The Development and Principles of Editing

The Development and Principles of Editing

History of editing 

In the very beginning of film there were no edits as they didn't have the resources. They would simply stop cranking the film and then start again when they wanted to film the next scene. They would edit this with a technique called linear editing. This would happen by physically cutting the negative film and then sticking it together with different pieces. This was also known as splicing too. However, in 1903 film changed when The Great Train Robbery directed by Edwin S. Porter. Within this they used cross cutting and double exposure editing too.

You can still edit in camera digitally however, now it is more common and professional to use the non linear method by using editing programs like premiere pro or Sony Vegas.

Then as editing became more of a developed art in 1908 came the first animated cartoon by a French artist Emile Cohl. It was black and white and consisted of 700 drawings each of which was slightly different to make it look as if it was moving. Moving forward in 1923, Walt Disney animation studios was founded with the headquarters being in California. Then 14 years later they bought out the first ever feature length animation which was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Moving on to 2017 the world of film has significantly moved forwards with Disney now being the biggest film company in the world with 56 animated feature films.

Scene from the Great Train Robbery

For this I have chosen a scene from one of my favourite films, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Setting/Scene summary -

In this scene we see the main character Katniss Everdeen sprinting towards the sounds of her sister Primrose.  Being tortured by the sounds of her sister screaming. She soon composes to find out that it's a jabberjay ( a genetically modified bird which replays sounds).  Finnick then finds her but hears the sound of his wife and begins to panic too as he knows that sound would of had to have been made in order for the birds to repeat it.  At this point Katniss draws her bow and arrow and begins shooting them down but with hundreds beginning to surround them it becomes an increasingly stressful struggle. We then end the scene with Joanna (an aggressive female) screaming to the skies in hope that President Snow hears her demands of the torture he is putting her and her friends through. 

Characters within the scene -
In this scene we focus more towards Katniss and Finnick. Although we do have 3 other characters appear too.

Katniss Everdeen -

She survived the first Hunger Games however, has been put into the Arena again. She is a strong and independent woman who cares strongly about her family and friends. In this scene we see her at a low point and struggling to carry on.

Finnick Odair -

Also a past victor of the games aged 14 he is strongly loved by thousands of the citizens for being the sweetheart. Earlier in the film he befriends Katniss to try and find out her secrets. In this scene like Katniss we see him struggle to come to terms with his weakness when hearing the screams of his wife.

Peeta Mellark -

From one of the poorest districts he survived the previous games with Katniss and they are in a forced relationship to please the citizens. Although Peeta is not as strong as the others he cares strongly about Katniss and would do anything to protect her.

Joanna Mason -

Joanna is hands down the most feisty and will always say what she thinks no matter the situation. She has no family or friends left so keeps herself to herself to try and survive without becoming too attached to the others which I think is really strongly portrayed in this scene.

Mise en scene -

The Mise en Scene of this scene features natural lighting which comes through the jungle trees. As it was shot outdoors in the middle of the day there is no need for extra harsh lighting. This also means we get nice orange and yellow tints on camera giving a more warm feeling to the overall look.

All are wearing the same skin-tight overall swimsuits which show that in the arena they are all the same and equal.

natural lighting



Costume

Camera work -

(I am going to talk through the scene as it goes)

The scene begins with action almost instantly with a handheld camera giving us a shot of the trees and characters. As tension rises we then see the handheld cameras again but this time they are tracking Katniss from the side as she sprints through the jungle.

It then cuts to a low angle shot of Katniss to show that the Jabberjays above are bigger and stronger than what she is or will ever be. It can also be disorientating as the screen spins so fast which makes audiences feel exactly what Katniss is feeling.

Low angle shot

Going onto a medium shot, Katniss manages to shoot the jabberjay holding her sisters voice and we get a moment of peace.

This doesn't last for long though as Finnick now embarks on the same thing. We see a pull zoom on Finnick where he asks if she ''is ok?'' and we see look towards Katniss which is when it cuts to an over the shoulder shot and he begins to sprint too. Again we see a repeat of last time. Side shot running through the jungle which then moves to a shot of them coming to a realization of what they can see. It leads to a convocation with over the shoulder shots and the the low angle looking up with the jabberjays being overpowering.

Over the shoulder shots

To give the audience a real understanding of what the jungle looks like we see a tracking shot from above of the jabberjays following on mass. This also looks like a P.O.V from the birds view making us feel like we are the ones who are helping to torture Katniss and Finnick.

We finally think the hell is drawing to a close and that they are safe when they see Peeta, Joanna and Beetee but the lighting becomes gradually darker in Katniss's halve whereas Peeta is flooded with sunlight through the trees. This iconography shows that she is still in danger unlike Peeta who is safe. As the realisation of danger sets in Katniss breaks down and the cameras come into medium/close up shots to really convey the emotions which Katniss feels whilst she is trapped by the capitol not just in the forest but also her own mind. To end this part of the scene we see and low angle which uses the rule of thirds. Katniss is placed in the middle so we give most of our attention to her. However, the left and right which is more is the birds. This connotes they still and will always over rule her no matter how much she tries to cancel them out. The shots also become more dragged out to make us feel drained like her.

Jabberjays P.O.V shot

Suddenly the time ends and Peeta is able to finally help her. This turns to Close up shots between the victims of the birds on the left and carers on the right. It helps the audience to understand the distress between the two sides.

As they all come to terms with what has just happened Joanna is in a state of rage which she decides is a good time to shout to President Snow. For this they use low angles making her look tall and powerful as her voice echoes around the arena. The scene ends with a wide shot of the dense forest. They are all sat on the floor whilst the trees and vines tower over them which looks like a prison. It connotes they are all trapped with no release.



Low angle of Katniss struggling 

Wide shot

Music and Audio -

The scene begins with no music but as panic increases we get a slow rise of high pitched eerie music. It stays at an almost constant level after this until the jabberjays appear on mass. It becomes one long drum type beat which gets louder and quieter. The sounds of loved ones screaming and panicking become more constant making us feel trapped inside their world. When they make it to the edge of the forest they hit a dividing wall we get put on both sides. Peetas is quiet with just his voice and the extra diegetic music. But when it cuts back to Katniss the jabberjays sound becomes more prominent making us feel scared and helpless. When Katniss puts her hands over her ears and drops to the floor the music becomes louder whilst the jabberjays screams becomes quieter. As the scene cuts to her on the floor the music also cuts out and all falls to silence to represent how the horrifying experience has drawn to a close and as she begins to focus and regain consciousness the sounds fade back in. For the rest of the scene no music or extra sounds are used to show how they are coming to terms with what just happened.

The birds sounds are also put in during post editing. we can hear loud swoops as the birds come past the screen too which gives the effect that they are coming for the audience aswell as the characters.

After this it falls to silence to show that all is now calm again whilst Joanna shouts a speech to the outside world.

• Cutaway - 
• A cutaway shot is something which is often used in dramatic scenes of films (such as horror) to create more suspense. The camera will be focusing on a certain person or object and then suddenly cut to a different scene very quickly.
• 180 degree rule is about making sure cameras are not seen in the shots

180 degree rule

Match cut on action is when you have multiple and shots of angles to show a scene. This makes it more interesting for the audience rather than just having one angle and one shot. It is often done when somebody opens a door.

Match cut on action

Shot reverse shot is something I have talked about in the sequence analysis. This is where two people are talking and they use two cameras so we can see them both having the convocation. This will usually be done by having a camera over the shoulders.

Shot reverse shot

Eyeline match cut - This will be used in films to show what the character is looking/focusing on.

Eyeline match cut

• 
  
• Continuity - 
• Continuity is key in films to keep the audience believing what is happening. For example if one scene a girl is wearing her hair up and suddenly the next shot in the scene it is down then your attention will be drawn away from being in the moment. 

• Transitions: dissolve, wipe and fade
• A dissolve is an effect that would be added in post production during the editing stages. This is when you will have the full picture on the screen and then transition to another shot.

Dissolve

• A wipe is also an effect that would be added during editing which will go from one side of the screen to another adding a new scene or shot. 



Wipe




Finally another post editing technique is to fade a scene. Usually this would be used when wanting to end a scene to tell the audience that it is the end.





Fade