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Category: Editor

Continuity Editing

We were tasked with filming and editing a continuity sequence that builds to a tense climax, using editing and cinematography to maintain continuity of space and time. We began with a script that evolved into a shot list, which we then shot and edited into a reel, and finally analysed that reel in a slideshow, all of which can be found below:

Script:

INT. ROOM. DAY.

X sits at a table, waiting.

Cross cut to:

INT. CORRIDOR. DAY.

Y walks down a corridor.

He/she is in a hurry and worried about being seen.

Cross cut to:

INT. ROOM. DAY.

X checks the time impatiently.

Cross cut to:

INT. CORRIDOR. DAY.

Y arrives at a door and opens it furtively to enter the room.

INT. ROOM. DAY.

Y enters and sits down opposite X, but within reach of him / her.

X

Look at the time. What happened?

Y

Sorry. Got held up.

X

Did anyone see you leave?

Y

No. At least I don’t think so?

X

What?

Y

No. No-one saw me leave.

X

You know what will happen if anyone finds out.

Y

Yes, which is why we haven’t much time.

Y takes a package from out of his/her coat pocket and passes it across the table to X.

Y

Here, you should take this, but don’t let anyone see it.

X

What? What is it?

X opens the package to find:

  • an envelope stuffed with cash
  • a gun
  • a photograph
  • a bunch of keys…

Shot List:

0 Shot List

Shot No 

1

Action / Location

Corridor – Walking.

Framing
Shot No

2

Action / Location

Room – Impatience.

Framing
Shot No

3

Action / Location

Corridor – Walking.

Framing
Shot No

4

Action / Location

Room – Clock glance.

Framing
Shot No

5

Action / Location

Corridor – Entrance.

Framing

Longshot/Midshot.

Shot No

6

Action / Location

Room – Entrance.

Framing

Over the shoulder.

Shot No

7

Action / Location

Character X conversation.

Framing
Shot No

8

Action / Location

Character Y conversation.

Framing

In between characters 

Shot No

9

Action / Location

Neutral two shot.

Framing

In between characters

Shot No

10

Action / Location

The hat reveal.

Framing

Close-up.

Shot No

11

Action / Location

Hands rapping.

Framing

Close-up.

Shot No

12

Action / Location

Clock.

Framing

Close-up.

Shot No

13

Action / Location

Door handle.

Framing

Close-up.

Shot No

14

Action / Location

Shocked reaction.

Framing

Close-up with push-in.

Reel:

Pages:

 

Editing Textual Analysis of Hot Fuzz

Top London policeman, Nicholas Angel is sent to a quiet country village as punishment for being too good. But the village is not all it seems! Numerous deaths lead Angel into a final showdown with the villagers in ‘God’s Country’. The sequence is from the end of the film – the final shoot out between Angel, his sidekick Danny and the villainous villagers.

There are a number of times where we see good eyeline match. For example, when the citizens are shooting at the man, we see the police officer in the car looking over to see what’s going on. This eyeline match is important to show that everyone is aware of their surroundings and all in the same location. It also helps show the reaction from the people as most the shots are medium close-ups to close-ups. During the first minute of the scene Angel kicks an old lady in the face. The action is composed of four shots. The match on action happens when the kick occurs. The camera at this moment is a close up of her face which shows the audience the impact it had. We see a really good slow motion effect when the man throws a gun to the officer to use. This slow motion effect adds to the drama of the action and makes it somewhat over the top.

The first fade happens as soon as the scene starts. The fade makes us believe the scene is going to be calm and peaceful but little we know is that it’s an action sequence that leads us into a false sense of security but this heightens the contrast to the action later.

Wright utilises a rapidly cut montage of close-up shots to portray Angel’s armament in the same high-octane style as he would an action sequence, as to not take away from the fast pace and tension built by the previous scenes.

After the first gunshot, the pace of the edit becomes fast, with steady, quick cuts creating a strong, intense rhythm to compliment the action, before slowing again upon the defeat of the villagers and the subsequent appearance of the reverend, implying that the atmosphere has once again cooled to a more tranquil equilibrium. The style of the scene pays homage to the ridiculously over-the-top action films featuring police shootouts, with  intense rapid push-ins and slow-motion gun throws heightening the drama.

Lighting for Meaning

In our class, we were assigned our fourth mini-task to complete over the following week: a lighting task with the creative intention of filming a game of chess in which we use lighting & cinematography to create the feeling of a dangerous game, where the stakes are high. To complete the task, we split into groups and took turns in different roles, including director, cinematographer and lighting assistant. Like our other tasks, we had to physically take our shots, edit them together into another reel, and then reflect on the process on a slideshow page, both of which are attached below.

Editing Reel:

Inquiry, Action & Reflection Page (Including Bibliography):

The Kuleshov Effect

In our class, we were assigned our third mini-task to complete over the following week: an editing task exploring both the psychology and methodology behind the Kuleshov Effect, with the creative intention of demonstrating the effect, and considering the importance of filming to edit and also the significance of how cutting from look, eyeline match and reaction creates meaning. The initial experiment was conducted by Soviet filmmaker Lev Kuleshov in the early 1900’s, in order to examine the importance of both acting and editing. To complete the task, we needed to, like our other tasks, physically take our shots, edit them together into another reel, and then reflect on the process on a slideshow page, both of which are attached below.

Editing Reel:

Inquiry, Action & Reflection Page (Including Bibliography):

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