Conventions and Techniques

Seamless Editing (km)

Seamless editing is where you dont see the editing and you dont get distracted to much by the editing. This makes the film flow smoothly.

Continuity Editing (km)



The purpose of continuity editing is to smooth over the inherent discontinuity of the editing process and to establish a logical coherence between shots. This is so the film sequences seem to flow, uninterrupted, from shot to shot, so that it makes the scenes look more naturel. 180o Rule (km)

The 180o rule is where you have a invisible line while filming and you cant cross it, this is so that the characters don't switch places in the film and distract the viewer.

For example in this photo the camera has to stay on the green line. So in this shot the blonde haired guy is on the left and the brown haired guy is on the right, but if the camera man breaks this rule and goes over the imaginary line the characters will switch places, so the brown haired guy is on the left and the blonde hair guy is to the right. This just makes the shot more confusing because the characters keep switching places.The green line is where the camera man can film and the red line is where he cant film.


Montage (km)

Montage editing is a technique in film editing in which a series of short shots are edited into a sequence to condense space,time and information. It is usually used to suggest the passage of time. The video bellow shows clips from various films within a montage, this is not a good example but it shows how a montage works well.




Parallel editing (km)

Parallel editing  is the technique of alternating two or more scenes that often happen simultaneously but in different locations. If the scenes are simultaneous, they occasionally culminate in a single place, where the relevant parties confront each other.
For example if there was a car crash you would see both peoples point of view heading up towards the crash, this will also build suspense because you don't know whats going to happen.




Splicing

Splicing is where editors cut and stick different shots and scenes together when they are using a film reel. This is so the film flows in chronalogical  order. This method means that the film would lack advanced transitions and there would only be simple cuts. 

Cut Aways (sh)

Cut Aways within films are used to show what a character has done previously or what plans to do in the future. It can also be used when a character reminisces about things that have previously not be been shown in the film.

Point of view shot (POV) (sh)

A point of view shot is where the camera takes the place of a character and makes it look as if it is looking through his' or her's eyes. This means that the character is in third person. In some situations the audience is able to see the character blinking. This would be created be a wipe transition. The point of view shot also can be used when the film wants the audience to believe that they are watching it through a camera. Examples of this are CloverFeild, REC and Chronicle.

Shot-Reverse-Shot (sh)

This shot means that when there is a shot on a character that's talking, the person who the character is talking to is normal off screen. When performing this shot the camera person would have consider the 180o rule. This is so when the shot changes to the other person talking.

Providing and withholding information(sh)

Withholding information within films bring mystery and suspense. Some films leak different information which help the audience piece together what is happening, such as investigatory films and police films. Some films black out the image of a character so that the characters and audience don't know who it is. In some case's the audience know more than the character, sometimes giving the audience the feeling of invevitablity.

Editing rhythm   (sh)

The rhythm of the film depends on the genre. Action and adventure scenes have a fast rhythm in parts, meaning fast narrative and even faster shots/scenes. Change in pace of a film makes it more interesting as shots could be slowed down or sped up depending on what is depicted on the screen.


Crosscutting (sh)

Crosscutting is used in editing of a film to show what is happening in a different place, generally at the same time. The cut goes from one shot to the other showing what the the character has done over time or what two or more characters are doing at the same time.



Cutting to soundtrack (sh)

There are various uses to cutting soundtracks within films. Music in films change depending on the character, the environment and situation. Soundtracks are cut completley to bring tension to the film. Music becomes faster when there is an action scene whereas it becomes slower when there is a tradgedy or something ominous happens. Some soundtracks reflect characters moods wich in turn effects the audiences mood. In some cases it is quicker the soundtrack the quicker the shots.