Planning Editing

Planning Editing

Film editing is part of the process of film making. Film editing is used from the traditional process of working with film, but now it involves the use of digital technology. This is where shots from a scene are selected and put together which helps to make a final product. Editing styles help to make the scenes make sense, from the speed of the scene to the timing, altogether helping to create different elements such as shock, suspense and tension which are key elements in any thriller opening. By planning which editing styles we will be using in our opening thriller sequence, this is useful as it allows us to expand and broaden each others individual ideas.

Timing of Shots 

Within our opening thriller sequence we have decided to use different timing of our shots, including making scenes in a slower motion. We decided that we would include this technique when the masked antagonist is walking past the victims window. We also decided that we would use this as both the girls and antagonist walk into the isolated setting

(separately). As this is slower, it creates suspense and tension as it makes the audience anticipate what will happen next as the tension forebodes the characters safety. The use of this editing style helps the audience create a relationship with the two young girls as they begin to feel as anxious as she must be feeling in the isolated forest and begin to understand her emotions. Furthermore, when this is used when the masked antagonist walks outside the window, the audience begin to wonder and question what he is doing there, creating a sense of enigma for the audience as the slight appearance that has been majorly focused on forebodes the victims. Different timing of shots such as slowing down the motion of the shot is conventional to the thriller genre. This is because it creates enigma for the audience as they wonder what will happen next, continuing to want to watch on.

Montage Editing

In addition to this, another editing technique that we will use is montage editing. This technique is when a series of scenes and shots are quickly juxtaposed together in order to create a sense of rush and excitement. My group has decided that we will use this technique after the girls question what was the dark figure that they have just witnessed. It will then be a montage of different scenes including the close up shots of the expression on the girls faces of how terrified they are, the masked antagonist and shots of various parts of the forest. The series of clips with the montage editing technique creates a ultra-heightened expectation as the scene gives of a sense of urgency and panic coming from the victims, the audience question what is going to happen as it begins to create tension and also what is happening to the victims. 

Reaction Shot

Another editing technique  my group will also use a reaction shot in our thriller opening. We will use this when the two girls are in the forest and spot the masked antagonist for the first time. The reaction shot will be a close up of the two girls faces to clearly show their facial expressions after they have just seen the killer. Both of the girls expressions will show how shocked they are as what they have seen is very unusual within the safe neighborhood, not only this but you can clearly tell by their facial expression how terrified and worried they are. This creates tension for the audience as they can see how worried the two young girls are, can relate as they begin to imagine themselves in this situation. A reaction shot is conventional to the thriller genre as it allows the audience to see the emotional state of the characters, building tension and making them want to continue watching on as they do not want to see the characters they have built a relationship with in any harm or danger. 

Fade

Lastly, another editing technique that we will use is the fade technique this is mostly used to signify when a scene has ended. Myself and my group have decided that we will use this technique firstly when the girls walk down the end of the road, and also when they turn round at the end of the sequence after seeing the masked antagonist with a scream overlapped. This will create a sense of enigma for the audience as they will be wondering what happened to the victims and if they are in danger, creating suspense and making the audience want to continue to watch on. The fading out of the scene could represent the victims final moments as this is when the sequence altogether finally ends, so for all the audience know the victims could be dead. This creates the main elements in all conventional thrillers, shock, surprise and suspense.

I found that planning editing styles for our opening thriller sequence helped to expand and develop our ideas for which techniques we would like to use and why we want to use them, to get the best possible effect for the audience. Not only will the right techniques create a better effect for the audience but this will create a large impact on the scene as this can help to tell the narrative and display this in a different, unique way which is more interesting for the audience to watch. From watching and analyzing other thriller films we realized there was not one thriller film which used none or a couple of editing techniques throughout the film. If the film or our opening thriller sequence was to use the same techniques all the way through this would be uninteresting and boring for the audience to watch, and would not intrigue them.