Film Editing Techniques: Montage, Contrast, and Continuity
Film Editing Techniques
Parallel Connection (Cross-Cutting)
This technique presents two or more stories simultaneously.
Flashback
Similar to cross-cutting, but instead of showing events at the same time, it presents images of the past. This transition from present to past is often achieved through a sequence of images or sound, typically with reverb to connect the sound to the past.
Mount Metric
This technique manipulates the duration of an image to create tension. Faster pacing increases tension, while slower pacing reduces it.
Rhythmic Montage
This technique emphasizes the duration of shots and the movement within the frame, giving equal importance to the elements within the frame.
Tonal Montage
A more advanced form of rhythmic montage, tonal montage focuses on the dominant tone of the shot. Movement is perceived in a broader sense, and tension arises from the conflict between rhythmic and tonal principles.
Harmonic Overtonal Montage
This represents the highest level of development in montage, involving a collective calculation of all the attractive elements within the shots.
Intellectual Montage
This technique relies on the juxtaposition of conflicting emotional and intellectual elements to produce a dominant affective and reflective consciousness. It can be used to convey political messages or personal statements subtly, as seen in Eisenstein’s films like “RED”.
Contrast
This method highlights conflicting issues by juxtaposing contrasting images, such as images of the rich and the poor.
Parallelism
Similar to contrast, but more intense and surprising, often using quick flashes.
Similarity (Analogy)
This technique uses images that relate to the events in the film. For example, showing images of cows going to slaughter during a riot scene.
Sync
This technique establishes a parallel relationship by showing events happening simultaneously in different locations.
Leitmotif or Repetition (Recurring Theme)
This involves repeating an image or scene at intervals, such as a scene that appears at the beginning and end of the film.
Raccord
This refers to the fine-tuning of movements and details to ensure continuity between different shots, preventing any lack of coordination.
Continuing the Installation (Continuity Editing)
The primary goal of continuity editing is to create a smooth transition between shots. This is achieved by maintaining consistent graphic qualities, balanced figures, consistent lighting, and keeping the action in the center of the frame.
The pace of the editing is typically determined by the distance of the shot. General shots remain on screen longer than medium shots, and medium shots longer than close-ups. This allows the viewer more time to process shots with more detail.
In action scenes, the pace may be accelerated, but shorter shots are still generally used. While continuity editing aims for a seamless narrative, many filmmakers explore other possibilities beyond this style.