Research into Editing Styles - Miss Georgiou

 

In my essay I will be discussing my research into editing styles. Editing makes up a major part of any scene in a film. There are many various types of editing techniques like reaction shot, shot reverse shot, timing of shots, jump cut, slow editing, these are some of the various editing techniques in my clip that I am analyzing. The clip that I am researching my editing styles into is from the film the uninvited. It is one of the very first scenes and contains various editing styles that create suspense, surprise and shock which is conventional of a thriller as they create an eerie feeling and create a mixture of feelings and connections with the audience to the characters.

Different Editing Techniques In Researched Scene

Slow Editing
The first editing technique we see as the audience is slow editing. Slow editing is when clips are juxtaposed together at a slower pace to create suspense. The first part of the scene is where this editing technique takes place. The girl is walking towards the cabin slowly and goes inside where the slowing editing ends. This type of editing is very effective as the slow pace of the scene created by the editing adds tension and suspense.   This is conventional of a thriller as thrillers are suppose to create this feeling to make tension and a build up to the next part of the scene. This is related back to the audience because they expect something to happen so the audience creates an atmosphere with the character in the scene because they feel that, that character is in trouble and something is about to happen to them. Slowing editing calms the audience and makes them feel more relaxed but it can also create tension keeping the audience on the edge of there seat as they see the slow pace of the film as a trap for a sudden shock into something scary. This type of editing is mostly used under the thriller genre as it creates one of the main elements suspence which leads on to the second element suprise. This has some emotional impact as the bond between audience and character has been reenforced even futher. But will not have as greater emotional as fast editing.

Jump Cut
The next editing technique we as the audience see is Jump Cut. Jump Cut is is when the film suddenly focuses on something. In the clip, the jump cut takes place when the girl suddenly sees a creatures arm behind a covered up a piece of furniture. This type of editing is very effective as it sends a sudden sense of shock straight and upfront to the audience that makes them jump out of there seat. This is conventional to a thriller as thrillers generally aim to shock the audience into fright to get them ready for the pace of the film and also to expect more fright within the film as well. The jump cut usually takes place after slow editing as it takes the audience from one mood suddenly to another. The audience creates a connection with the character as they are experiencing the same view ,in a point of view shot alike this scene, and then they are placed in a sudden state of shock as the audience experence the same emotions as the character.  This is the second element of a thriller susprise because the audience is expecting a reaction but do not know the forcoming events.

Reaction Shot
 The next editing technique we see as the audience is straight after the jump cut and is a reaction shot. A reaction shot is any shot (often used as a cutaway) in which a subject reacts to a previous shot. Immediately after the jump cut the next edit is the reaction shot of the girl reacting to seeing the creature her. This type of editing is very effective as it co-ordinates the shock/response of the character to the previous edit to the audience very clearly. The reaction shot is conventional of a thriller film as it relates all the information of the character back to the audience quickly as they editing technique is very fast paced showing that a sense of shock and tension. Shock being the third and final element of the thriller genre. The audience creates a connection with the character as they see the characters feeling briefly, but in detail, and quite suddenly, just like the audiences response to the previous edit of the jump cut. The reaction shot shows the audience all of the characters facial expressions of the character suddenly after a scary/eerie event has taken place giving the audience a sense of the feelings that the character is going through, which should make the same feelings of themselves. This creates an quick emotional burst on the audience as they quick see the characters reactions, as if it was a long time period they would be able to make sence of the sitution and feel less disturbed.

Timing of Shots
After the reaction shot the next type of editing is the timing of shots. In the editing stage some shots are either edited slower or quicker to add emotional impact (Slower to create a strong connection with the character, or faster to make the audeince feel as if their bond has been weakened.) or to create suspense. In the scene after the reaction shot the pace of the scene caused by this type of editing changes, it speeds up due to content in the scene. In this part of the scene the monster is making its way closer to the girl dominating her in height. The editing of the scene creates tension as the audience does not know what is in order for the girl next. This is conventional of a thriller film because thriller films generally use suspense and tension to create a bonds between the characters and the audience because they are as terrified as the character in the scene. The timing of shots gives the audience either a strong or weak bond with the characters in  the scene. If the character is focused on with slow timing of shots the audience are more likely to create a stronger bond with that character or the opposite fast timing of shots for a weaker bond with the character. This type of editing gives the most emotional impact as they audience will suddenly be placed in a sitution that they have no control over, making them ponder into wondering what the occurences of future events of the film.

Shot Reverse Shot
One of the final part of editing that we see in the clip from the film is the shot reverse shot. This is used in films where a conversation is taking place and it is when one shot quickly follows another. This happens at the scene at the end when one girl is comforting another girl after what has taking place in the scene. This is effective as it creates a either a sense of comfort for the character at a time of need or a  urgent feeling because the characters are in a dilemma. In this case its a sense of comfort as the girl has seen a shocking and disturbing vision. The shot reverse shot is conventional in thriller films as it seems to create one of two effects and sometimes even both (mentioned above comforting or urgent feeling.) This editing creates a connection with the audience as they are either comforted by the number of people in the scene in conversation. Or either intrigued by the high pace shot reverse shot in confrontation between characters over decision making. This type of editing has some emotional impact but is not as effective as other editng techniques at getting the audiecne to bond with the characters.  

Evaluation
Overall these types of editing are very effective in thriller films they send the audience into a state of shock, a sense of suspense and an overall worry of tension. Each specific editing type does a specific job that creates a bond with the characters and the audience.

In the Jump Cut the audience is shocked because of the fast cut to the creature that they had no idea would be there. This puts the audience in the same position as the character as they are experiencing exactly what they character is in the scene, putting them both into a state of shock. The Jump Cut is relevant to the thriller genre as it creates a sudden sense of shock in which both audience and characters are quickly traumatized.

  Meanwhile in the Shot Reverse Shot the character and the audience are both comforted by the use of conversation in the Shot Reverse Shot when the camera switches between the characters face due to who is talking. The shock reverse shot in the case of the film is used to comfort and create suspense. As the characters look into the distance and see the woman whom they concerned about, this shot creates suspense as the characters are not clear what is going on through the shot and conversation. Shot Reverse Shot is relevant to the thriller genre as it comforts the audience from a traumatic state or creates suspense for the audiences benefit as it draws them to the story line and the characters.

There are not many faults with this scene. The film is edited very well but if I were to make improvements to it I would probably increase the rate of the timing of shots. As the creature moves towards the girl the editing of the scene is slightly quicker than before. I would improve apon this by increase the rate at which the shots are edited to create a more disturbing feel to the scene. I would probably look more towards the use of montage (the speed of editing, where shots are quickly juxtaposed together to create excitement.) as it really effects the scene and the audiences connection with the characters.

The clip that I have been analyzing has really influenced my view towards the use of editing techniques in films. I have now recognized the importance of using these techniques to create the main feelings of shock, surprise and suspense. Without these techniques these feelings would not be created therefore lacking the feeling of the thriller genre. When considering my plot for my scene I will take the editing styles into major consideration because without these the impact that I want my audience to feel throughout the scene will not be created.