Editing Techniques -

Film editing is part of the creative, post-production process of film making. The term 'film editing' is derived from the traditional process of working with film, but now it increasingly involves the use of digital technology. Film editors commonly work with the raw footage, selecting shots and combining them into sequences to create a finished motion picture.

Below are a list of editing techniques frequently used by during the editing of films -

Continuity Editing -
Continuity editing is the predominant style of film ans video editing in the post-production process of film making. It is also used in narrative films and even television programs. The purpose of continuity editing is to 'smooth over' the inherent discontinuity of the editing process and to establish a logical coherence between shots.

Jump Cut -
This particular editing technique is used when two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions which vary, slightly. This particular type of technique gives the effect of e.g. a character moving or jumping forward in time. This allows dull parts of the film e.g. someone walking down some stairs to be sped up.

Credits -
Allows the audience to acknowledge the roles of every person involved with the film. In most cases, the opening credits are shorter and state the obvious or needed information, such as who is starring in the film, the studios/company which made the film as well as the director and producer etc. Traditionally the closing credits state everybody involved in the film and what their role was.

Cross Cutting -
This particular editing technique is most often used in films to establish action which is occurring at the same time, in two different locations. In a cross-cut, the camera will cut away from one piece of action to another, which can suggest the simultaneity of these two actions. (but this is not always the case.)

Cutaways - 
In a large majority of films, a cutaway shot is the interruption of a continuously filmed piece of action. The action is interrupted by inserting a view of something else. It is usually, although not always, followed by a cut back to the first shot, when the cutaway avoids a jump cut.

Freeze Frame -
A freeze frame is a single frame, forming a motionless image from a film or videotape. These shots are usually followed by a voice over, this particular editing technique is used throughout the 1991 film 'Goodfellas' and allows the main character to narrate over the frozen image, this helps to break the story up and may keep the audience interested.

Eye line Match -
An eye line match is a film editing technique associated with the continuity editing system. It is based on the premise that the audience will want to see what the character on-screen is seeing. The eye line match begins with a character looking at something off-screen, followed by a cut to the object or person at which he is looking.

Juxtaposition - 
Two things being seen or placed close together with a contrasting effect.

Linear Narrative - 
Linear narrative is a sequential narrative with a beginning, a middle and an end-in that order.

Montage Editing - 
Montage editing is the juxtaposition of seemingly unconnected images in order to create meaning.

Parallel Editing - 
A style of editing that involves cutting back and forth between two or more scenes in which the action is taking place simultaneously or in which one action is compared or contrasted with another. See also crosscutting.

Visual Effects - 
Visual effects (commonly shortened to Visual FX or VFX) are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shot.

Match On Action - 
Either an action commenced in shot A is completed in shot B, or an action in shot A is mirrored by an action in shot B, for example when we cut from character A in location A reading a letter to character B in location B reading the same letter.