Understanding Movies

1
Understanding Movies

• Editing

2
Editing

• Shot the basic unit of film (one or more frames
  in a series on a continuous length of film stock)

• Editing the coordination of one shot with
  another

3
Four Basic Types of Relationship Between Shots

• Graphic
• Rhythmic
• Spatial
• Temporal

4
Graphic

• Patterns of
• light and dark
• line and shape
• volume and depth
• movement and stasis
• Create
• graphic match
• graphic clash

5
Rhythmic

• Variation of physical length of shot
• Relatively similar lengths (steady rhythm)
• Relatively shorter lengths (accelerating rhythm)
• Relatively longer lengths (slowing rhythm)
• Long takes (rhythm supplied by camera)
• Music accentuates rhythmic editing

6
Spatial

• Conventional scene
• Establishing shot
• Shots breaking that into shorter units
• New establishing shot, and so on
• Editing constructs spatial relationships where
  none exists in reality
• Parallel editing allows shots from two or more
  different locales to be juxtaposed for thematic
  or dramatic reasons

7
Temporal

• Conventionally, stories are told chronologically,
  with occasional flashbacks or flash forwards
• Within that framework, editing allows ellipsis
  (shortening the action from real time) and
  expansion (prolonging the action through
  overlapping editing or repetition)

8
Classic Hollywood Style Continuity Editing

• Graphic elements kept roughly similar within a
  scene
• Rhythm usually dependent on camera distance
• Spatial continuity within axis of action
• 180 degree rule controls
• Establishing shot
• Shot counter shot
• Eyeline matches
• Match on action
• Temporal continuity usually appears continuous,
  but regularly elides action