Editing Styles

Editing is mainly categorised into two parts in terms of speed; fast paced and slow paced.

Fast pace editing: This is where quite short clips are put together lasting no more than around 2 seconds perhaps of different things to give an effect of speed, or to show high action levels for example in a chase scene - it is mostly used in action and thriller movies

Slow paced editing: Here relatively long clips will be used giving the film a more relaxed feel in comparison with fast paced editing, it'll consist of shots that are around 5 or more seconds long, it can be used to portray intimacy between characters or a serious conversation as well as showing any emotions the character might have.


Other types of editing are...

Continuity Editing
This aims to create a sense of reality with time moving forward. It has been nicknamed 'Invisible Editing' because the technique doesn't draw attention to the process of editing.

Jump Cut
This is an abrupt cut in the middle of a continuous shot where the action is very noticeable and advanced in time and/or cut between two similar shots, this is usually done to create an artistic effect of discontinuity

Cross Cutting
This technique either alternates, interweaves, or intersperses a narrative action (scene, sequence or event) with another that's usually in a different location or place, combining the two.
This technique most often suggests parallel action (events simultaneously taking place) which can be used to build dramatic tension, for example in chase scenes

Cutaways
This is a brief shot that momentarily interrupts continuous action by briefly inserting another action related to it, its followed by a cutback to the original shot.

Freeze frame
This is an effect where the frame is temporarily frozen in order for the focus to be on one particular element or event

Eye-Line Match
This type of edit cuts from a character to what it is they've been looking at, it can be compared to a point of view shot

Graphic Match
This is an effect such as a transition where two different objects of the same shape are dissolved into one another

Juxtaposition
This is the placement of two opposed images on either side of either side with contrasting meanings in order to create an effect, this can be done in the editing process as well as placement of objects before they're filmed

Montage
This is a rapid succession of shots that show events moving through time, for example there can be a montage of someone training for a race which would consist of different shots from different times of the person training which would give the overall effect of showing this person has been training over a long period of time.