Chapter Four - Manipulation of time

Compressed time - Compressed time is when a long series of footage is cut down and compressed into a shorter amount of time. for example time laps photography video has a large amount of footage filming Vancouver over the space of 24 hours and instead of showing the 24hour footage it is cut down to 4:57. Shots aren't actually cut out you still get the whole idea of the image but their just shortened so you can view the footage in full but in a smaller amount of time.

Slow motion - slow motion is when an action takes place at a slower rate at which the action took place before the camera. It's mainly used to make fast action look more visible, its also used emphasise a dramatic moment. For example in snatch they show the scene where the dogs are chasing the hare in slow motion, this is done to make the audience feel more on edge as it is an intense moment.



Simultaneous time - Simultaneous time is when two similar shots are filmed at the same time but in a different location. For example in snatch there are two scenes showed at the same time because they are very similar because as well as the hare being chased by two dogs there's two men chasing another man. The difference is that the man gets caught and the hare manages to out run the dogs.

Long take - A long take is a single shot taken which lasts for a long period of time, its gives an authentic feel as it isn't inherently dramatic. For example from children of men the camera is just in front of the driver for the whole scene. The director has probably done this because he wants to audience to focus on the driver and no one else as he plays a dramatic role in the scene.

Chapter Three - editing types

Cut - The editor tapes together the first cut of the film, the "editor's cut", arranging the separate takes into a story according to the plan communicated by the director. The editor's version of the film will often be as much as two hours beyond the final running time of the film. Working from the editor's cut, decisions then need to be made, usually together with other staff, to improve continuity, balance the story, trim or delete scenes, etc.

Jump Cut - A jump cut is a cut in film editing when two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only slightly. this type of edit the shots to appear to jump position in a discontinuous way. For example when two people are laying down on a bed, they stay in that position but apart from that they are laying somewhere else instead like the ground, that's a jump cut.



Fade - A fade is usually used towards the end of a film or the end of a scene, also a fade can start a new scene after the fade out from another. Fades are usually to black when the scene changed from one to another unless someone dies. If someone dies or passes out the scene will fade to white instead, the reason for this is because the concept when you dies or pass out is that you may see the white light.

Wipe - Wipes are generally used in television, they are normally used to change location. For example if there is somebody standing by the door and as they close the door it's a wipe to white then a different scene. So the door is used a transition to another scene.

Chapter Two - Editing tenchniques

Editing techniques are used to move the narrative along in the way which keeps the audience interested an keeps the story running smoothly.

Parallel Editing - This is used to show important events happening in the film at the same time bu cutting between then both as they are both happening. This helps the audience understand better the narrative behind the story more. This also helps them to be more involved in what is happening.

Thematic Editing - This is when images are edited together based only on a central theme. Thematic editing refers to a rapid sequence of disconnected scenes designed to communicate experiences of feelings. This type of editing is mainly used in commercials, film trailers or a music videos. The aim is to not trace the story line, but to communicate action, danger or excitement.

Montage - A montage is a series of shots that are edited into a sequence, it is usually used to advance the story as a whole. It's often to suggest the passage of time, rather than to create symbolic meaning. In many cases a song is played in the background to enhance the mood or reinforce the message being shown. Montage editing uses mainly close ups, dissolved, fades, jump cuts and relatively frequent cuts.

Continuity - Continuity is a predominant style of editing in narrative cinema and television. The purpose of continuity editing is to smooth over the inherent discontinuity of the editing process and to establish a logical coherence between shots. In most films, logical coherence is achieved by cutting to continuity, which emphasizes smooth transactions.

Chapter one - The history of post production

Before widespread use on non-linear editing systems, the initial of all films was done with a positive copy of the film negative called a film by physically cutting and pasting together pieces of film, using a splicer and threading the film on a machine called the Moviola. Most most films are edited digitally using software's such as final cut pro or Avid, this allowed editors to experiment more when it comes to putting a film together.

The History of post production almost began with the film The Life of an American Fireman (1903) which was directed by Edwin Porter, the reason that this film was so important in history was because it was the first film that inter cut two shots and scenes together.

In the 1900's the editing within film was seen as a job without any skill, or intellect needed. Unlike today's society editing was seen as something which wasn't recognised as talent. The power of juxtaposition was tested by the cutting of the images - bowel of soup, a woman draped over her husbands coffin, a child holding a soft toy and a mans face. When each of the images are shown, the audience are meant to see the mans face as a reaction to the other images and it conveys his emotion.