Transitions/Editing

In the past few classes, we discussed the principles and types of transitions and editing in film. Having learned the different types of transitions, we were asked to film a total of six videos and edit them into three individual posts with a transition linking every two video clips. The transitions I chose to represent are match on action, cross-cutting, and jump cutting. Thus, the first video represents a match on action. A match on action is a cut that splices two different views of the same action together. Similarly, in the video, the first clip is of my friend Madison jumping up in one location. However, it cuts to her landing the jump in another location. This is a match on action transition in that the second clip is a continuation of her action in the first clip. There is a seamless switch of location between the two clips to form the full video. I learned that a match on action is a type of transition used in continuity editing systems. A continuity editing system is one where time and space are consistent and events occur in chronological order. As a result, the match on action transition used in my first video is a part of continuity editing in that it creates an illusion of a smooth, continuous action. Moreover, the next transition I chose to represent in a video is cross-cutting. My second video, video two, is a representation of cross-cutting. The video shows a phone call conversation between my friend Ella and Shane. This is an example of cross-cutting in that the phone call is occurring simultaneously between both Ella and Shane. In other words, as my friends are communicating through the phone call, the scenes are cut depending on who is speaking. In the first clip, my friend Ella is in one location and says “Hey Shane!” but in the next clip, it cuts to my friend Shane who is in another location and replies back with “Hi Ella!" Thus, throughout the phone call, the cross-cutting represented in my video shows that the action is happening at the same time between both Ella and Shane, making it feel connected.

Now, having discussed a match on action and cross-cutting transition, the next transition or type of editing that I will be covering is jump cutting. We learned that a jump cut is a type of elliptical cut that appears to be an interruption of a single shot. Similarly, in my third video, it shows scenes of my friend Grace and Jaden switching seats in the auditorium. Each clip is a representation of them in a different seat throughout the video. This video represents a jump cut in that the background or environment stays the same, but the figures within the scene change against the background. Specifically in my video, the scene cuts every time they are in a new seat. I filmed Grace and Jaden sitting in one position, then I asked them to move to another seat, where I filmed them sitting in their new positions. The video does not show them physically moving to a new seat, but rather it cuts to only the scene where they are already seated within a different chair. Jump cuts are a part of non-continuity systems and, as a result, are usually incorporated within montages as they help emphasize a discontinuous relationship between shots. To conclude, the three types of editing that my videos demonstrate are match on action, cross-cutting, and jump cutting. Both the match on action and cross-cut transition are used in continuity editing systems, while a jump cut is used in non-continuity editing systems.

Video One: Match on Action

Video Two: Cross-cut

Video Three: Jump Cut

Camera Movements

 Over the course of the week, I learned about the different types of camera movements used in film. We were asked to film short clips demonstrating the different movements. The first video I recorded demonstrates a pan camera movement. A pan camera movement is where the camera moves from left to right or rotates from side to side. In video one, you can see that the camera itself does not move from where it is and that it is in a fixed position. However, as I pan the camera from left to right, you can see each of my friends that I sit with during lunch. As the camera pans, you can see them waving at the camera. Thus, the pan allows me to show the scene around me to viewers. The viewers are then able to follow the subjects along the pan from left to right. In the second video clip, an example of a camera tilt movement is shown. In contrast to a pan, a tilt is when the camera rotates up and down. In other words, in a tilt, the camera is also in a fixed position, but it moves vertically. Hence, in the second video, the camera starts off tilting downwards, then it gradually tilts upwards. The video clip is of my friend Sneha revealing a secret bag filled with yummy snacks and food. Thus, the tilt in the video allows me to dramatically reveal something to viewers while the camera follows along with the subject. In both the pan and tilt camera movements, the scene is either shifting horizontally or vertically. However, there is also another movement that we learned called the static shot. In a static shot, the camera itself also does not move and is completely still. In other words, the camera is static throughout the shot, and there is a locked camera aim. Hence, the third video clip that I imported directly demonstrates a static shot. In the video clip, my friend Sneha is texting on her phone and ends up running into a pillar. During the whole scene, the camera is locked and does not have any movements. This type of static shot emphasizes the appearance of my friend in terms of her actions in the scene. As a result, this helps create a comedic and humorous mood.

Although I have only discussed the camera movements where the camera is in a fixed position, there are many other types of movements where the camera is moving. For example, video clip four shows what is known as a dolly zoom. In class, we learned that a dolly is a camera machine that moves on tracks, usually forwards or backwards. A dolly zoom, however, is when the camera is moving in the opposite direction from the zoom. Hence, in video clip four, the camera is physically moving towards my friends Madison and Tina, but the focal length is zooming out. You can tell the focal length is zooming out because the background appears to be getting farther, although my friends are getting closer into perspective. The use of a dolly zoom in the video allows me to create a distorted and warped effect on the classroom background while still emphasizing the main subjects, or in this case, my friends. In addition, another example of a camera movement where the camera is physically moving is known as the handheld shot. Like the name says, a handheld shot is a scene where the camera is held by someone. For instance, in the fifth video clip, the camera is shaking and moving intensely as I am chasing my friend Sneha throughout the school during lunch. The shakiness and movements from the handheld shot add a sense of urgency and allow viewers to feel as if they are in the scene. Therefore, camera movements are another important aspect in film and media studies because each type of movement has its own purpose in shaping the scene. 

Video clip one: pan

Video clip two: tilt

Video clip three: static shot

Video clip four: dolly zoom

Video clip five: handheld