Continuity Editing Task

Creative Intention for the week

To film and edit a continuity sequence that builds to a tense climax.

Portfolio Page

This page must will be split into three sections:

1) Inquiry

Extension:

Find Continuity Edits in Hell’s Club

Identify two examples of each of the following. Note the time code when the following edits / shots takes place in the sequence.

  • Establishing Shot
  • Eyeline Match
  • Cross cutting
  • Match on Action
  • 180 Degree Rule
  • Fast cutting speed
2) Action

“Film a character walking down a corridor, opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue.”

In the edit you must demonstrate understanding of

  • match on action
  • eyeline match
  • cross cutting
  • shot/reverse shot
  • the 180-degree rule.

Here is the script which we would like you to use.

You will be working in groups of three for this task and must each shoot the sequence, which you will be editing later this week.

Edit your sequence in WeVideo

Examples

Here are two example preliminary tasks made by teachers, spot the mistakes:

Your Page:

Creative Intention as the title

Inquiry:
  • Explain the role of editing in controlling time & space in a continuity edit
  • Explain the filming / editing techniques you are going to have to employ
Action:
  • Explain how the script became a shot list
  • Explain how you filmed for continuity
  • Explain how you achieved the techniques in the edit.
Reflection:
  • How did you use editing to control space and time, action and reaction?
  • How would you do the project differently in terms of filming and editing to achieve a better effect next time?

Extension

Here is a great analysis of framing and editing and answers the question ‘Who Wins The Scene’

Editing 101

Editing, the connectives in Film Language

Think of cut as connectives in a sentence

…so, and, then, but, however, meanwhile…

How then does does editing create meaning if it’s just simply links in the film?

Well first of all, the edit constructs the meaning in the minds of the audience.

Task 1

Recap by defining and exemplify the Kuleshov effect…

Editing – Time, Space and Attention

So…OK…it’s the connectives of film, such as: ‘so’, ‘and’, ‘then’, ‘however’, ‘meanwhile’… which the audience link to make connective sense of two images.

  • It’s also think about how editing shifts the film in time…such as, ‘Later that day’, ‘Earlier’, ‘The following morning’, ‘8 years later…’, ‘Flashback…to recap important narrative information’…
  • It can also be used to draw audience attention to specific elements of mise-en-scene which are important. This is usually in the shape of characters view of what they see, although not always (often the audience know more than the characters) and this gives rise to dramatic irony.
SLIDESHOW TIME…
Textual Analysis of Editing

Identify the editing techniques used in this sequence.

Analyse how these editing techniques create meaning and sense for the audience.

You should use this handout to complete your TEA and then upload to your reflective journal under editing, along with a link to the clip.

Extension

The graphic match:

Montage Filming and Editing

Inquiry.

What’s a montage and what meaning does it communicate?

Examples

This is the opening sequence of Memento (2000) Nolan which creates a sense of the event and climaxes in a sudden narrative disruption.

Yarchen Gar (2018) Filippo Chiesa, is a short film, which is an extended montage of place.

Here’s Rocky (1976) Avildsen, which compresses time to show development of a character.

A Montage to Define Montage

Task

Create a montage which compresses time and communicates a sense of atmosphere.

  • A frantic and stressful school day.
The Rules
  • The montage should last 30-40 seconds.
  • It should contain at least 12 different (beautifully composed shots) some of which may be repeated in the edit.
  • The montage should communicate a clear meaning (what’s going on) and clear atmosphere (tone or feel).
  • There should be a clear sense of time passing and have a clear beginning and end, which fades out to black (to make it seem like more time has passed).
Different Roles
  • cutting-room-editing-film_medScreenwriter (Storyboard Artist)
  • Cinematographer / Director
  • Editor

To complete this tasks effectively you’re going to have to think carefully about how the edit is going to look in the end and ensure that you film all the shots you need. This means planning your sequence. Do do this we are going to use a screenwriting tool called…

The Storyboard

Here is a storyboard template that is similar layout to the professional one above.

Here is a document which explains how to design a storyboard.

You should also reflect on it’s usefulness as a pre-production planning / visualisation tool.

Production

You will be put in pairs once you have completed your storyboard and will have a lesson to shoot your footage, whilst one person acts and the other films.

When you are the cinematographer you should ensure that each shot is well composed. Also you should ensure the following:

  • All shots are well lit
  • All shots are in focus
  • You get a variety of shot types.

Post Production

When you are editor, you will be responsible for:

  • Compiling the basic montage.
  • Applying filters and transitions to the edit which contribute to the overall tone
  • Coordinating with the sound designer to apply their sound to the sequence.

Editing 101 – The Kuleshov Effect

Editing, the connectives in Film Language

Think of cut as connectives in a sentence….’so, and, then, but, however, meanwhile.’

How then does does editing create meaning if it’s just simple links in the film?

The cut constructs the meaning in the minds of the audience.

Here is Hitch Introducing…

Odessa Steps – Battleship Potemkin (1925) Eisenstein

Here is a fuller description of the Kuleshov Effect
 
PRACTICAL TASK – Recreate the Kuleshov Effect
  • In pairs shoots in Long, Mid & CU of a person looking and then…
  • …a series of 3-5 people, objects or events
    • You must retain continuity of eyeline.
      • So if the character is looking up the subject cannot be filmed from high angle!
  • Edit together the LS, MS & CU and three different objects or people to create different meanings / ideas.
An Example