Editing..

Editing is the building block of any film. Without good editing your film is pointless. Don’t get me wrong, camera shots have to be just as great. But, the editing of the shots must be considered to emphasis the vision of the film and in return to encapsulate the viewer. To broaden my perspective and to realize great aspects of good editing, the following films show the magic of great editing.

The Battleship Potemkin - Sergei Eisenstein - 1925 Odessa steps -



Do any of these scenes look familiar? A majority of the films we see today have used these same concepts and editing techniques from the Odessa steps from the film “The Battleship Potemkin". These are foundation techniques that should be used in any film maker’s films.

Here is an example:



 





Some other great examples of great film editing is the movie “Psycho” by Alfred Hitchcock.

Alfred Hitchcock

 

In the shower scene, there are numerous shots to convey the murder. Not once does the knife actually penetrate the victim. The editing of this particular scene is marvelous in respect to express the enclosed space between the murderer and the victim. The transitions from the swirling of the water down the drain with the victim’s eye are also remarkable.

 

Now, another great movie, with of course great film editing, is the movie “Apocalypse Now” by Francis Ford Coppola.



 

I didn’t realize the awesome editing for the opening scene of this movie, until I was revisited with it in class the other day. This scene alone screams watch me! I can remember in my high school days watching this movie religiously with a couple of friends and not realizing till now the sheer vibrancy from the work that was done to make this spectacular movie.  The rhythm of the helicopters flying by, the smoke blowing in the wind, the music in the background and the queue of Jim Morrison singing “This is the End” with the explosion, illuminates raw power of this opening scene! This movie should be a cornerstone standard building block for every film maker/editor out there!