Research into Editing Styles

Research into Editing Styles

Editing is the way camera shots are timed and placed in a sequence to create a certain effect. The editing is created in a certain way to emphasise certain parts of the film and make a scary atmosphere for the audience. For example in a thriller slow editing is used to create tension and suspense. I have chosen to analyse a scene from The Human Centipede. I have chosen this clip because it has different editing techniques to create different conventional effects.

 



Reaction Shot
The first editing technique used in this clip is a Reaction Shot. This is any shot in which a subject reacts to a previous shot. This is used many times in the clip. For example a reaction shot it used right at the beginning of the clip when the two girls react by screaming and crying while the man is injecting them. Their upset and frightened facial expressions show that this is their reaction to the situation and it tells the audience that the substance being injected into them is painful and frightening. The purpose of this shot is to ultimately present to the audience certain characters thoughts and feelings and to show the audience the narrative of the film. This helps the audience to understand what is happening in the film and also how the situations in the film effect the characters. This can help the audience build relationships with most of the characters as they can understand and relate to how they are feeling and almost imagine themselves in their situations.

Slow Editing
Another editing technique that I analysed was Slow Editing. This is when clips are juxtaposed together at a slower pace and this is to create suspense. This is used in the scene when the woman is trying to escape although she is trying to escape quickly the editing that is used makes it seem to the audience that she is working rather slowly. This is to create suspense and to see if she will make it in time before the antagonist catches her. The effect of this technique makes the audience worried about what is going to happen to the character. This helps the audience to build a relationship with the victim character as they can feel their pain and they want the best for the character, they build a relationship where they want the character to overcome and beat the antagonist. A slow editing technique also helps to build tension within the scene as it intrigues the audience and gives them a sense of foreboding as if something is about to jump out to scare them or if something bad is about to happen. Tension being created is also a convention of the thriller genre so therefore this is a successful editing style.

Timing of Shots
A third technique used in this scene is Timing of Shots. This means that when in the editing stage some shots are either edited slower or quicker to add emotional impact or to create suspense. This is used throughout the whole of the sequence as in every scene of every film the shots have to be timed in a certain way depending on what effect is desired to be created. In this scene tension and suspense is created, this is because this is a chase scene. Therefore the shots have to be edited into a way that will make the audience feel on edge and wary. The purpose of this is so the audience build themselves up and this makes them jump and become frightened at the scary parts of the film. This is conventional to the thriller genre as ultimately the main purpose of thriller films is to make an audience feel scared and uncomfortable. The timing of shots is important as due to the timing of shots it can create different emotions towards the audience. For example if the shots were edited in a fast pace this would create tension and suspense for the audience as this is were the intensity levels begin to rise which makes the audience feel on the edge of their seat as they anticipate what will happen next.

Shot Reverse Shot
The final editing technique that I analysed in this scene was the Shot Reverse Shot. This is mostly used in films where a conversation is taking place and it is when one shot quickly follows another. This is used in the scene when the two women are crying and talking to each other right at the beginning of the scene. This is a Shot Reverse Shot as the camera quickly shoots back and forth to each character as it is their turn in the conversation. The purpose of this shot is to make sure the audience catch the characters facial expressions but to also make the audience understand that the two characters are facing each other and are usually having a conversation. This is conventional in this scene because as it is a thriller film usually the conversations that happen are important. In this clip the two girls are crying to each other and talking about how they need to escape. This makes the audience feel sympathy for the characters as they can see that they are in pain, they also want the characters to get out safely and for everything to end well and ok.

This research has helped me to understand how different editing techniques create different emotions and conventions of the thriller genre. It has helped me to understand how every aspect of the editing technique needs to be analysed in order to create a certain technique or emotion. This research will help me in order to create my own opening sequence because I know fully understand the different types of editing styles that I can use as a variety in my own production. This will hopefully help me to use a variety of shots and to create many emotions and make a successful opening thriller clip.