16.3 Comparative studies of different editing approaches
5 min read•july 29, 2024
Editing styles have evolved dramatically across genres and eras. From classical Hollywood's seamless continuity to the French New Wave's disruptive techniques, editors have shaped how we experience films. These approaches reflect historical, cultural, and technological influences.
Today's editors blend traditional methods with cutting-edge tech. They craft montages to compress time, use for realism, and employ for suspense. The goal? To convey ideas, emotions, and stories in ways that captivate audiences and push cinematic boundaries.
Editing Styles Across Genres and Eras
Continuity vs. Discontinuity Editing
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- maintains a smooth and seamless flow between shots (classical Hollywood style)
- Techniques include the 180-degree rule, shot/reverse-shot patterns, and establishing shots
- Aims to create a coherent narrative flow and maintain clarity for the audience
- Discontinuity editing intentionally disrupts spatial and temporal continuity for artistic or narrative purposes
- Examples include , long takes, and unconventional camera angles (French New Wave)
- Draws attention to the artificiality of the medium and engages the audience in a more active viewing experience
Historical and Cultural Influences on Editing Styles
- (1930s-1960s) emphasized continuity and invisible cuts to maintain narrative flow
- Influenced by the need to create clear, easily comprehensible narratives for mass audiences
- Reflected the standardization of film production and distribution practices in the studio system era
- Soviet editing (1920s) relied on the juxtaposition of contrasting shots to create intellectual and emotional associations
- Developed by filmmakers like and in the context of the Russian Revolution and avant-garde artistic experimentation
- Employed rapid, rhythmic cutting and the Kuleshov effect to convey meaning and shape audience responses in support of communist ideals
- (late 1950s-1960s) challenged traditional continuity editing conventions
- Reflected the countercultural spirit of the 1960s and the influence of existentialist philosophy on filmmakers like Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut
- Incorporated jump cuts, long takes, and unconventional camera angles to challenge viewer expectations and encourage critical engagement with the medium
Contemporary Editing Styles and Technological Influences
- Contemporary action film editing features rapid, kinetic cutting, multiple camera angles, and elaborate visual effects sequences
- Influenced by the rise of digital technology and shorter audience attention spans
- Prioritizes spectacle and sensory overload over narrative coherence
- styles range from observational approaches to expository modes
- minimizes the editor's intervention to capture reality as it unfolds
- Expository editing relies on voice-over narration, interviews, and archival footage to construct persuasive arguments
- Choice of editing style reflects the documentary's purpose and the filmmaker's perspective on the subject matter
- systems (introduced in the 1990s) revolutionized post-production processes
- Examples include Avid and Final Cut Pro
- Allowed editors to manipulate footage more easily and efficiently, facilitating the development of complex, multi-layered editing styles ("Pulp Fiction", "Memento")
Effectiveness of Editing Approaches
Conveying Time, Ideas, and Emotions through Montage Editing
- Montage editing compresses time, conveys complex ideas, or creates a sense of urgency or excitement
- Example: the training sequence in "Rocky" (1976) uses rapid juxtaposition of shots to communicate the protagonist's determination and growth
- Associative editing juxtaposes seemingly unrelated shots to create metaphorical or symbolic meaning without explicit exposition
- Example: Stanley Kubrick's match cut from a bone to a spacecraft in "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) suggests the evolution of human intelligence and technology
Creating Realism, Intimacy, and Tension through Long Takes
- Slow-paced, long-take editing allows scenes to unfold in real-time, drawing the audience into the characters' experiences
- Examples include the dinner scene in "The Godfather" (1972) or the car scene in "Children of Men" (2006)
- Long takes can create a sense of realism, intimacy, or tension by immersing the viewer in the uninterrupted action
Building Suspense and Drawing Connections through Cross-Cutting
- Cross-cutting between parallel actions or storylines heightens suspense, draws thematic connections, or creates a sense of simultaneity
- Example: Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" (1960) uses cross-cutting during the shower scene to build tension and manipulate audience expectations
- Intercutting between seemingly disparate scenes can reveal hidden connections or contrasts between characters, events, or themes
Conveying Disorientation and Instability through Discontinuity Editing
- Jump cuts and non-linear storytelling convey a sense of disorientation, fragmentation, or psychological instability
- Example: Jean-Luc Godard's "Breathless" (1960) employs jump cuts to reflect the characters' restlessness and the film's break with traditional narrative conventions
- Discontinuity editing techniques can be used to represent subjective experiences, challenge viewer expectations, or create a sense of unease
Enhancing Emotional Impact through Rhythmic Editing
- cuts shots to match the beat or tempo of music or sound effects, creating a visceral, emotional impact
- Examples include the opening sequence of "Apocalypse Now" (1979) or the baptism montage in "The Godfather" (1972)
- Synchronizing visual and auditory rhythms can heighten the audience's engagement with the story and amplify the emotional resonance of key moments
Cultural and Technological Influences on Editing
Impact of Television and Digital Technology on Editing Styles
- The rise of television in the 1950s and 1960s led to a greater emphasis on close-ups and faster-paced editing in cinema
- Filmmakers sought to differentiate the theatrical experience from the small screen and maintain audience attention
- The proliferation of streaming platforms and mobile devices in the 21st century has increased demand for shorter, visually striking content
- Fast-paced, highly stylized editing techniques are used to capture viewer attention in a fragmented media landscape
- Examples can be seen in contemporary films and web series
Globalization and Diversity in Editing Techniques
- The globalization of the film industry and increasing diversity of filmmaking voices have led to cross-pollination of editing styles and techniques across different national and cultural contexts
- Examples include the influence of Asian cinemas on Hollywood action films or the incorporation of documentary-style editing in fictional narratives
- Exposure to a wider range of editing approaches has enriched the global film language and encouraged experimentation and innovation in storytelling techniques
Technological Advancements and the Evolution of Editing Workflows
- The introduction of digital non-linear editing systems in the 1990s (Avid, Final Cut Pro) revolutionized post-production processes
- Editors could manipulate footage more easily and efficiently, facilitating the development of complex, multi-layered editing styles
- Examples of films that benefited from digital editing include "Pulp Fiction" (1994) and "Memento" (2000)
- Advancements in digital technology have expanded the creative possibilities for editors and filmmakers
- Visual effects, color grading, and sound design can be seamlessly integrated into the editing process
- Collaborative workflows and remote editing capabilities have transformed the way films are produced and post-produced
Key Terms to Review (23)
Action editing: Action editing is a technique used in film and video production to create a dynamic and engaging portrayal of movement, typically during scenes of physical action or conflict. This approach focuses on enhancing the rhythm, pace, and emotional impact of the visuals, using cuts that emphasize the intensity and momentum of the action. By utilizing various editing strategies such as quick cuts, parallel editing, and varying shot sizes, action editing effectively captures the viewer's attention and enhances the storytelling experience.
Classical hollywood editing: Classical Hollywood editing refers to a style of film editing that emerged in the early 20th century, characterized by its seamless narrative flow and continuity techniques designed to make the storytelling as clear and engaging as possible. This editing approach emphasizes the invisible cut, meaning that the viewer should not notice the edits, allowing them to become fully immersed in the story. Techniques such as shot/reverse shot, match cuts, and establishing shots are central to this method, creating a logical and coherent progression that guides the audience through the film's narrative.
Continuity editing: Continuity editing is a film editing technique that seeks to create a seamless flow of action and ensure that time and space are logically consistent throughout a film. This technique emphasizes maintaining visual coherence, allowing audiences to easily follow the story without confusion. It involves careful attention to shot composition, camera angles, and the relationship between shots to support narrative clarity and emotional engagement.
Cross-Cutting: Cross-cutting is an editing technique that alternates between two or more scenes happening simultaneously in different locations, creating a sense of parallel action and enhancing narrative connections. This method allows filmmakers to build tension, develop subplots, and deepen the audience's understanding of character motivations and themes by juxtaposing contrasting or complementary actions.
Digital non-linear editing: Digital non-linear editing (NLE) is a method of editing video or audio files on a computer, allowing editors to access any frame in a digital video clip instantly without needing to move through the material in a linear fashion. This technique gives editors greater flexibility and creative control, enabling them to make precise edits, rearrange scenes easily, and incorporate visual effects and transitions seamlessly.
Documentary editing: Documentary editing is the process of assembling, arranging, and refining footage to create a coherent narrative or argument in a non-fiction film. This type of editing is crucial because it shapes the viewer's understanding of reality, using techniques like juxtaposition, pacing, and the careful selection of content to convey themes or messages effectively.
Dziga Vertov: Dziga Vertov was a pioneering Soviet filmmaker and theorist known for his radical approach to documentary filmmaking and editing. His work emphasized the importance of film as a means to convey reality, rejecting traditional narrative structures and instead embracing the concept of 'kino-eye'—the idea that the camera can capture life in its purest form. This approach heavily influenced the development of Soviet montage theory and set the groundwork for innovative editing techniques in film history.
Flashback: A flashback is a storytelling technique that interrupts the chronological flow of a narrative to revisit events from the past. This technique allows filmmakers to provide background information, develop characters, and create emotional depth by revealing crucial moments that shaped the present story. Flashbacks can enhance time compression and expansion by juxtaposing past and present, influencing the audience's perception of the narrative's timeline.
French New Wave Editing: French New Wave Editing refers to the innovative and unconventional editing techniques used by filmmakers during the French New Wave movement in the late 1950s and 1960s. This style is characterized by its emphasis on spontaneity, experimentation, and breaking traditional continuity editing rules, leading to a more dynamic narrative structure that often reflects the filmmakers' personal visions and the cultural context of post-war France.
Globalization in film editing: Globalization in film editing refers to the process of integrating diverse cultural influences and practices into the editing styles and techniques used in filmmaking. This phenomenon has led to a blending of various editing approaches, resulting in films that resonate with international audiences while reflecting local narratives and aesthetics. The rise of digital technology has further accelerated this trend, allowing filmmakers from different parts of the world to collaborate and share their editing styles more easily than ever before.
Invisible Editing: Invisible editing refers to a style of film editing where cuts and transitions are seamless and unnoticeable, creating a smooth flow of action that keeps the audience engaged without drawing attention to the editing itself. This technique is particularly crucial in maintaining continuity in dialogue scenes, ensuring that the flow of conversation feels natural and uninterrupted. It also reflects the evolution of early film editing techniques that sought to create a coherent narrative experience while paving the way for various editing approaches in modern cinema.
Jump Cuts: Jump cuts are a type of editing technique that creates a noticeable shift in time or space within a continuous shot, resulting in an abrupt transition. This technique can enhance storytelling by altering the rhythm and flow of a scene, often making it feel more dynamic or jarring, depending on the intended effect.
Long takes: Long takes refer to extended shots in a film that capture a scene in a single continuous take without any cuts. This technique can create a sense of realism and immersion, allowing the audience to feel as if they are part of the unfolding action. Long takes are often used to highlight the complexity of a scene, emphasize character emotions, or create tension, and they appear in various genres and styles of filmmaking.
Montage: Montage is a filmmaking technique that involves assembling a series of shots in a particular order to condense time, convey information, or evoke emotions. It serves as a powerful storytelling tool that enhances the narrative flow, pacing, and visual rhythm of a film.
Observational editing: Observational editing is a filmmaking technique that emphasizes a non-intrusive approach, where the editor aims to present events as they unfold naturally, without manipulation or overt commentary. This style allows viewers to experience the narrative from a more authentic perspective, often leading to a deeper emotional connection with the subjects being portrayed.
Pacing: Pacing refers to the speed and rhythm at which a film unfolds, influencing how quickly or slowly the audience processes the story and emotions. It is essential for maintaining viewer engagement and can be adjusted through various editing techniques, ensuring that the film's narrative flow aligns with the intended emotional impact.
Parallel editing: Parallel editing is a film editing technique that alternates between two or more different scenes happening simultaneously, creating a connection between the events. This method can enhance storytelling by building tension, emphasizing contrasts, or drawing parallels between different storylines, making it a powerful tool in cinematic narrative.
Rhythmic Editing: Rhythmic editing is a technique in film and video editing where the timing and pacing of cuts are manipulated to create a specific rhythm or flow that enhances the emotional impact of the narrative. This method can be closely tied to the beats of music, sound design, or visual cues, making it an essential tool in shaping audience engagement and experience. By emphasizing particular moments through strategic cut placement, rhythmic editing plays a significant role in contemporary montage, award-winning edits, and varying approaches to editing styles.
Sergei Eisenstein: Sergei Eisenstein was a pioneering Soviet film director and theorist, best known for his innovative use of montage to create emotional and intellectual impact in cinema. His work laid the foundation for Soviet montage theory, emphasizing the power of editing to juxtapose images and convey complex ideas, which has influenced contemporary filmmaking and editing styles.
Technological advancements in editing: Technological advancements in editing refer to the innovations and improvements in tools, software, and techniques that enhance the process of film and video editing. These advancements have significantly transformed the way editors work, influencing creative choices and workflow efficiency while also enabling new forms of storytelling and visual expression.
Thelma Schoonmaker: Thelma Schoonmaker is an acclaimed film editor known for her long-standing collaboration with director Martin Scorsese. Her editing style has significantly influenced the pacing and emotional impact of films, showcasing how editing can shape the narrative and character development.
Timing: Timing in editing refers to the precise placement of cuts, transitions, and pacing within a film to enhance storytelling and emotional impact. It plays a crucial role in how a scene flows, affecting the audience's perception and engagement by manipulating rhythm and pace to build tension, humor, or dramatic effect.
Walter Murch: Walter Murch is a highly influential film editor and sound designer, known for his innovative approaches to editing and storytelling in cinema. His work on films such as 'Apocalypse Now,' 'The English Patient,' and 'Cold Mountain' has set new standards in the industry, particularly in the integration of sound and visual editing, which has deep implications for the emotional resonance of film narratives.