Learning Outcome 1: Understand the development and principles of editing

Development of film

Cinema is a French invention: The Lumiere Brothers' gave birth to what might be one of the best contributions humans can enjoy; entertainment, documentaries, series and animation. Everything we see  moving on the screens is because of them. Below is the first ever film in the form of a story.  

D.W.Griffith (1875-1948) was a premier pioneering American Film director. He is best known as the director of the controversial and ground breaking 1915 film 'The Birth of a Nation'. The film has been classed as the most racist film of all time, owing to its portrayal of African American men (played by white actors in black face) as unintelligent and sexually aggressive towards white women, and the portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan (whose original founding is dramatised) as a heroic force

Sergie Eisenstein was a Russian film director and theorists, known as the 'father of montage'. He was a pioneer in the use of montage, a specific use of film editing, and argued that montage was the essence of the cinema. Eisenstein believed that editing could be used for more than just expounding a scene or moment, through the linkage of related images. He felt the 'collision' of shots could be used to manipulate the emotions of the audience and create film metaphors. 

He developed what he called 'methods of montage'. Below is a clip from his famous film 'Oktober' which shows several excellent examples of the Soviet Montage Techniques, developed to improve propaganda through film. 

Clich here for an indepth describtion of what Montage theory is and the different aspects of it

David Fincher is an American film director known for his dark stylish thrillers such as Seven, Fight Club, The Game and more recently The girl with the Dragon Tatoo. Finchers films are always at the 

leading edge of film making due to his lighting and editing styles.

For a greater understanding of Finchers 'style' along with other producers click here  

Task One


You are required to prepare a presentation on the 'Development of editing styles' 


You can either create a film montage using Premier pro and talk over the top or create a 'PowerPoint' presentation including clips you are discussing and examining

1. Investigate the 4 directors named above and examine their work. Talk about their pioneering work and pick a film they have created to back up your analysis of them. 
2. Conclude your presentation with 'How editing styles have developed and changed over time'

Deadline for Task one: Week beginning 12th March 2012 

Principles of editing

One must learn to understand that editing is in actual fact a compulsory and deliberate guidance of the thought and associations of the spectator - V.I Pudovkin

We will have a workshop looking at different film clips during which you will examine and make notes on:

1. Creating meaning through collage, tempo and timing. 
2. Story- centred Editing and the construction of meaning
3. Creating meaning outside the story

Creating meaning through collage, tempo and timing.

• Joining Images: Hitcocks 'Psycho' and Frodo and Gollum in Lord of the rings: return of the king
• Tempo: Shot Length and shot transitions in 'The 400 blows' and 'Sherlock Holmes'
• Timing in 'Bonnie and clyde'

Story- centred Editing and the construction of meaning

• Editing and spaces
• Arranging the order of events
• Shot/reverse shot
• Eyeline match
• cutaways

Creating meaning outside the story

• Continuity
• 180 degree rule
• Soviet Montage (As used in Eisenstein's Oktober)

Task Two

Create a You Tube style video blog on the principles and purposes of editing. Discuss each of the above principles and find examples of each. You need to discuss the importance of each principle and the meaning t creates to the audience.

You will be marked on your knowledge as well as your editing of your video blog

http://www.youtube.com/create - this link tells you how you can create a you Tube blog

Deadline for Task Two: 

Task Three

Choose the opening 5 minute sequence of a film of your choice and discuss how it used the above principles to create meaning.  - Thelma and Louise is an excellent example for the purpose of editing -  below is the opening sequence with Spanish subtitles

Task Four:

Create a 'How to guide'

As you edit and plan for your production make sure you Print screen as you go along. You can use these print screens to create a How to Guide

You guide must include naming folders, organising captures, capturing footage, editing and effects and exporting