THE POWER OF EDITING

  1. Shapes meaning
  2. Controls “narration” – order in which story info is given to viewer

    Shots  >  Sequences  >  Scenes

Three types of connections

  1. Temporal Connections

    • Example: Cut from man dropping his drinking glass in one shot to glass breaking on floor in second shot. (or stairs ex)

  2. Spatial Connections

  3. Logical ConnectionS

    • Example: Wide Shot of White House to shot of the President seated in an office.



Shot FloW

Transitions

Cut | Used as a present tense segue, not meant to be noticed

Dissolve | Forms a bridge between disparate times and places, passage of time, meant to be seen

Montage | Compresses time, multiple shots demonstrating long period of time, condensed narrative

Wipe | Recalls Hollywood style of 30s and 40s. A vertical, horizontal, diagonal “wiping” of the frame. Removes one shot and introduces a new one.

Match ShoT / MATCH CUt | Two adjacent shots that share a graphic element.

Focus In / Out | POV transition, loss of consciousness


PULL / RACK FOCUS | Changing the point of focus from one character or object in frame, to another character or object that is closer to or more distant from the camera, typically with little or no movement from the camera itself. Used to subtly direct the viewers' attention to a specific part of the screen.


White Out / In | Dreams, consciousness, blinded by light, ethereal quality

Freeze Frame | Humor, cast credits, taking a picture, freezing action to stop time

Split-Screen | Explores new ways of telling a story, simultaneous moments showed side by side