What are some different editing techniques used in film?

Key techniques of editing: Continuity editing – creating the illusion of scenes being filmed at once / match of action is often used to make the order seem uninterrupted – fills out a scene without jeopardizing the reality of the time frame of the actionAbrupt cut/juxtaposition/ parallel editing – looking at two things in contrast to consider both at once  - makes 2 scenes are simultaneously happening – connection between them – editing adds to the interpretation of the storyline as we understand they are happening at the same timeDissolve – narrative device suggesting a pass of time between scenes Graphic match – matching light, colour, shadow, etc. to make the scenes consistent – push the story forward seamlessly without audience noticing / can also link two unconnected scenesReverse cut – showing the character’s face, then what they see or vice versa – or from one characters face to another – by showing how characters act, react, and interact, reverse cuts keep the audience involved in the action and dialogue – typically shows both sides of a conversation Reaction – a cut to someone reacting to something that just happened – can be powerful as reactions show human emotion and thought – focus of reactions more than what’s happening shows an emphasis on the characters emotions rather than the plot – can eliminate need to dialogueInsert and cutaway – A cut to a small significant detail of a scene i.e. a letter – shows necessary information to audience, commonly they act as introductions to scenes or between scenes to forward the flow of information Long take – over 1 minute before cutting to the next shot – builds suspense or captures the attention of the audience without breaking concentration Sound effects/music: Sound effects – simulate reality, adding or creating something that is not really there, creating a mood, to help tell the story Horror movies use sound to draw attention – when the audience is attached to sound they lean forward to listen more intently – sudden changes in sound make them jump backHard effects – sounds associated with an action or event but are not dependent on the performance – car horns, gun shotsFoley effects – sounds that are performed by an artist, typically in sync with the action on screen – footstepsBackground effects – ambiances that give an immediate ‘sound picture; to the location of a scene – birds chirping tells us its morning 

Related Media Studies GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How are print newspapers constructed to address their target audiences? In your answer you should refer to The Daily Mirror.


What are the typical conventions of the 'horror' genre and how do they influence an audience response


How do I analyse the mise en scène?


What is Hypodermic Needle Theory?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences