1903 - Basic Cuts in Film - The great train robbery
There wasn't really any editing process here because it was a really early film. The only editing in this are the jump cuts. At 3:55 - 4:00 it cuts from one scene to a different scene. This is the first cut in the film. It's very basic editing because they didn't have the resources to do linear editing at the time that it was made.
1920s - Silent Film
Needed to allow audiences to understand time and space
Discuss key techniques/development that allowed this
At 6:35 - 6:42 they used a transition. They did this to show that the scene was over and that time would be making a jump, straight after the transition they put subtitles on the screen to say where the character was and what time it was, this is helping the audience understand time and space. They used these very simple editing techniques because in the 1920's they didn't have the equipment to do time and space.
1940s - Hollywood Studio System
More complex stories that included sound
Cinema at it's height in popularity so audiences needed to escape into film
For example, cutting on action is used at 1:51 - 1:56 when the watch is shot, it goes from the gun, then the bullet fires and it switches to a close up of the watch. It makes this event more seamless so you don't realise the editing and you can get a more immersive experience.
They also use the basic jump cuts here but they use them more frequently so we don't stay on a scene for too long. 0:35 - 0:51 they cut between the two characters talking to give us a more up close view of their faces when they are saying something. This also makes for a more immersive film experience because you're not just staring at one scene for two long getting bored and remembering that you're watching a film, there's always a new shot for you to look at. It also makes the conversation flow better, it gives it a less awkward feel when watching them converse.
1960s - American new wave - The godfather
Cross cutting, they cut between the church and assassinations (all throughout they do this but a specific example would be 0:37 - 1:17)
Cross cutting works here to tell multi strands of the narrative, it's also used here to make a contrast between two scenes.
Cutting on action is evident in the scene where the guy is being massaged and the assassin walks through the door to assassinate him, the character leans down to pick up his glasses and put them on. It goes from a wide shot to a mid shot to a close up, this all happens on action and hides the editing to make it a more immersive experience. 3:54 - 4:00. Matched cut is used to begin sequence.
1980s - High Concept cinema
Editing techniques develop to create pace and understanding of genre
In this clip the sound speeds up to help create a pace, the editing also speeds up. This is a fight scene and it's edited in this certain way to make audiences react accordingly. (Being more engrossed in the film, being on the edge of their seat etc.) The jump cuts used here speed up as the fight gets more intense. For example at 0:22 - 0:38 the cuts slow down because the fight is slowing down in pace, then at 1:08 - 1:33 the editing quickens to match the action on screen. A lot of the editing in this film is very fast quick cuts, this helps the audience understand the overall pace of the film, which then leads to them understanding the genre of the film. The sound in the film always matches the action on the screen.
Genres that were popular in 1980s were Sci-Fi, Action and Horror. Sci-Fi got really popular in the 1980's because of the fact that we could do more with editing so people wanted to explore new ideas in filmmaking. Star Wars was made in 1977 and really helped to make Sci-Fi more popular as we got into the 1980's.
1990s - Digitial editing software introduced
Filmmaking became inexpensive
Rise of independent filmmaking
6:22 - 6:30 they use an L cut, which is where they let you hear the action before they show it on screen. J and L cuts can be used for many different reasons but for this one they use this to show the audience where this conversation that they cut to is taking place. At 20:41 -21:15 theres a lot of cutting on action. When he looks at the bed, it cuts to a mid shot of the bed, then he reaches for the bed, it cuts to a first person view of his hand going towards the bed, then he presses on the bed, takes a step back, the camera cuts to his reaction, then cuts back to the bed as he reaches towards the bed again. This type of editing is sometimes referred to as invisible editing. They call it this invisible editing because it makes the scene flow very well, so well that you get immersed in the film.
00s - Today.
All techniques are used dependent of genre and audience
CGI is used throughout mainstream and independent cinema
CGI is computer generated interface. It's impacted film in a massive way, artists have gotten a new chance to use their skills on films and make new creations. People who wanted to do a certain film but couldn't because it wouldn't be possible to make a film like that now can because of CGI. CGI has helped people be more creative in their work, so many new possibilities have come about due to CGI. Finding Nemo for example, could of never been made without CGI (and if it was made it would of been very boring and confusing seen as fish can't talk) CGI can make anything happen and that's why it's impacted film in a good way.
Well done, Distinction
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