The role of a film editor is to select shots from raw footage and arrange them in a sequence to create a finished motion picture. An editor must create effective transitions between shots to convey tone, the passage of time, or separate story parts. Editing is referred to as the "invisible art" as the editor constructs the story seamlessly. Modern editors use digital software to edit clips, add audio, and enhance footage more easily than older film editing techniques. Proper editing techniques like continuity, cross-cutting, and sound editing are essential for storytelling.

1. Presentation By Ahmed . S. Ellahi
Assessor Mike Hambi

2. The Role Of The Editor
Summary :
The role of the editor is to work with the raw
footage, selecting shots, and film combing them
into sequences to create a finished motion
picture. An editor must work to create effective
film transitions , which are techniques used to
move from one shot to the next to convey a tone
or mood, suggest the passage of time, or
separate parts of the story. Film editing is often
referred to as the “invisible art” the editor is
like a magician or illusionist . The editors skill
leaves the viewer so engaged that he or she is not
even aware of the editor’s work. The film editors
must also know how to tell a story. Editor selects
sounds and images from all the film that has
been shot and arrange them to create the final
version of the film. They also plan how one shot
will be transitioned to the next. He or she works
creatively with segments of video shoots and
footage, dialogue, music, pacing, and actors’
performances to “reconstruct” and even recreate,
these segments or clips to produce a complete
film. The image in the centre (right) is a editor
at work using modern day technology and
software.
( Picture from Google for education use only).
(Above) Images of modern day editing suite.
(Above) An early 1920’s editing work bench.

3. Here is a more detailed job role list of an editor
 Read the shooting script and meet with the director to understand his vision for
the film.
 Make visits to the locations during filming to gain a sense of how the shooting is
progressing.
 Go through footage, once shooting is done, and select scenes based on their
dramatic and entertainment value and contribution to story continuity. The editor
is looking for the best combination of photography, performance, consistency and
timing.
 Trim the segments of footage to the lengths needed for the film and assemble
them into the best sequence to tell the story.
 Work with sound effects editors, and musical directors on sound, score and film
sequences that will be added to the film.
 Insert music, dialogue and sound effects, using editing equipment.
 Review the edited film, make corrections and prepare it as a first cut, or rough cut,
for the film directors and film producers to view. The first cut may take up to three
months or more to assemble.
 Make revisions, as requested by the director and producers, and prepare the final
cut for release to the film house for production. The final cut may take an
additional month or longer to finish.

4. Editing Technologies
Since the early 1900’s film editing was introduced in the
form of gathering positive film of the negative side of the
strips, which were called work prints. These work prints of
film were then taken and physically cut with scissors and
attached together with tape , and a short while later with
glue. With the invention of the splicer and threading
machine editing became a bit more productive and cleaner
footage was achieved. (top right)
Once these film shots were satisfactorily compiled together
they were made in to reels of film. All this was aided with
the help of the Moviola (bottom left) or flatbed machine
like the k-e-m or Steenback.
The Moviola was invented in 1923 , the advantage of this
device was that it allowed an editor to view footage whilst
editing. The disadvantage of this method of editing was if
a clip of film was damaged or defaced then more costs
would be involved, thus slowing down or creating a delay
in whole production time of the actual complete film. Also
very minimal affects could be applied due to the level of
this technology. The advantage was it created an appetite
to improve on technology and work to advance in the
industry. It also allowed the viewers and producers to see
what potential will or might be available in the future.
A early Griswold splicer this
device bought simplicity to
merging clips of film together.
The Moviola the first ever actual
editing machine invented in 1923.

5. Modern day Editing technology ( Examples)
In 1997 since the time of the internet boom
and computing advancements editing has
bought on a hole new meaning to film
production. Previously non linear editing
was used, now this has been replaced by
video editing software. The new editing is
done digitally using software systems such
as Final Cut Pro, Avid and Adobe Premier
Pro. Also Sony Vegas movie editor. These
editing software’s are based around the
same concept, but vary in user tastes.
The great advantage digital editing
software’s such as Adobe or Final Cut Pro
have in comparison to older film editing
techniques is clips of video can easily be
edited, altered and enhanced. One other
feature is adding audio which can also be
manipulated. Overall not only has digital
editing improved in allowing quality , but
also there has been a great improvement of
speed through ease of use of this software.

6. Editing Techniques And Story Telling
Here is a list of just some of the different types of Editing techniques used some of
which are regularly used and others which are as and when required.
A Cut : Is the most basic and common type of Film Transition is the cut. A cut
happens when one shot instantly replaces another. It is an abrupt visual
transition created in editing. Cuts are so widely used that feature movies
normally count thousands of them. Cuts are essential for the effects of
juxtaposition – for viewers to establish meaning. Although most cuts exist
simply for a technical need, the abrupt replacement of one shot by the other
demands a certain interpretation from the viewer.
Film cutting: Quoted by Alfred Hitchcock.
Effective editing : A good edit should (1) elicit / convey appropriate emotion to add
to the storytelling. (2) maintain continuity in terms of storytelling (3) use eye
trace (where the viewer’s eye goes) appropriately to ensure the viewer is not
confused, strained, or disoriented. (4) maintain 2 dimensional plane of screen
and 3 dimensional space of action.
Continuity editing : Is editing that creates action that flows smoothly across shots
and scenes without jarring visual inconsistencies. This type of editing
establishes a sense of story for the viewer.
Discontinuity editing : Is a unique editing style in film that is antithetical to that
of normal cinema, or Continuity editing. In a discontinuous sequence, the
filmmaker will deliberately use an arrangement of shots that seem out of place
or confusing relative to a traditional narrative. Russian director Kuleshov was a
famous innovator in the Discontinuity editing technique. He discovered the
cinema’s ability to link entirely unrelated material into coherent sequences. The
meaning the audience derived from it was completely invented. He termed the
technique “creative geography.”

7. Scene Transitions : Iris Wipe is a wipe that takes
the shape of a growing or shrinking circle. It has
been used frequently in animated films, like in
Looney Tunes or Mickey Mouse cartoons, to
signify the end of the story. Image on right of
ending sequence of cartoon using iris wipe.
Cross-Cutting shots are those in which the Editor
cuts back and forth between two or more events
or actions that are taking place at the same time,
but in different places. Cross-Cutting is used to
build suspense or to show how different pieces of
the action are related. Another term for Cross-
Cutting is Parallel Editing. Again, this type of
editing is a technique of continuously alternating
between two or more scenes that are happening
simultaneously, but in different locations. Cross-
Cutting is a cornerstone of editing that works to
mask abrupt changes in temporal (time) and
spatial continuity, and enhance narrative. Images
to the right (centre) show a sample from the film
inception (2009) starring Leonardo Dicaprio.

8. The Impact Of Sound Sound editing.
 Sound in a film is as important to an individual who suffers from hearing loss but
relies on subtitles to understand the story. Sound is a marriage between what you see
and what you hear.
 The impact of sound can play a major role in a film, sound is a very essential
ingredient to making films more understandable to the audiences and viewers, with
the help of varying audio levels and, the aid of diegetic or non- diegetic sound,
audiences get a more enhanced response to motion picture in a certain way.
 A good example would be a film viewed with no audio or sound much like a silent
film from early years. It would show what different affect the film would have on the
viewer. Even though the viewer may understand certain scenes of the film it would
leave the viewer disheartened, or confused as to what is really happening in the
scene or what it really means.
 I have added this link of Caoimhe Doyle a Foley artist who talks about the different
types of sound and the reasons why sometimes different sound effects are essential
to films. And also how different genres of film can have separate effects on sound.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrbgY6ajTgo .
A lot of modern digital software’s contain their own
sound editing software’s such as Sony Vegas Platinum,
Magix Movie edit Pro, and several other software’s.
These allow you to edit sound and dialogue on the same
software. On the right is an image of some audio editing
software in action.

9. Foley artsist’s help the editing process by recreating ambient
sounds . These sound effects which are created are very
essential to a film maker who would otherwise find it difficult
to record in reality, such as the image on the (right) of a
persons bone breaking. It would be a sound which would have
to be created and is very simply done , using a piece of dry
celery as shown in the video link above.
Dialogue may be also difficult to record on set due to outside
disturbances like planes flying overhead or birds flying over .
Sound can also play a major factor in regards to the pace of
film.
Wolf of Wall Street Quailudes Scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3aydhuwQzE
In this clip you can see how the pace of the film is edited to
show the character in slow motion , you also can hear the
soundtrack edit used also synchronize with the pace of the
film. Below is a clip of a film were just music is used and no
dialogue, just a few emotional sound reactions from the lead
actor. Image in (centre)
Stephen Kings :
Nightmares And Dreamscapes - Battleground toy soldiers Part
- 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdUwKl9de2Y
Here is short film were you see the relevance of music, and no
dialogue is used. Sometimes the music alone can keep the
viewers entertained, using sound effects. Image on (right).

10. Important people In The Developing Of Editing
In 1896 the first camera with reverse cranking was invented by the
British pioneer Robert W Paul. During 1898
Paul’s film Come Along, Do! Was his first film ever to feature more
than one shot. Following this film he also made another film later
in 1901, called Scrooge, or , Marley’s Ghost and used a second
technique of editing known as multiple exposures. Watch link
below for editing techniques used.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvm2rXoS2t8
Georges Méliès was also another pioneer in and was famous for
his use of multiple exposures, and dissolves and was referred to as
the “Cinemagician”. George was using editing at the same time
framework as Robert W Paul.
George Albert Smith was the another film producer who used the
close up edit technique. He was also around the 1897 era. Smith
was also responsible for the first use of colour film process known
as Kinemacolour.
James Williamson was also another early film director around the
era of the early 1900’s. James used a close up technique which
allowed him to portray an actor eating the camera, this was one of
his notable films called The Big Swallow (1901).