Editing

Editing is when you put a film together by taking all the shots that you have filmed and put them into an understandable order. Editing is the longest process of the film making, it takes a lot of precision work. And it is also the time when you add special effects and sound. There are different types of editing but 'Continuity' Editing is the most used and most focused on. 'Continuity' editing involves:
- Maintaining a spatial relationships in a film
- Calls the audience's attention to specific objects/ Characters/ Events in the film
- Allows the film to shift through time
- Gives the film a general rhythm
- Shows action and reaction.

Transitions are placed in editing to join shots together to keep the continuity and pace of the film. The most common transition is a 'Straight Cut'- where the shot cuts straight to the next shot.

Dissolve is the gradual transition from one shot to another, it is normally a fade effect to the next shot. This helps the continuity cause it shows a move from one location to the next, it is a very good indicate of time passing.

When a film uses the technique of fading to Black/White, it is often to create a sense of time passing or if you do it quickly it can be used to show a flashback. They often fade from Black but in some cases white can work better for the film. It can also create a montage effect. The montage often starts off peaceful, then becomes action packed, then back to peaceful giving a great effect and creating tension at the same time.

'Cross-Cutting' is used between action cuts between two sequences to create links, parallels or contrasts between the two storylines and there settings. This can create tension and suspense.
A 'Wipe cut' is when a line moves across the screen showing a transition from one shot to another. This is used to show a marker of change. Normally a marker of change of location, time and characters.

A 'Jump Cut' is an abrupt cut between shots, the effect of this is to dramatically begin or end an action sequence. But be careful cause if this is done badly it looks really bad! It takes a lot of time to get this one right!

Other things such as 'Shot Reverse Shot' can be used to show a conversation taking place. It is when you edit together two shots from two different camera positions. Normally over the shoulder shots.

Another thing a director can do is a 'Match On Action' which is when shots are editing together to show how the action in a scene progresses through time. This is used to show the cause and the effect of the action.
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