Task 13: Manipulation of diegetic time and space

Diegetic- The world of text 
Non-Diegetic- Outside the world of the text

Editing effects in films, television, music videos and adverts are all equally important, as they allow the film maker or director to manipulate time and space. This could be to show:
-A time period has changed in a flash back/flash forward
-To show a different location
-To show that time is moving quicker or slower than normal

This is a scene from the 1960 film 'The Time Machine' in which a man experiences time travel for the first time. The sequence is shown through shot that have been filmed over a period of time to show the progression of time. This process is agonisingly long, however the results are amazing.

An effect can be as simple as using a colour filter or changing the saturation of an image to increase or decrease the colour. Making an image black and white is commonly used for flash backs, however other ways are used, such as altering the speed of the footage. In the original Wizard of Oz, a filter known as 'sepia' is used when Dorothy is in Kanses, however the scene is technicolour when entering Oz to show she is in a completely different place.

Our example

After studying the concept of time manipulation, we were asked to use similar effects and techniques to create a short video.  As a group, we decided to rely on precision acting, camera angles, and the benefit of editing to do this. 

As our group is now down to three due to Jordan's absence,  we kept to our roles except i became both actress and director for this one, with Dave and Will monitoring the camera, time and acting as extras to emphasise the concept. The inspiration i got to recommend this idea to the group was based on a famous music video 'Vermillion' by Slipknot, in which a young woman similarly acts in slow motion to manipulate the world around her. Our aim was to show how time drags for someone in a free lesson as there's little to do, which i think we did effectively. My favourite scene, and the one i think nails the requirements of the task, is the reading scene, in which the clock is seen speeding up. This was done simply by monitoring a page turn every 30 seconds over a space of 5 minutes, and then editing it in Premier Pro to speed it up. 

The only flaw i would say this task has is the audio at the end, as it is unclear in parts what is being said. Overall, i think this task was successful, and i'm proud our group could work with one significant person down. 

My inspiration video is below: 'Vermillion' By Slipknot. ((It's a bit weird, i warn you))

Task 12: Transitions and Effects

        Styles of Editing

The movement from one shot to another is called a transition. These transitions suggest different ideas to the audience and it is important to choose the right one, as it creates mood, effect and can sometimes give insight into how the film or television show is going to progress.

Straight Cut

This is the most common transition and is known as 'invisible' due to its instantaneous speed. The transition isn't noticeable unless looked for, and keeps up both pace and the idea of reality. These are used a lot in soaps when a sequence of events are happening in one scene, however it is devised of multiple shots that need to link together. If they don't link together, it breaks the illusion. An example in this scene from Eastenders in which two characters fight. We see multiple characters get involved to restrain the men, and they appear almost in cannon from different camera angles. Also, as one man goes to fight another, there's a zoom in to the individual, which would've required a single camera to be moved completely, or a cut to a different camera altogether. The second option is more likely due to time consuming.

Dissolves

A dissolve transition is when one shot appears on the screen whilst the previous disappears. This means that at the mid-point, both scenes show at once, which shows their link to each other as well as a transition. One of the first persons to use this was George Meliés in 1899, in his short film 'Cinderella'. A majority of scenes overlap each other, for example the ball scene fading back into the house. This could also be used to show contrast, as the ball scene is very lively and visually appealing, whereas the house is quiet and boring. 

Fades

A fade transition is a gradual darkening or lightening of an image until to scene ends with a black or white or just block colour screen. This can be used to show a section of time changing to another in the narrative. Also, it can be used to show an unusual image, and emphasise the symbolism of it. For example in the 'Oasis' video for 'Don't look back in anger', each new person introduced into the shot with a blurred and faded filter, as well as the video itself beginning with a fade from black and ending with a fade to black. It's a quick transition, but still used very effectively. 

Wipes

This transition is when one scene or image pushes another off of the screen. They can be pushed in any direction, however the most common transition is when it is pushed to the left hand side. This isn't only to change the scene, but also make it more visually appealing and show how they relate to each other without using subtle continuity. The film series of Star Wars uses wipes at least every few scene changed  in every film. Below is a montage video of all the times it has been used in a single film. The transition is of course very obvious, which makes the Star Wars filming effect so iconic.

Graphic Match 

This is the most advance transition in my opinion, as it isn't just a decision the editor makes, but the film director themselves. It is created when things of similar shape in one shot transitions into something else when put next to each other. By doing this, it shows that the link is important, or to create a more visually exciting shot scene. An example of this is the famous 'shower scene' in Psycho directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Here, we see the dead girls eye become a drain hole, which could've been decided as some sort of symbolism or to show how the events have caused this outcome.

Task 11: Cross cutting video

From a directors point of view, i feel as though this example of a cross cut was successful. It clearly shows various points of view of the same situation effectively, with continuity and consistency in both filming and acting. The idea of focusing an every day situation around the idea of a wild western shoot out was dramatic and effective, especially in building tension, which is commonly the aim of cross cuts. Personally, there are only few improvements i could make to thiS. The first would be the eye contact in the short video, which wasn't always complying to the eye line match rule, which ensures realism when it's needed. Also, i don't feel as though my editing in Premier Pro was entirely brilliant, as i found it difficult to time things like sound effects and zoom ins accurately for the impact i intended to create. 

Overall, despite the flaws in the project, i think as a group we were successful in using our strengths in media to create a good, focused example.

Task 10: Understanding Pace

Speed of Editing

Scenes in films can last from mere seconds to minutes on end, with the length of each sequence establishing pace for how the film should progress on during and from this point. The speed of editing can create both atmosphere and mood to the characters in the film and the audience.

In order to create anxiety and suspense to the audience,the use of fast editing and scene changes in quick succession to each other are the most effective in presenting theses emotions. 

On the other hand, in order to portray calm or romance, scenes tend to last longer and change less frequently to exaggerate these emotions. 

Film trailers commonly use fast editing to pack in as much information in the film without giving away the entire storyline or lasting to long.

In the openings of films, so as the story and main characters are being introduced, the editing has to be slow and flow well in order to present to the audience where and who they are concerned with. As the film progresses, scenes may vary and even cross cut to show one or more situations in detail.

Cross Cutting

The idea of cross cutting is to present two or more sequences to the audience at once that have some relation to each other. This means something will be happening at the same time as something else but in a different location. An example of this is 'The Race Home' scene in Ferris Buellers Day Off, directed by John Hughes. As Jenie floors it home, we see Ferris running through multiple different gardens, back allies and roads to get home before her. These scenes, when cross cut together, emphasise the rush and competitive relationship between the siblings. This is also emphasised by the fast editing, creating a quick pace and making the audience feel the desperation that the siblings have to catch each other out. 

Engaging the viewer

The use of camera angles, the speed of scene change, actions themselves and rapid storyline are all concepts of pace used to engage the viewer. An example of this is the Gunfight scene from The Good, The bad and The Ugly, directed by Sergio Leone, in which three cowboys have a shoot out to win whatever hidden treasures there are in a graveyard. The camera angles change from wide shots to close ups as the tension rises between the men. Once the first shot has been fired, the pace quickens, with scenes changing rapidly and camera angles varying. 

Task 9: Non-Continuity

Non-Continuity Editing?

Non- continuity editing, or discontinuity, is the opposite of continuity editing as it uses obvious editing to create a non realistic sequence of events. Essentially, shots are juxtaposed to show very obvious editing which is a  technique made popular throughout the 1950's and 1960's, mostly by Jean Luc Godard and François Truffaut. The time period and creation of discontinuity was known as the 'French New Wave'.

The Techniques?

• Jump Cut: A jump cut is a literal cut in film editing which takes two following shots of the same scene and alters the angle in which they are filmed very obviously, even sometimes changing surroundings completely. This could be to show a jump in time, or to bring emphasis to certain scenes that are supposed to be unrealistic. It is also sometimes used to exaggerate facial expressions.  
• Breaking the 180 degrees rule: By breaking this rule, it shows the scene from complete different perspectives and also switches the meaning of the scene which could reflect the characters emotions. 

A Bout de Soufflé - 

The 1960 film directed by Jean-Luc Godard is an earlier example of this style being used effectively and deliberately.  In this film, jump cuts are used to show a sequence happening in shorter time and in stages rather than one continuous flow. When the woman is talking to the driver, the eye line match rule is still used, however discontinuity occurs when she begins to check her appearance. There is no clear change as to when she opens her mirror, so the audience are presented with a sped up scene. Also, the surroundings indicate the change in time which is effective as it breaks flow, and occasionally the 180 degree rule.

The Shining - Stanley Kubrick

In the 1980 film directed by Stanley Kubrick, the 180 degree rule is broken when the two men are presented talking in a bathroom. 'The Shining' is a fairly modern film, so it would no longer confuse the audience by breaking flow deliberately and causing confusing situations. Throughout the conversation, the rule is broken in order to show the characters emotions and the turning of events when revelations are made, as well as make the audience rather dizzy. This technique is very common in situations where one or many characters are scared or confused, therefore appropriate here. 

Task 8: Our Continuity Editing

After gaining  knowledge of continuity editing, we got back into our groups and filmed our own short using this technique. However, as it was raining, we decided to film quite a simple yet effective and very short video. Our main example of the technique is the orange being thrown, as although this was done in two takes, it looks like one continuous shot.

Task 7: Understanding Continuity Editing

Continuity editing? 

Continuity editing is a system of editing used to maintain clear and fluent action within the film. This involved the technique known as degree shots, which means scenes must be taken from certain angles to maintain the continuity and make sense. Without this, the storyline or even the single shot following would appear out of place, breaking the continuos flow thus destroying the audiences perspective of realism.

The Techniques?

• Shot/Reverse shot: In order to achieve the illusion of two people having a conversation in a film or television programme, each shot has to be specifically angled to show their interaction. Usually one person will be facing left, and the other right, in this case a shot is taken either face on or from the side of each individual separately. However, sometimes in more complex editing, over the shoulder shots are taken which may show the person talking and the back of their opponent. In this case, the second person would have to maintain their position throughout in order for it to flow. 
• Eye-Line Match: Eye-line match is the technique of assuring that each character is looking at each other in the correct direction to show some level of communication. This is done through a cut of two shots. By doing this, it gives the audience the perspective of the characters, which makes the film more intimate to watch. 
• 180 Degree Rule: This rule is a basic guideline that states two characters in the scene should always conform to the left/right relationship. It's as though the camera passes over an invisible axis that connects the two subjects, known as 'crossing the line'. When filming like this, the camera should always be on one side of the screen so that the characters will appear to switch position on screen.
• Match on Action: This technique links two shots together, as we see the character start the activity in the scene from one shot and end from another. By doing this it ensures that the action seems like one fluent and realistic movement when the actor may have actually performed it in two halves. 

Casablanca 

The 1942 film 'Casablanca' directed by Michael Curtiz is one of the earlier examples of this technique. In order to show fluency, a series of swoop shots and wide shots are used to show multiple people interacting in one large and eventful scene. Without this technique, it would be unclear as to who was speaking to who, as the eye contact wouldn't have been established using the 180 degree rule. Also, as this scene is so busy and there's lots to see at once, without this editing skill there would be no indication of who/what the audience is meant to focus on. 

The Hangover: Part 3

The 2013 film directed by Todd Phillips is the finale in 'The Hangover' trilogy, and displays a more modern example of continuity editing. In this scene, we see character Alan driving down a highway with his new pet giraffe in tow. On his journey, he speaks to a little boy in another car and his giraffe, in which both conversations require the eye line match rule to be successful. Also, in the huge accident towards the end of the scene, fatalities occur in time with each other, however this isn't necessarily how it may have been filmed. Continuity allows the audience to see an accident happen in an instant, but also Alan continuing to drive on in one flow of filming. This scene would be jumbled and confusing without the rules, which could take away from it's humour. Warning: Contains some graphic content.