Task Eight: Transitions and Effects - DONE

Transitions and Effects.

In this post I will be explaining how transitions and effects can be used to manipulate the diegetic time and space in a film. Here are some examples of these effects and how they can be used in a film.

Transitions:
These transitions create a certain effect on the film and the viewers. These effects can not only make the film look more realistic in a modernised way, but it can give the viewers a different perspective and thought of the film. These effects include dissolves, cut, fade and wide which can each have a specific effect on the film weather the genre of the film is a horror, comedy or romance.

Graphic Match:
A Graphic Match is a cut in film editing between either two different objects, two different spaces or two different compositions. This is another way of manipulating the diegetic time and space of a film. For instance, from John Steinbeck's 'Psycho'. In the scene where the victim is murdered, Steinbeck cleverly links the water draining away then we gradually begin to see the victims eye, dead and lifeless. Both shots juxtapose strongly as it is a cross between the past and present yet linked through this graphic match effect.

Following The Action:
The Action Film is a film genre where two hero's (or mainly a villain) drive to a series of challenges which include fight scenes, violence and frantic chases. There is some amount of tie taken by these long fighting or running scenes and because so much time is taken the viewers can either be engaged or disinterested.

Multiple points of view:
Is a scene from the point of view from all characters involved. This gives the audience a chance to have some sort of connection with the characters in whatever situation their in, this can also add some sort of sympathy for the characters as well. Like the film 'Iron Man' for example, we see a scene where something happens to both characters and the camera cuts to one character then the other. This manipulates time and space of the film as it makes the audience have some sort of relationship with the characters.

Shot Variation:
Shot Variation is a technique where a sequence of images are used using movement. The advantage with shot variation is that it will keeps the audience's attention up and focused, this works well in action films. This grabs the audiences attention easily as they are distracted by the several images in that particular scene.

Manipulation of time and space:
This is when an object, environment or person is made to change over a period of time. Many films use this technique for the audience to be able to see this time changed visibility. In time and space there are three possible ways to present them:

• Time is expanded - This is when time is slowed down more than normal time 
• Real time - The time in the video is the same from when it was recorded 
• Time is compressed - The story takes a period of time and the film is compressed into an acceptable duration.

My Transition and Effect Film:

In my film I included different transitions and effects to enhance and create suspense in my film. To begin with, I wanted to make sure that as a result I didn't overdo the use of transitions and effects in my film so for this reason being there were only particular parts in my film that I edited the effects in. For instance, the first scene of my film are of the two girls walking into a psychic's shop concerning their safety on a specific day. In this scene I included two transitions and effects, I firstly edited the scene where the psychic looked into their future and then the scene where the psychic saw the future of the two girls.

When filming this scene I knew that I had to create a certain effect so that when editing it I could have the chance to expose that effect even more for the audience. For this reason being I decided to focus on the part where I zoomed into the psychic's crystal ball. To give the effect that the psychic is looking into their future, I included some sparkles and the more the camera zoomed in, I blurred it. This transition makes the viewer begin to gain curiosity in what is about to happen next. Moreover, the way in which the viewer is eager to know what will happen next, is the same way the two characters in the film are attentive.

Straight after I added the transition and effects I needed for that scene, I edited the scene where the psychic could see into the the girls' future. To remind the audience that this scene is different, in terms of the present and future, I edited the colour. I used the black and white edit because I wanted to create some sort of thinking from the audience.

Engaging the viewer/creating space: Task Seven: DONE

Engaging the viewer/Creating space:

The pace of editing can create a huge effect on how the viewer reacts depending on the pace of the movie. For instance, not only will it grab the viewers attention but they will feel engaged in what their watching too. This would also mean that more people would be willing to watch a movie that could get them engaged so well, so it would attract more viewers.

The speed of editing process can have an emotional effect depending on the speed of the film. For instance, a fast edited film would create a very jumpy reaction whereas a very slow speed in a film would make the viewer/s feel very emotional and sympathy.

Cross cutting is another element which creates suspense for the viewers because of the expectations that it creates. This cross cutting technique is normally quick and short which adds to those effects on the viewer.

On the other hand, a cutaway effect may create a different reaction from the viewers. A cutaway shot is an interruption of  a continuously filmed action by inserting a view of something else, now this may confuse the viewer as to why there may be two completely different shots being shown without any hints but then would engage the viewer even deeply to find out what these two who's may be about. Moreover, developing drama in a film is one of the main things that holds the viewer's attention up.

My Cross Cutting Film:



My film began calm and with very little noise by the teacher walking into the classroom and introducing herself to the students. I then began to create some sort of tension between the teacher and the student by creating a little disagreement between them both. By having this argument so early into the film, it gives the audience a thought of what may happen next between these two people in such a small classroom.

Our next scene is where the teacher walks out of the classroom and the two students are misbehaving inconsiderately without the teacher knowing and we see that they seem to be very comfortable and almost forget that their teacher may be walking in any minute. This is where the tension begins because the audience fear that they will get caught in the trouble that they are creating whereas for the teacher she has no idea that her students are behaving in such way. So in this scene, to add suspense and tension for the viewers, I included a song which would add tension and make the audiences heart pound continuously, waiting for what will happen next and the song did exactly that.

The next scene is how the students reacted knowing that their teacher is just about to enter the classroom so to create more exaggeration in that particular moment, I added a slow motion effect when both students were jumping and rushing to their seats. I did this because I didn't just want the scene to end without leaving any impact on the audiences reaction, I wanted them to have some sort of unexpected reaction.

Finally to end my film I took a shot of the teacher walking into the classroom calmly, without suspecting a thing and to show all three of the actresses, I stood in a certain angle to see the student's faces and the teacher too.

Task 6 - non-continuity editing - DONE

Non-Continuity

Directors would use continuity editing to make the audience excited and more anxious to know what's coming next in the film. This not only makes the film more  interesting to watch but it builds tension in the film for the audience.

Jump cut. 
French new Wave.

French New Wave filmmakers such as Jean Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut pushed the limits of editing technique during the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s.

Film and the non-narrative films of the 1960s used a carefree editing style and did not conform to the traditional editing etiquette of Hollywood films.

Editing often drew attention to itself by its lack of continuity, its self-reflexive nature (reminding the audience that they were watching a film), and by the overt use of jump cuts or the insertion of material not often related to any narrative. Here are examples of some non-continuity edits in these three films:

A Bout de Soufflé - Jean-Luc Goddard - Jump Cut:

This 'A Bout de souffle' clip is one example of a non-continuity edited film. Because the shots aren't edited continuously, it creates a different effect on the film, like when she brings out the mirror for example. We see that she is looking away at first then suddenly the mirror comes out and then is put away again, which is why this is very obvious.

The Shining - Stanley Kubrick - Breaking the 180 Degree Rule:

Here is another example of a non-continuity edited film. 'The Shining'. We see that the camera man deliberately breaks the 180 degree rule and this is so that tension can be created and also a little bit spooky for the audience. Moreover, the man in the tuxedo that he is talking to is a ghost so with the audience knowing this they will be more scared when watching the film.

The Hunger Games - Gary Ross - Breaking the 180 Degree Rule:

In this film we also see an obvious non-continuity editing. As she walks into the room nervously we see that the camera creates a lot of space, this is so that the audience as well gets to be involved in the tension. In addition, the second image shows how the camera switches to another shot of the room so it shows how she's feeling. This creates the impression that she's confused and scared which makes the audience feel this way too.

Task 5 - Manipulation of diagetic time and space DONE

Manipulation of diagetic time and space:




How did I do it?

The scene where the psychic looked into their future and then the scene where the psychic saw the future of the two girls is the scene where I began included some transitions and effects. To give more of an effect in this scene, I added sparkles the closer the camera zoomed into the ball. To also give the impression that the psychic was really going to look into their future, I blurred this on Final Cut Express, I clicked on transitions then effects and clicked blur then to make sure that was what I wanted, I had to render it. This transition makes the viewer begin to gain curiosity in what is about to happen next. 

Once I edited that scene, I edited one simple thing to the scene where the psychic could then see into the girls' future which was including a black and white colour. Black and white was used because it gave the audience the idea that time has changed in the film in terms of (present, past or future). After all of that the very last thing I did to manipulate the diagetic time and space of my film was I slowing down the scene. I did this by pressing down on 'CTRL' then as the same time pressing down onto 'J', these two buttons brought up the speed at which I wanted to change it (speed up or slow down). I slowed down this scene to 50, I didn't want this too slow neither fast which was why I thought 50 was the reasonable speed. 

Task 5 - continuity editing - DONE

Continuity Editing:

Continuity editing is where everything flows in a consistent, orderly, sequential manner. It is now known as a much more modern process today for filming and is used world wide. It is known as a 'Classical Hollywood' which was developed by early European and American directors, D.W Griffith in his films: Intolerance and The Birth of a Nation.

The classical style ensures temporal and spiritual continuity a sa way of advancing narrative, using such techniques as the 180 degree rule, Match on Action and Shot, Reverse Shot.

Why is CE Important?
-It helps retain a sense of realistic chronology and generates the feeling that time is moving forward
-It doesn't mean you can't use flashbacks or flash forwards, as long as the narrative will still be seem to be progressing forward in an expected or realistic way.

KEY CONTINUITY TECHNIQUES:
-Eye-line match:

• This technique links two shots together.
• We see a character looking at something off screen and then we cut to a shot of what they are looking at.
• This allows the audience to experience an event in the film just as the character is experiencing it. 

-The 180 Degree Rule:

• Is a basic guideline that states two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other.
• If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossed the line. 

-Match on Action:

• Links two shots together
• We see a character start an action in one shot, the camera then cuts to a different angle and we see the character finish the action in the second shot.
• This technique ensures that the action seems like one natural and realistic movement even when the actor may have really performed it twice.

-Shot, Reverse, Shot:

• Links two shots together.
• The first shot reveals the character and then the second shot reveals the second character.
• This allows the audience to connect the two characters and realises that they are interacting with each other. 

Summarisation of my Continuity Edited film:

To develop my understanding of continuity editing, I created my own film which included all the continuity editing conventions which are: Match on Action, Eye-line Match, Shot, Reverse Shot, 180 degree. The very first editing convention I began my continuity film with was a Eye-line Match. We see this  shot when Toni looks up at the direction of where the clock is then to show she is looking at something the camera shows a still shot of the clock it-self. In this scene it is effective because the audience begins to build up a basic idea of what is happening or going to happen next in the film.

Moving on from that, in the next scene there is the match on action shot. In this shot the second character runs from outside of the room and just as she opens the door the camera gets a continued shot of her running inside. This type of convention in this scene is effective because it not only makes the film come together but it makes it look very realistic for the audience.

After that scene we see the shot reverse shot. Both characters in this scene is having a rather quick and snappy conversation with each other, and whilst having the conversation the camera switches its position to the person who is talking to the opposite person. I think that this technique was done very well in this shot because the audience has a chance to see clearly of how both characters are having their conversation.

Overall I personally feel as though my continuity edited film was successful, and my first reason for this is because of how each continuity edited technique was used clearly. Each shot which had its convention was shown effectively based on the story line as well as the audience's response to the film. This film shows that I have gained an understanding of continuity editing and how each of its convention can be used in a film.

Task 4 - Montage - DONE

Montage

The term Montage has a slightly different meaning when referred to in the following three contexts which are:

• French Film 
• Soviet filmmaking of the 1920s
• Hollywood Cinema

-The French Montage:

      1. In French films "Montage" has its literal French meaning (assenmbly, installation) and simply identified editing.

-Methods of Montage:
     2. In Soviet Filmmaking of the 1920s, "Montage" was a method of juxtaposing shots to derive new mening that did not exist in either shot alone.

Lev Kuleshov.

*Lev Kuleshov was among the very first to theorise about the relitavely young medium of the cinema in the 1920s. He argued that editing a film is like constructing a building. Brick-by-brick (shot-by-shot) the building (film) is erected. He also did an experiment that proves this point and this was an old film clip of a head shot of a noted Russian actor and inter-cut the shot with different images. When he showed these shots to people they praised the actor's acting.

The simple act of juxtaposing the shots in a sequence made the relationship. The audience was able to infer the meaning from looking at the two shots and this experiment was the start of a technique known as 'Montage'.

Sergei Eisentine.

*Was briefly a student of Kuleshov's, but both parted was because they had different ideas of a montage. By contrasting unrelated shots Einsentine tried to provoke associations in the viewer, which were induced by shocks. 

This "Strike" clip is known as a soviet montage. It's unrelated shots tell us something about the workers, for example. In the beginning of the clip it shows workers running very fast as though their running for freedom, but then we see a constant shot of a cow about to get slaughtered which gives the impression that something terrible is going to happen to these workers and they don't even know it.

In addition to that, because the cow is about to be slaughtered it looks helpless and this same impression of the cow reflects on the workers as well. 

[STRIKE CLIP]



Example: "Rocky Balboa" 

3.In Hollywood cinema, a "montage sequence" is a short segment in a film in which narrative information is presented in a condensed fashion. 

[ROCKY BALBOA CLIP]

The "Rocky Balboa" clip is a Hollywood montage. The whole clip shows us Rocky's progress in his training. He simply begins by doing a slow jog and the song starts off very low and calm but then as we see his progress in his training and his strength, the music gets louder and more effective on the viewer. It makes the clip more exciting and inspiring for the viewer. 

Hollywood Montage:



 This montage that I have created is a Hollywood style. A Hollywood style montage is much more straight forward, and simple in terms of how the audience can understand and see what is happening in the montage. The intention behind my montage was to give the audience a clear understanding and not creating any difficulties in having a basic understanding of the montage. Moreover, my montage makes great meaning.

My first reason for this is because in the beginning of my montage we see that a woman walks into a shop and wants to buy an item but doesn't have enough to purchase it. In the second scene we see that in order for the woman to buy the bag she realises that she'll have to raise money some way, some how which is why she began opening her own business by selling books to a number of customers. Last but not least, in the third and final scene we see that she raises enough money and goes back to where she started in the beginning but this time actually buying the bag that she wanted.

My montage is carefully thought through in terms of how the story line could become successful as a whole but also how there was an important meaning behind it. For this reason being, I personally feel as though my montage is successful because of the way how progress is clearly being showed in the montage, not too much time is being wasted and most importantly making the viewer/s relate and understand the meaning of it all.

Soviet Montage:

 


In my second montage I created a montage which is a soviet style. A soviet montage is mostly complicating not in terms of filming but understanding what the film itself is trying to tell it's audience. My intentions for the soviet montage was to make a political statement, what I mean by this is I wanted the audience to build up a personal statement from the film and I figured by creating a soviet montage, the audience would have an open statement to build up from.

My Soviet Montage also makes great meaning, and my reason for this is because we see that in the beginning of the scene we see that a girl drinks something which makes her ill and begin to slowly die, then in the next scene we see another girl going mad then for the rest of the clip, it repeatedly show these two contrasting shots of a girl slowly dying and another girl going mental. In the very last shot the crazy girl stops and the ill girl finally dies. The purpose for this, was for the audience to question them selves, why do we keep seeing a girl going mad? what does she have to do with the first girl dying? how do these two scenes link with each other? That was the challenging part of the soviet montage, because I had to consider how I could include the most contrasting ideas to make perfect sense.

What my soviet montage shows is that because the girl in the first scene is slowly dying, the girl in the second scene is terrified that she is about to pass away which is why she goes crazy until the in the last scene the ill girl is finally put to rest then the madness stops from the frightened girl. I personally think that my story line is strong and has an effective meaning to it and because of these reasons, it backs up the point that the montage was thought through very carefully.

From Analogue to digital Editing - Task 3 - DONE

Pros and cons of Analogue editing

Pros:
- Analogue editing has an accurate representation of sound but is limited by the device.
- A majority of people like to listen to an analogue sound.
- The result of analogue recording can deliver a much more pleasing sound than digital.
Cons:
- Copies of the original recording are noisier and more distorted.
-The editing is more time consuming.
-The background noise of the media and recording device becomes part of the recording.

Analogue Editng: 

Analogue Editng is the cutting together of celluloid film. Films are traditionally then made up of images printed on to create negatives. These are then "sliced" together to form a reel of film. These then feed through a projector at a constant speed of 24 frames which makes [pictures appear to be moving. This is known as analogue.

Moviola:

A Moviola was introduced before a non-linear editing system and is one of the first editing machines. A film work print is done by physically done by cutting and pasting together pieces of film using a splicer and threading the film on an machine with a viewer such as a Moviola.

Video Editing: 

Before digital editing became available, magnetic tapes were used to store into. These are known as video tapes. Video editing is known as a faster and cheaper way of editing.

Pros and cons of digital editing:

Pros:
- The editing is much easier.
- Duplicates in exact copies
- Noise floor exceeds human ability.

Cons:
- Some people feel as though digital is more sterile than analogue. 
- If the volume becomes too loud, it can result to a harsh and unpleasant sound.
- When converting from analogue or one digital format to another must be done to avoid loss of a gritty sound.

Digital editing: 

Digital media is  form of electronic media where data are stored in digital. it is the use of computer to order and manipulate this digital data. Digital cinema uses bits and bytes (strings of 1s and 0s) to record, transmit and reply images, instead of chemicals. The whole process is electronic so there is no printing or "splicing" involved. 

Non-Linear editing:

In digital video editing, non linear editing is a method that allows you to access any frame in a digital video clip regardless of sequence in the clip. You have the freedom to access any frame, and use a cut-and-paste method similar to he ease of cutting and pasting text in a word processor and allows you to easily include fades, transitions and other effects that cannot be achieved with linear editing.

- The freedom to access any frame, and use a cut-and-paste method similar to the ease of cutting and pasting text in a word processor and allows you to easily include fades, transitions and other effects that cannot be achieved with linear editing.