Decoupage

Editing in Films

Decoupage a French term referring to the design of a film, the

arrangement of its shots (i.e. the way the film is edited/assembled).

Decoupage In one variation of a film’s decoupage, action can be

presented in one continuous long take. This is often referred to as “the long take” and can include “tracking” shots.

A long take from Alfred Hitchcock’s film, Frenzy (1972): http://youtu.be/qTS77YJuiaw

From Werkmeister Harmonies (2000):

http://youtu.be/JS8EyPTotqs

Decoupage Another variation of a films’ decoupage is it’s montage.

Montage – images juxtaposed to create meaning or develop a visual narrative; it includes cuts, dissolves, wipes, fades, graphic matches and other techniques.

Decoupage

Hitchcock on cutting/montage: http://youtu.be/NG0V7EVFZt4

Editing styles in Scorsese films: http://youtu.be/RZ7ZaS-IH14

Editing for Continuity

In “traditional” cinema, or films with linear, chronological narrative structures, editing is used to maintain continuity of time and action.

Spatial and chronological events have logic to them and do not disorient the viewer from the narrative (unless disorientation is intended).

Continuity Editing

In editing, continuity is maintained by a few standard practices:

180 degree rule: a shooting method that maintains spatial continuity/continuity of action by introducing an axis of action. A typical application of this rule is the sequencing of “shot-reverse-shot” or “over the shoulder” shots.

An explanation of 180 degree rule: http://vimeo.com/2690589

Continuity Editing

Directional continuity. Maintaining a sense of direction amongst actors, objects and their movements; movements from right to left are cut with other shots that maintain the direction of the movement.

Eye line match: a form of directional continuity in which a characters line of sight is followed by a shot revealing what they are “seeing.”

Continuity Editing

Cross Cutting: cutting between two or more locations/actions to give the effect that they are occurring simultaneously, but in different places.

Examples from V for Vendetta: http://youtu.be/8xauSCz1mEk

MORE INFORMATION: AMC FILMSITE http://www.filmsite.org/

Intellectual Editing

Non-linear narrative structures in film are often assiciated with what is known as “intellectual editing” or “montage films.”

In these films, editing offers discontinuity in graphic qualities, violations of the 180 degree rule and the creation of impossible spatial matches.

It is not concerned with the depiction of a comprehensible spatial or temporal continuity as is found in the classical Hollywood continuity system.

It draws attention to temporal ellipses because changes between shots are obvious, less fluid, and non-seamless.

Intellectual Editing

Soviet Montage Cinema of the 1920’s innovated by cinema theorists and practitioners such as Sergei Eisenstein, is responsible for innovating many techniques that would be employed by later filmmakers in Hollywood.

From Dziga Vertov’s 1921 experiment, The Man With the Movie Camera: http://youtu.be/u2RKlDFmui4

Soviet style montage used in Citizen Kane, 1941:

http://youtu.be/Ksn_s-Aa_pQ The baptism scene from The Godfather, 1972:

http://youtu.be/mziqF0IiJPg

FilmakerIQ: The History of Cutting - The Soviet Theory of Montage https://youtu.be/JYedfenQ_Mw

The Kuleshov Effect:https://youtu.be/_gGl3LJ7vHc

Eisenteins 5 Methods of Montage:https://youtu.be/MzXFSBlQOe4

Solipsist (experiemental film, 1/2012, Dir: Andrew Huang)http://vimeo.com/37848135

The Making of Solipsist/Montage film:http://vimeo.com/38040196

We Have Decided Not to Die (experiemental film, Dir. Daniel Askill)http://youtu.be/UIg8bHnW9vk

LightsFilmSchool.com Lighting Tutorial and 180degree Rule Explanation:

http://youtu.be/YI9HDVuCllk

Framing and Composition Tutorial:

http://youtu.be/K6N2SpA2XPI

Headroom, Leadroom, Anticipatory Frame:

http://youtu.be/0pd0K2u1Bk8

Lights Online Film School Blog:

http://www.lightsfilmschool.com/blog/

Perezi Online Film/Video Editing Slideshow:

https://prezi.com/4zoe6g0x04we/unit-16-film-and-video-editing-techniques/