has a split personality, but grabs and keeps attention
instead of the character just talking to himself. Purpose is space.
Breaking the 180 rule, Jumpcuts-ALTERNATIVE
Using jumpcuts and breaking the 180 rule are both examples
of dis-continuity editing and isn’t used much. While the jumpcuts interrupt the
flow of continuity, and breaking the 180 rule is only used for a dramatic
purpose, this means that they wouldn’t be broken without some sort of reasoning
behind it. For example during a scene in the film “Fight Club” the main
character is having a series of flashbacks tying to recall a certain memory.
Using these techniques keeps the scene from getting boring and shows that he is
shifting through all these different memories. It was George Meiles that
created the Jump cut, he used it to create special effects. And while both have
different reasons for using Jumpcuts, the purpose is still the same: The break
any long and boring continuity and make the pace faster. Its purpose is space, rhyme.
Rhythm
Cuts, Motivated cuts-BOTH MAINSTREAM/ALTERNATIVE
The rhythm purpose is usually alongside music to follow a
certain beat, however it can also be used to follow drama of action of a scene.
For example: the final fight with Ultron in the film “Avengers Age of Ultron”,
during the confutation with Ultron and his army while the hero’s battle the
hordes of robots there is a certain beat that goes on through the fight (helped
by the sound effects and building music). The beat helps the action and
continuity flow far better and much more naturally. The person whom used cuts
to follow action was Edwin S Porter (as seen in his film “The Great Train
Robbery”). While the cuts in Porter’s film are visible by today’s standard
(with the evolution of technology) we still use these cuts for the same
purpose: to follow action, narrative and keep continuity flowing without the
audience getting bored. Its purpose is space.
Jump Cuts, Cutting to a beat/soundtrack-ALTERNATIVE
The Jump Cuts used in the music video “We come one
faithless”, to make to music video more appealing to views and to leave an
impact. While the cuts break the continuity of the video, it helps tell the
story of the song (being about riots and other bad things), without the jump
cuts the story and action happening inside the video wouldn’t fit the beats of
the music itself. It's purpose is space.
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