1. AS Film Studies
Unit FM1
Introduction to Micro Features:
Editing

2. Lesson Aims
By the end of the lesson you will be able to:
• Understand and apply editing terminology
• Deconstruct how editing is used to
communicate meaning

3. Definition: Editing
• Editing a film involves
selecting and combining
shots into sequences
• Good editing is a critical
element in getting the
audience to understand the
film’s story, by creating or
enhancing mood, emotion
and character.
• The director needs to
create enough shots for the
editor to choose from to
tell the story.

4. Montage
• A montage is created
through an assembly of
quick cuts,
disconnected time or
place, that combine to
form a larger idea. A
montage is frequently
used to convey passage
of time, coming of age,
or emotional transition

5. Parallel Editing
• This occurs when two
scenes are shot in
sequence, but presented
by cutting back and forth
between them. This
creates a sense of two
actions occurring
simultaneously in two
different locations

6. Split Screen
• A split screen runs two
shots side-by-side
within a single frame.
Like parallel editing, a
split screen create the
idea of simultaneous
action.
• Split screen was a staple
of the 1950s and 1960s

7. Dissolves
• Dissolves blend one
shot into another. This
achieved optically by
fading out the first shot
while the second shot
fades up. A dissolve
softens a cut. Dissolves
can be brief or
extended depending • they are often used to
how ‘soft’ the film show the passage of
maker wants the effect time – this is referred to
to be as ELLIPTICAL EDITING

8. Expanding Time – Overlapping
Action
• This ads dramatic value
to a scene. It can shine
a light on a particular
moment or an entre
• Suspense is evoked by
scene. It is often used
milking the scene with
to underscore the clever use of
important plot twists, cutaways and reaction
climatic scenes, and shots. In this way time
pivotal emotional can be stopped by
revelations extending the time it
takes for the moment to
play out on screen

9. Graphic Match
• Graphic matching is
when a scene links to
another scene using the
same shape or colour –
this can occur with the
use of a cut or a
dissolve

10. Visual Match Cut (Idea)
• A cut on idea is when
two shots are cut
together and by their
juxtaposition, a third
idea is suggested. This
new ides is the sum of
the first two

11. Fast Motion (Time Compression)
• Fast Motion compresses
reality, this technique is
used for those scene
that need to be
especially heightened
• Slowing down reality is
often used to show how
a character sees the
world when in the
midst of a traumatic
event

12. Rhythm & Pace
• Editing sets the rhythm or pace of a scene. This could be
dictated by either the music used behind a scene or the mood
that the editor is trying to create and the pace that you edit.
To build up tension in a scene you might cut from one shot to
another very quickly. However, in a relaxed scene the editing
will progress at a much slower pace, dwelling longer on each
shot.

13. Long Take

14. Jump Cuts, Match Cut, Cut Away

15. Editing is something of an
‘invisible art’, because we
Continuity Editing rarely notice the cut
between one shot and
another.
• Despite all this art and • Shot reverse shot
craft, the audience hardly
• 180 degree rule
ever notices good editing.
• Although we know that we
• Match on action
are watching pieces of film • Straight Cut
joined together, we are so
used to continuity editing
that we accept what is • The use of continuity
happening on screen editing makes action on
providing that it follows the screen ‘appear’ to
the rules that we have be seamless
learnt through watching
other films or narratives.