Editing Techniques
Film editing is the art, technique and practice of assembling shots into a coherent sequence. A film editor creatively works with the layers of images, story, dialogue, music and pacing to combine them into sequences which create a finished motion picture.
Film editing is a technical part of the post-production process of filmmaking and is often referred to as the "invisible art" because when it is well-practised, the viewer becomes so engaged that is not even aware of the editor's work.
Different types of cuts and transitions
Standard Cut
The hard cut is the basic and the most common type of cut in editing. This type of cut is utilized when you want to cut from clip to clip without any type of transition. This type of cut doesn’t invoke the least amount of visual meaning or feelings.
Jump Cut
The jump cut is a technique which allows the editor to advance forward in time. It’s normally done within the same frame or composition, and many times it’s used within montages as well as during an interview, especially if filmed with multiple cameras.
Montage
The idea behind the montage is to use rapid cuts of imagery to help convey the passing of time or to help aid the context of the narrative. An example of montages are athletes training or preparing for a big match in montages. It's normally underscored by music and it can be used to show character transformation.
Cross-dissolve
A cross-dissolve can signify a passage of time or show multiple stories or scenes that are happening at the same time by overlapping or creating dissolves between shots.
Wipe
A wipe is a transition that uses an animation that “wipes” the first scene away into the next scene.
Fade In/Out
Fading out one clip and fading in the other. This implies a passage of time, like a night-to-day switch or someone falling asleep for example.
J or L Cut
A L Cut means is that you are hearing the audio from the previous shot, even though we’ve moved on to another shot. So, the audience is looking at clip B but still hearing audio from clip A. A J Cut is essentially the opposite of the L Cut. Here we hear the audio before we see the video. So, the audience is looking at clip A but still hearing audio from clip B. It's very common to be used in documentaries.
Cutting on Action
Cutting at the point of action, for example when someone kicks open a door, we expect to see the change in angle when the door is kicked, not after it’s flown open and swaying for a moment. It follows the natural order that our eyes and brains are expecting.
Cutaway Shots
Cutaways take the audience away from the main action or subject. These are used primarily as transition pieces to give the audience a view of what is happening outside of the main character’s environment. They give extra context to the scene and they can create more tension and foreshadowing.
Cross Cut or Parallel Editing
The cut between two different scenes that are happening at the same time in different spaces. When done effectively you can tell two simultaneous stories at once and the information being given to the audience will make complete sense. It can be great for adding tension, for example when used in heist films, showing someone breaking into a safe while a security guard walks towards their location.
Match Cut
The match cut is the technique of matching the movement or space of two opposite environments together, without disorienting the viewer. An example of this is shooting someone opening a door from behind, and then cutting to the opposite side as they walk through it.
Smash Cut
It's when a loud scene is immediately followed by a quiet scene or vice versa. It represents the transitioning between two completely different scenes, emotions, or narratives with an abrupt transition.
Invisible Cut
The goal of these types of cuts is to keep the shot looking like one continuous take. It works by filling the end of one frame entirely with something black or low-lit and blending it with the beginning of the next clip, doing a whip pan or using light leaks and lens flares.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_editing
https://blog.pond5.com/11099-13-creative-editing-techniques-every-video-editor-should-know/
https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/8-essential-cuts-every-editor-should-know/
https://www.slideshare.net/kscraps88/editing-techniques-15915736
Film editing is a technical part of the post-production process of filmmaking and is often referred to as the "invisible art" because when it is well-practised, the viewer becomes so engaged that is not even aware of the editor's work.
Different types of cuts and transitions
Standard Cut
The hard cut is the basic and the most common type of cut in editing. This type of cut is utilized when you want to cut from clip to clip without any type of transition. This type of cut doesn’t invoke the least amount of visual meaning or feelings.
Jump Cut
The jump cut is a technique which allows the editor to advance forward in time. It’s normally done within the same frame or composition, and many times it’s used within montages as well as during an interview, especially if filmed with multiple cameras.
Montage
The idea behind the montage is to use rapid cuts of imagery to help convey the passing of time or to help aid the context of the narrative. An example of montages are athletes training or preparing for a big match in montages. It's normally underscored by music and it can be used to show character transformation.
Cross-dissolve
A cross-dissolve can signify a passage of time or show multiple stories or scenes that are happening at the same time by overlapping or creating dissolves between shots.
Wipe
A wipe is a transition that uses an animation that “wipes” the first scene away into the next scene.
Fade In/Out
Fading out one clip and fading in the other. This implies a passage of time, like a night-to-day switch or someone falling asleep for example.
J or L Cut
A L Cut means is that you are hearing the audio from the previous shot, even though we’ve moved on to another shot. So, the audience is looking at clip B but still hearing audio from clip A. A J Cut is essentially the opposite of the L Cut. Here we hear the audio before we see the video. So, the audience is looking at clip A but still hearing audio from clip B. It's very common to be used in documentaries.
Cutting on Action
Cutting at the point of action, for example when someone kicks open a door, we expect to see the change in angle when the door is kicked, not after it’s flown open and swaying for a moment. It follows the natural order that our eyes and brains are expecting.
Cutaway Shots
Cutaways take the audience away from the main action or subject. These are used primarily as transition pieces to give the audience a view of what is happening outside of the main character’s environment. They give extra context to the scene and they can create more tension and foreshadowing.
Cross Cut or Parallel Editing
The cut between two different scenes that are happening at the same time in different spaces. When done effectively you can tell two simultaneous stories at once and the information being given to the audience will make complete sense. It can be great for adding tension, for example when used in heist films, showing someone breaking into a safe while a security guard walks towards their location.
Match Cut
The match cut is the technique of matching the movement or space of two opposite environments together, without disorienting the viewer. An example of this is shooting someone opening a door from behind, and then cutting to the opposite side as they walk through it.
Smash Cut
It's when a loud scene is immediately followed by a quiet scene or vice versa. It represents the transitioning between two completely different scenes, emotions, or narratives with an abrupt transition.
Invisible Cut
The goal of these types of cuts is to keep the shot looking like one continuous take. It works by filling the end of one frame entirely with something black or low-lit and blending it with the beginning of the next clip, doing a whip pan or using light leaks and lens flares.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_editing
https://blog.pond5.com/11099-13-creative-editing-techniques-every-video-editor-should-know/
https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/8-essential-cuts-every-editor-should-know/
https://www.slideshare.net/kscraps88/editing-techniques-15915736
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