RESEARCH INTO EDITING STYLES - Miss Georgiou

RESEARCH INTO EDITING STYLES

The clip i am analysing for editing styles is The strangers. This film is a thriller and has many editing styles that are used when creating a film.

 

Editing is a big part of films, especially thrillers. The clip I have chosen is a thriller and uses a lot of editing styles that can be spoken about. 

Firstly, 'Jump cut'. This is an effect of when the camera instantly focuses on something. In this short clip, the victim in her own house is trembling to window in fear. The camera is on focus straight on her face and the main weapon, in this case a knife. The camera does not move of the victims face and weapon until the camera turns and faces the door where the antagonist is waiting for her.

Also at this scene there is a style of editing called 'slow editing'. This is where a scene is filmed at a slower pace to create suspense. This is defiantly created in this scene as I as the audience do feel suspense. The camera movement is really slow and the walking up to the door feels like it takes forever, this scene has the audience on the edge of there seats waiting to see what's next. This feature of editing has worked well. Also when the female victim is looking around the room, this is another example of slow editing. I feel that slow editing works well and really shows the emotions on characters faces and the definition of there fear. Slow editing creates suspense as well as shock for the audience. The viewers watching do not know what to expect and an element of shock is reached when the slow editing starts and the audience brace themselves for what is coming next.

 

Furthermore, another editing technique which is used is 'Reaction shot'. A reaction shot takes place when the female victim sees the antagonist at the window. Her initial instincts immediately change, along with her facial expression and emotions. A reaction shot shows the immediate reaction that takes place in one shot. As you can see this has happened in this short clip of the strangers. Also the victims reaction changes when she hears a strange noise outside, she is surprised to hear the noise and opens up an element of shock. This reaction shock shows that she is scared and petrified about what is happening next. Furthermore, there is also an reaction shot at the end of the clip, creating shock, surprise and suspense. The audience and the victim are expecting the antagonist to walk into the bedroom, although we see the complete opposite her boyfriend/husband. This is a complete surprise for the audience and gives a sense of relief.

The three main things that stand out are shock, suspense and surprise. These are the three main things to understand/know when creating a thriller film. These three things intrigue the audience creating the film to be good and interesting. All three, surprise, shock and suspense are in this short clip. Although there a lot of conventions in this film, firstly there is a main weapon and a female victim which is a typical convention of a thriller film and without these the thriller would probably be boring. Furthermore the antagonist is wearing a mask hiding his identity, this creates an element of shock for the audience as we don't know what face is underneath and what is going to lurch out. The slow editing also is an convention of a thriller film. Nearly every thriller film uses slow editing to get the audience intrigued and ready for what is happening next.

Overall from looking at editing styles I taken into consideration that editing is a main part of thriller film and without certain editing skills a thriller wouldn't be interesting and popular. I now know and will think about using in my thriller opening sequence certain editing skills that will keep the audience on the edge of there seats and create an overall good thriller opening sequence. I have also learnt that conventions are used when looking at all research of thriller films.