Language of Filmmaking
Part 3: Editing
Terminology
Editing – Post production work on the film shots.
Cut – Transition between the end of one shot and the beginning of another.
Cutaway – This is a shot that “cuts away” from the main action to show supporting information – then returns to the main shot to reinforce that information.
Long take or sequence shot – uncut film left to run, it can last any amount of time but it is at least more than 10/20 seconds.
Continuity editing – An illusion that the shot was taken in the few minutes that the scene plays out and not the hours, days or months that it actually took.
Continuity errors – When the in-universe logic of the scene doesn’t match with what shows up on screen. (e.g. direction of movement, time of day,
Match on action – By having screen direction respected cuts can be linked together by continuing the action from one shot to another.
Match cut – This is different from a match on action shot. The match cut is a transition between one shot with an element that looks similar to one in the next shot in terms of visual qualities and placement.
Eye line – A person in shot A is looking screen right, a person in shot B is looking screen left. Our brain fills in the blanks and summarises that they are looking at each other. Or even two people both looking into the camera, it still seems like they are looking at each other.
180 degree rule – When blocking a scene, often used in an invisible axis as a guide, where the camera stays on one side and does not cross. This gives a more lively, and possibly confusing and complex scene a sense of continuity and clarity.
Master shot – A wide shot that shows the scene in its entirety to show the subjects location in its entirety
Reverse angle – The opposite side of the the shot before. E.g. someone talking to another.
Insert shot – If there is a small detail in the scene it will be shown close as an insert shot. Breaking away from the main action to show an important detail.
Cross cutting – This is the editing technique that cuts between actions which could be happening simultaneously but at different location. Somehow the events in the different scenes relate to each other or the narrative.
Freeze frame – The freezing of the frame, lasting for a few seconds, often used as the last frame of the film.
Discontinuity of editing – Intentionally breaking continuity. This editing stops pretending to reflect reality and starts to reflect emotion.
Slow motion – Time manipulation where the timing is slowed down. Here you can see smaller details.
Fast motion – Speeded up action. Can have comical effect.
Reverse motion – Dreamy feel.
Jump cut – E.g. George Méliès films. intentional breaks in continuity where a piece of time is cut out of the shot.
Split screen – Multiple shots spliced into one frame.
Overlay – Merged shots. One shot is placed over another with lowered opacity.
Montage – Separate shots cut together to create meaning, a stylised expression of reality. A quick series of shots linked together through a theme or through time.
Transitions
A transition is usually used at the end of the scene to transition to another. A few type of transitions are:
Dissolve – one shot slowly fades into another, sharing the space for a moment.
Wipe – the second shot rolls over the first.
Fade in and out – to and from a black screen.
Asynchronous Sound – This is when the sound playing is not synchronised with the video. This can be used to lead to a new shot, or
Crosscut – these cuts go back and forth between lines of action in shots that are happening at the same time in order to build scale, continuity and or tension.
There are many more types of transitions here: Types of Editing Transitions in Film — The Ultimate Guide (studiobinder.com)
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