Editing

When talking about the institutional mode of representation editing is one of the key parts that makes sure that all films are near enough the same. There are too types of editing continuity editing and montage that goes against the institutional mode of representation.

The IMR suggests that all films are produced in the same way, the different products of film such as sound, camerawork and
editing are all the same in each film. So why does continuity editing help to show that the theory of IMR is correct?
Continuity editing creates action that flows smoothly across shots and scenes without showing the inherent discontinuity it should establish a logical coherence between shots. It hides the process of editing and therefore makes it look as if time is flowing in a real way. The cuts are done in a chronological order where most films are edited in this way as it is easier to produce and therefore the audience can understand it. When directors make the film use continuity editing they must use some techniques that are commonly used to create the best film these are:

• 180 degree rule where the camera must not pass a point of the characters whilst they are filming
• Shot reverse shot where the characters are shown as either looking at each other or talking, the editing allows the audience to see that they are obviously together in that scene and are in a chronological order
• Establishing shots where it allows the audience to see where the scene is being shot it makes the continuity editing work as it must be in a particular order

However there are challenges to continuity editing and this is called montage editing. When in class we looked at two films; withering Heights and Psycho where montage editing is used. It is where a film is produced by cutting backwards and forwards to different scenes. It could happen when you have a flashback or a characters life is shown in a 1 minute slip. This ruins the flow of the continuity editing as it it losses its chronological order and makes the film jumpy, this can therefore make the audience feel very confused. In Wuthering Heights there are cuts to and from peoples relationships, it can go to and from time and place which when I watched it made me get very confused; however it can work in some ways. Psycho is a famous Hitchcock film in the 1950s where many people can remember the shower scene in which the daughter is killed. You never see the actually attack her but different shots of the knife gliding across her body. Once this happens it goes to a graphic match of the plug hole from her eye as it is like her life is draining away. This gives a symbolic and emotional point which continuity editing doesn't give.

In my opinion I much prefer the use of continuity editing as it makes me feel less confused. As I have to make a short film of 5 minutes I will probably have to use montage editing as it will be complicated if I didn't because it would be hard to introduce my characters as well as the story line. In most of the short films that I have watched there are flashbacks to their childhood etc that have allowed the story to unravel. I will have to use both of these techniques as it will show my capability of creating a well produced short film however I will have to think about the story behind it first. Montage editing is a good technique to use however it might make my audience confused if it only a 5 minute short film, I will ask my peers on their thoughts and then I can gather some information closer to the time of my short film.