Introduction

Welcome to The Editing Suite, the blog about the various editing techniques in the film industry. This blog is a source of information for budding film editors, whether amateur film enthusiasts or film students. It will give technological insight into the mediums of editing and the techniques that come with them.

First of all, film can come in two mediums: physical reels of film and digital film, or video.

Film Reels

This is where it all began: the reel of film. Editing actual film was done with a device called a splicer. The developed film is held on a spool connected to a viewer, which is used to view the film and determine where to make cuts. With the splicer, the editor attaches the film to it, using the sprocket holes punched along the sides and then uses the attached knife to cut it. The splicer may come with a roll of special tape that is laid across the separation between two pieces of film which is pressed down by the top of the splicer to make it even.

A film splicer.

Digital Film

Today, digital film can be uploaded into an editing software on a computer, such as Apple's Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere. The film is brought onto a "timeline" where with a few clicks and keystrokes, scenes are cut and spliced together.

When it comes to editing, a film goes through several transitional cuts before reaching the final cut.

Final Cut Pro timeline

Assembly/Rough Cut

The assembly or rough cut is essentially the "first draft" of a film. The editor sits down with all of the collected footage and puts it together in a general assembly, laying the shots out in the order that they go.

From there, the editor refines it, trimming it down until it reaches the final cut.

Director's Cut

A director's cut is achieved when the director collaborates with the editor, in order for the film to be edited to depict the director's vision.

Final Cut

This is the completed version of the film that audiences see.

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There are also various editing techniques that are used to move the story of a film, whether technical or stylistic.

Continuity Editing

This is the editing standard for narrative films. It moves the story of the film according to the plot. Continuity editing is part of the "Classical Hollywood Style" of filmmaking. It utilizes establishing shots to establish locations in the story, shot-reverse-shot to feature the back and forth dialogue between characters, and the 180 degree rule, which ensures that characters don't end up changing places, confusing the audience as to where they are in that space.

Montage

The montage is a series of shots that are edited together to condense the narrative, to keep the story of the film moving.

Jump Cut

This technique takes place during a single scene, where small chunks of the scene are cut out, breaking continuity. It is often used for dramatic effect.

Cutaway

This technique involves overlaying a separate scene with another scene. One scene "cuts away" to another.

Cross Cut

This technique is used to show two actions occurring at the same time, but in entirely different locations, such as two people talking to one another on the phone.

Graphic Match

This technique is used to keep continuity between two shots by matching the end and beginning of the two shots graphically.

Cutting On Action

This technique involves cutting from one shot to another shot from a different angle that matches the action of the first shot.



These are just a few of the basic editing techniques that exist.