Introduction to editing in film

What is editing?

Editing is the process of selecting from the range of different shots available and joining them together to tell a story or narrative.

• Often known as the invisible art as we the audience cannot see the choices made by the editor and director. 

When was editing first used in Europe?  

George Melies was the first to used editing in La Voyage Dans La Lune (1902). La Voyage was Melis’s most ambitions and lavish film using many special effects.

• It was filmed to evoke the perspective of an audience member in a theatre – long shot from a fixed position.    

When was editing first used in America?

Edwin Stanton Poter was the first to use editing in America in his film, The Great Train Robbery (Poter, 1903). With it being regarded as the first American action movie & one of the first Western films.

Also, Poter was the first to use: 

• close up shots
• Cross-cutting
• Reels joined together to make a longer film and develop the narrative

Spectatorship and early film

A Greman magazine, Der Spiegel that audiences were overwhelmed by the image of the train coming straight at them many screamed and ran to the back of the hall. 

• It was reported in the magazine that the film had a particularly lasting Impact causing fear, terror and even panic

When was the first use of special effects (SFX)

Special effects were first in the La Voyage Dans La Lune ( Melies, 1902).

 

• Substitution splice effect
• Transitional dissolves
• Pseudo-tracking shot
• Multiple exposures
• Hand-tinted color print