Time Line

1903 Silent Film

The Great Train Robbery

The editing process during the 1903's was very simple and basic, to edit film editors would simply get the film and look at in the light to see the pictures and cut the film where they thought it was necessary then get another part of the film and scollop tape the film together where the cuts are. At this time they were only just beginning to discover film making and editing and the set up of a set was like theatres they would have a wide shot of the characters acting out their scenes. They wouldn't have close ups of their expressions, it would all be taken from a distance and the sound was silent. Film makers in this time discovered that editing shots into a sequence not only contributed to the audience's sense of tale, but also enabled them to tell more complex stories as a result.

1920s - Silent Film

Metropolis - Dance Scene

The editing cut with all the eyes together was considered a breakthrough in special effects technique. The editing techniques in the 1920's allowed audiences to understand time and space. Film makers released that you could get up close and personal with actors and could see more detailed reactions/emotions from the actor which would make the audience relate to the characters more. It was a time where film makers wanted the audience to get lost in films and not realise that they were sat in a cinema watching a film, a little escape from reality. So the editing shots had to be more interesting, by using cross cutting which means cutting when two things are happening in at the same time, the Metropolis dance scene is a good example of this for example when the woman is dancing it cuts to the eyes and the man in bed.

In the 1920's the 180 degree was invented to make the audiences understand time and space, film makers wanted to the audience to become more engaged in films.

1940s - Hollywood Studio System

It's A Wonder Life

During this period between 1940's the Hollywood Studio's began to create narratives and conventions and also the editing was a lot better than pervious films. One of the most famous films in the 1940's was It's A Wonderful Life, which involves sound and music it's a narrative is developed around human connections/feelings and helps the audience relate to the film. The audience is able to escape into the film whilst visiting the cinema at this time.

1960s - American New Wave

Psycho

During this time the sound and music was a huge part of creating a film and the camera shots used could tell a whole different story for example in the 1960's film 'Psycho' there are camera shots of a shadow in the window to make the audience believe that it was Norman's mother, but at the end we find out that his mother is dead. Film makers we're able to create more suspenseful films with their choice of editing. For example unconventional editing is used, which isn't what an audience would expect but film makers learned that it works well.

1980s - High Concept cinema

During the 80's they're we're a lot of films created that we're based around American teen culture such as Ferris Bullers Day Off and Sixteen Candles. Unconventional narratives were used to create the illusion to everyone have pride for america films such as Top Gun which make American's look like heroes. The editing techniques during this time was to create a fast pace and keep the film quick and rolling. These films we're so popular at the time because America was in a political mess and was in a war and needed to look like the heroes to many around the world, these films helped brain wash people into thinking that America is the true hero. This is called the American new wave and the editing techniques that were invented were jump cuts, this means when a cut is placed to confused the audience and it is also used to show a passing of time.

1990s - Digitial editing software introduced

During the 90's film making became inexpensive and anyone could make a film if they had the right equipment, so a lot of independent films were made due to the cheap prices of film making. The techniques in this example of The Matrix is a lot of jump cuts so the scene follows through. An example of an independent film in the 90's is Clerks made my Kevin Smith, which was inspired because he worked at a grocery store and felt like it was the best job he ever had because he got to work with his best friend, to make this film he had to use credit cards for the budget and he used his work place to film his feature length film. The editing techniques in this are your standard and the colour adds character to this film making it a cult classic among fans.

00s - Today

Today in the 00's the techniques are used to depending on the genre and the audience. For example they'll use generic conventions to find out who their film will aim towards, CGI is used a lot these days throughout mainstream and independent cinema. CGI these days is used a lot throughout mainstream and independent cinema and it's impacted films quite a lot, in my personal opinion it has ruined the charm of some films for example it's quite a quick and easy way to create special effects and doesn't have as much thought or effort gone in as the olden days. Although it has been a massive break through for films and has abled artists to develop their ideas more wider on screen and let their imagination run free. It's a good and bad thing in my opinion and the editing enables films today to be very fast cut and includes jump cuts, cutting on action etc.

Jump cut- Cut that skips time.

A jump cut is a cut in film editing in which two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only slightly. This type of edit gives the effect of jumping forwards in time. It keeps the film flowing for example if a camera is following someone through a door they'll be a jump cut to the person walking into the room on the other side of the door, so it's continuos movement and helps the audience follow the character's story.

Cutting on action- Hiding cuts on action. (0.21 seconds!)