Editing Techniques

Editing Techniques

For the clip of Way Down East it features a lot of parallel editing to show how tense the scene is and the dangers that lie within. Parallel editing is a editing technique used to show two different parts of a film happening simultaneously and then linking together to form the full story, however it can also be used to deceive the audience into believing a character is in danger when in fact they aren't.

Another editing techniques used is continuity editing, this is done to make it easier for the audience be able to follow the story of the movie, this is often used in feature films. Continuity editing can be used to contrast montages in which the editor aims to generate new associations within the various shots. This is done so that the movie fully flows together and makes sense to the audience, it also helps to create the effect of continuous action so the viewer won't notice the difference of transitions between the shots.

The clip from Silence of the Lambs also uses parallel editing to help connect the story to make sense to the audience and they think about the dangers that the characters are in, especially Clarice who gets sent to a house where criminal Buffalo Bill is but she arrives without any backup while the backup gets sent to the wrong house to ask questions. A possible reason for this specific type of editing is used could be to help show the audience the type of dangers the characters are in and how much the story is changing in the scenes.

The Clip from Rocky III features some interesting editing in the form of quick cuts to show off different scenes spliced together to fully showcase the montage. With the montage it clearly shows how time is passing and being manipulated but still showing how the character of Rocky is also changing with the cuts from running on the beach to training in the gym. Montage editing is used to show high energy scenes to get ready for sporting scenes, they are also used to show the audience

A reason why this editing was chosen could be to show  the intense training that Rocky undergoes before his fight. This was achieved with the use of quick cuts showing two separate ways Rocky is going about his training with running on the beach then in the gym striking the punching bag and skipping with the rope. The montage is a specific technique used in film editing and is very often used to clearly show a passage of time this is achieved by showing Rocky engaging in physical training, including a non-diegetic song (eye of the tiger) to be used as inspiration and to train harder to become better.

The Clip from Team America shows editing in a specific way where it spoofs traditional montages, these come in the form of close ups and quick cuts to show other forms of training and how the character is changing. It's also showing a lot of things all happening at once to remind the audience of whats going on and with each shot of the training its giving the audience a look at the improvements made so that the character is ready for the final stage of the movie.

A possible reason for the editing being done this is to show a spoof side of film making and their uses of montages to get characters ready for the final and most action filled section of the whole movie, it also helps the audience understand whats going on. The song used in this montage is used to explicitly tell the audience the different techniques and requirements for a successful sports montage as they appear on the screen.

Way Down East:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI2e3pXat54
Silence of the Lambs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts1x6uADFtM
Rocky III:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4soF2wigKSM
Team America:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhWiTORp22k