Cutting to a soundtrack

An editor will arrange cuts into a sequence that is synchronized with the beat and rhythm of an accompanying music track. This technique is referred to as cutting to a soundtrack.

In the editing process, the editor arranges cuts so that they synchronize with the beats and rhythm of the music. This can be quite effective for the audience because it can emphasize the scene. The editor will use the beats to dictate where visual cuts happen. Cutting the video clips to a beat of fast pace music it will grant the sequence of a fast editorial pace.An editor might use this technique to create tension or add intensity to a scene of action. 

Sometimes, an editor could decide to go against what is expected of the type of music, this creates a feel of surprise to the audience which makes the scene engaging due to the confusion of the audience. This technique enable the director to give off dramatic irony within the scene, giving the unfolding action a new layers of meaning. 

For example, in the film 'The book of ELI' the editor using this technique to enhance deep emotion about the characters life. This would not work if heavy metal rock music was playing in the background at a fast pace. The music is in relation to the scene which enhances the viewers emotion.

Camera coverage

Camera coverage refers to the amount of footage within a shot and the different camera angles used to capture a scene.

It is rare that a film is made in Britain which involves Britain. We share the same language as America therefore we watch most American films.

A master shot is a recording of an entire dramatized scene from start to finish. It is usually captured from a long shot so the audience can identify the whole setting and environment.

 It is safe to cut back to a master shot when your close shot footage is not merging together properly. Once the master shot has been secured, the director then goes in for closer coverage. Every time you shoot a scene you will get all the action form the scene by using a master shot, then a medium shot followed by close up shots.

180 degree rule

There is a 180 degree axis line.

You have both characters facing each other on the axis. It is very important for the camera angle to be on the same side of the axis for both characters.

If the camera angles are coming from both sides of the axis it suddenly portrays the characters talking to someone else that does not exist. It is also important for both camera angles to be symmetrical because then you get a feel that the characters are talking to each other and feel their point of view as the audience. 

Shot, reverse shot - this refers two cutting two scenes shots together with dialogue however the camera stays on the characters that is most important for the audience to view.

Relationship to genre

In a genre that is action/drama they will have a variety of shots and cuts in short amount of time to create pace. It is important for the style of shots to relate to the genre otherwise a different message could be given off to the audience.

In a drama, an editor could use a wide shot to start a scene to show the distance between characters, However when the drama climaxes an the editor might choose to shorten the shots to show the emotion from the characters. The closer the shots the more emotion will be seen.

An example of an editor going from a medium shot to a close up would be the video below:






In this video notice when the editor switches to the extreme close-up shot, you can vividly see the characters facial expression. In a drama this would be extremely engaging for the audience to witness because the emotion can be portrayed through facial expression.

All in all, keeping the shots in relation to the genre is very important because the scenes need to be enhanced to the right emotion.

Creating Motivation

Creating motivation is important in film making due to if there is no motivation, the audience will not want to carry on watching the film.

There are three types of ways for creating motivation and they are physical motivation, character motivation and story motivation.

Physical motivation - This is where the director cuts shots into the scene from the point of view of if you was at the event. It makes the audience satisfied with the fact that they know exactly and clearly what happened. An example of this would be a character hearing an explosion then the camera cuts to what the explosion was.





Character motivation: This is where the director develops the character through cuts and scenes to drive the story line forward. It can be done in a negative way or a positive way depending of the story line. If the director wants to build and develop a character to make the audience feel like they know him, the film will be very engaging to watch and can be used to create powerful moments. An example of this would be from the film Marley and Me. Within the film, It shows countless scene of the dog, the trouble he causes and the dogs life. When the dog passes away the audience feels the pain of the characters because of how much the dog revolved around their lives, also this can link back to the audience being able to relate.




Story motivation: this is where the editor will put certain cuts in parts of the story to make the overall story line more realistic. It is important that the editor put these cuts in the right places because it is important for the audience to receive the correct emotion for that scene. An example of this would be if a character had a hard life but he made it to the top, the editor will cut scene in where it shows the characters hard life to emphasize the story line

Combining shots into sequence

Combing shots in to sequence is a technique the director uses to portray continuity. Continuity emphasizes the smooth transition of time and space. An example of using this would be going from a long shot to a medium shot and then to a close shot. A wide shot shows whats happening in the background and environment, a medium shot shows the body language and a close up shows facial expressions. This technique can make your transitions look smooth which means for the viewer its quite easy on the eye. An example of this would be in the video below.






Many example of continuity editing are in the "Hangover Part 2" such as eye-line shot. An eye line shot is where both characters are eye level with each other so the audience can imagine what the character is seeing, this make it more realistic for the audience. The more realistic it is the more the audience can relate to it therefore making it more engaging.

Creating pace

Creating space is a technique a director will use to engage the audience. Creating pace is done by cutting from less shots in a short amount of time to more shots in a short amount of time. An example of this would be a scene from the "Matrix reloaded" when the characters are being chased by two killers.





The director of this film wanted to portray the pace as fast as possible to the audience and done so by including a vast number of shots within the scene. The more the number of shots the more the audience has to re-adjust to what is going on so as a result they are engaged.

Engaging the viewer

Engaging the viewer is a technique the director uses to make the audience feel more involved with the film. A way of doing this is to make the audience think about what is going on and what they would do if they was in the characters shoes. There is many ways of engaging the viewer such as:

• Silent background - indicates suspense 
• Realistic scenes 
• Pace of the shots 
• A clear journey throughout

Silence is a strong technique to use because it has such a huge impact on the atmosphere of the scene. An example of this would be the film "Of Mice and Men" in one particular seen where on of the characters dog is about to be put down. 

This is such a strong technique for engaging the viewer because of how the silence keeps the audience waiting the gun shot to be heard. Its the inevitable wait for the gun shot that keeps the audience intrigued.


Another technique of engaging the viewer would be the a pace of the shots. Fast changing shots imply that a climax is due. Increasing the pace of the shot increasing the pace of how the viewer is receiving the story from the film. It tends to be films where the scene and camera shots are so long-winded that they become boring. An example of fast pace shots would be "Fast and Furious (2001)" in a scene where on of the characters is chasing the killers.





The increased pace of the shots implies danger, speed and overall inevitability.  The director of the film wanted to get across this to the audience and did so by increasing the pace of the shots.

Cross-cutting and parallel editing

Cross cutting refers to the editorial technique of cutting between different sets of action that can be occurring simultaneously or at different times.

Cross cutting is often used to build suspense, by cutting away at a point of tension the audience will be wondering what is going to happen next.

Parallel editing is an editing technique that allows two or more simultaneous sets of action to unfold within a single film sequence. It creates tension an can show different point of views. It creates something that the audience knows that the characters don't which makes it more engaging. Both cross cutting and parallel editing are used to imply a relationship between different sets of action. An example of parallel editing would be a Scene from "American Sniper" where it is showing different moments of action at the same time.







The difference between cross cutting and parallel editing is time. The term parallel editing is used to show separate events happening simultaneously.

An example of cross cutting would be a scene from inception where they are about to exit the dream. Cross cutting is used when the van drives off the bridge because we wonder if they will have enough time to proceed in the dream without drowning. Also it uses parallel editing because it shows the action in the scene and then cuts to whats happening outside of the dream.