Purposes of editing

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly final scene

Storytelling

It is often to do with how the editor uses different types of shot to reveal flashback or information to the audience, so they can gain knowledge on what is happening around the subject. They often have to use this in films and that is because it creates a flow what is happening within all scenes.

An example of a scene that I chose from a film is called 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly final scene'. During this scene the audience can denote the type of genre of this film is which is western and also action. You can tell that The Good, The Bad and The Ugly final scene relate to the genre that it is meant to be. They make this clear to the audience through use of props, location, and costume. The costume shows a fashion of a western/ deserted place, this is shown at the time of 0:09- 0:14 where they show a shot of the each character within the scene. All the characters within the scene are wearing western clothing. One of a mid-shot of the antagonist and a two shot on the man next to the grave and one protagonist standing. The first character that shown during those seconds as well is holding a gun which clearly tells the audience on what other genre the film falls under which is action. The location is shown clearly which is an establishing shot were the standoff would be. This is done during the time of 4:07. This clearly tells the audience that where the conclusion of the film would be at.

The use of Mise-en-Scene creates a meaning to the audience as it allows the audience to gain some information on how the scenes relates to genre of the film. In this scene it shows this through the use of western country clothing, the use of props such as guns and the location (field/ dessert). This will therefore make it clear to the audience on the specific genre they are watching and the target audience the film is aiming at which predominantly the male audience.

Combining shot into sequence

It is how the editor uses the shots to combine it as a sequence or an editing convention. These technique could be such as: Seamless/Continuity editing, Motivated cut, montage editing, Jump-cutting, 180 degree rule, transition and many more. The reason why the editor uses these convention is so that it create a certain effect and meaning to the viewer.

I use the example from the top from a film called 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly final scene' because there are lots of moment within where it combine shots to create a sequence of editing technique. This scene uses a convention within this scene which is motivated cut. This done between the time of 0:38 to 0:48. The motivated cut is used during those seconds. The motivated cut starts off with firstly, a close up of the villain and then a long shot of the protagonist kicking open the casket, then a high angle of a man looking down at the casket. This gives the audience a hint for the first time on what the next shot will be like next which is a high angle of the fossil. By using motivated cut it will give the audience an idea of what the subject is looking at and it allows them to gain information what is there to look at the grave.

By combining shots into sequence the editors are able to develop the drama that is happening within this scene so they can engage the viewer. This would also allow the editor to use editing technique to make the scene flow such as match on action, shot reverse shot .etc. Therefore this will allow the viewer to see any revealed information whilst watching the scene in film. This could be items or props that are used to make the scene have a significant moment for example indicate what could happen next with the guns which happen in the standoff.

Creating Pace

It is how the editor uses editing pace to communicate with the audience. Depending the scenes that the editor has to edit the editor will have to vary the pace from one shot to another. If the editor decides to make partly one of the scene fast it will communicate to the audience, that something big is going to happen. However if the pace of the scene is slow such a conversation scene it would look neutral to the audience.

Within this scene 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly final scene' the editor decided to use slow editing pace. This is done during the conversation scene between the time of 0:10 to end of the conversation which is done at the time of 1:43. The reason why the editor used a slow pace editing is so that the scene look neutral to audience. The fast pace editing is used only very briefly between the time of 6:25 to 6:47. The reason why the made these seconds as fast pace is to make the scene become very intensive and also to foreshadow death as we see the prop which is the gun constantly shown within the shots like almost a montage.

By managing the pace properly within the scene it will not abrupt the scene and it will it flow. This therefore mean that the example has used slow and fast editing pace simultaneously to guide the audience emotion. This does also mean that the editor did use editing pace to enhance the atmosphere of scene.