Editing Techniques

Here are many editing techniques that we have been studying, with their definitions, an example and their impacts on the audience.

Eyeline match: It is based on the premise that the audience will want to see what the character on-screen is seeing.

Here in this romantic scene between the two people, the visible eye contact between them emphasizes how much they are in love with watch other. The eyeline cut at 0:24 shows they they stare at each other for a few long seconds - intensifying the romantic atmosphere.

Graphic Match: The things you see and the sounds/music you hear is in synchronization.

 

Here in this scene from rush hour the fight scene matches the sound that we can hear of the attacks that they throw at each other. (Which are probably derived from foley sounds.) Furthermore, these sounds allows the audience to be more engaged because if the sound was off even by a small amount this would seriously disappoint the audience, as they would think that his movie is poorly produced.









Cutting on Action: where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shot's action

Here this scene from Final Destination 2 shows multiple angles of the car and the motorcycle; it adds to the drama and tension to the movie. It also allows the scene to flow in a continuous motion when watching the edited film, which will really appeal to the audience, as they watch the whole scene in one go.

Jump Cut: an abrupt transition from one scene to another

Jump cuts allow the attention of the audience to be focused in a continuous way because of the sudden transitions between scenes. This gives the signal that the scene that has the jump cut should be focused by the audience.

Cross-Cutting: An editing technique most often used in films to establish action occurring at the same time in two different locations

The cross cutting which is used in many of Christopher Nolan's great films is used in order to denote the similarity between the scenes as they occur and this adds to the atmosphere in the scene. When both of the fights are taking place in this scene, it allows the tension to build up heavily, so it can finally reach the upcoming final climax.

 Parallel Editing: Is a technique whereby cutting occurs between two or more related actions occurring at the same time in two separate locations or different points in time

The parallel editing used in this scene from the Godfather allows us to see the scenes he is thinking of,  when the Godfather kills many people as he is going through a rather calm ritual. This adds dramatic irony and suspense to the movie, which will interest the audience greatly because of the contrast between the scenes that the parallel editing depicts.

Cutaway: Is the interruption of a continuously filmed action by inserting a view of something else

The cutaway in this Family guy scene allows the funny gag to be carried on, which makes it more humorous for the audience to laugh it.