Adam Scott
-CCA1108D-
05/11/15
The Film
Editor
A report into the roles of the film editor and
a basic overview of the editing process
Adam Scott
CCA1108D 2015
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Adam Scott
-CCA1108D-
05/11/15
Contents
Introduction ...............................................................................................................................3
Who is the Film Editor? ..............................................................................................................3
What do they do? ......................................................................................................................4
Linear and Non-Linear Editing ...................................................................................................4
Editing Equipment......................................................................................................................5
The Film Editing Process ............................................................................................................6
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Adam Scott
-CCA1108D-
05/11/15
Introduction
A film editor is often referred to as a silent magician behind the scenes. This is
the person that could make the difference between the latest movie being a
flop, or a Hollywood blockbuster. Editing is an essential element to any film
and is often seen as an art. This report will address; the role of the editor,
aspects of editing and a brief history into methods of editing.
Joe Dante
Who is the Film Editor?
A film editor is the person behind the scenes that collates movie fragments
together. As part of the post-production team, they play an immensely
important role in the final cut of a film you see on your screens. Working
extremely closely with the director, cinematographers and sound editors, they
produce a product that flows effortlessly and precisely to the director’s vision.
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Adam Scott
-CCA1108D-
05/11/15
What do they do?
The editor uses a vast amount of
software and technology to
collaborate shots and scenes, to
make a sequence. Then, discards
unneeded clips to make a finished
product. Editors spend hours
blending elements of images,
heightening emotions, intensifying
subtleties through the clever use of
cuts between camera angles and
sound (“Film Editing”, n.d.).
Fig 1. Editor sifting through videotape.
https://seanmaitlandyr3.wordpress.com/page/3/
Linear and Non-Linear
Editing
Fig 2. Film editor using old linear editing equipment.
https://tarawlknsn.wordpress.com/type/image/
Linear editing is the original method
used by editors up until the 1990s.
It was used when films were
recorded onto videotape reel. See
figure one above. Using this
method, the tape cannot be
physical cut and rearranged into a
new order, the editor must dub or
record each clip onto a master tape.
Non-linear is the modern method
used and, is predominantly
completed through the use of
computers software. This method
allows the editor to have access to
any clip or sequence to edit, rather
than having to go in a set order
from start to finish (Understanding
Linear vs Non-linear Editing, 2013).
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Adam Scott
-CCA1108D-
05/11/15
Fig 3. A typical non-linear editing suite setup
https://editmentor.wordpress.com/tag/flatbed-film-editor/
Alejandro Gonzalez Inaritu
Editing Equipment
Figure three shows a typical setup
for a movie editing suite. Multiple
screens are used to collate more
than one scene at a time. Sound can
be added using the mixing desk, and
speakers to monitor alterations.
There are multiple different
programmes that are used to edit
footage. Eg. Adobe Premier.
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Adam Scott
-CCA1108D-
05/11/15
The Film Editing
Process
In each phase of the film making
process, the editor has a key role.
During pre-production, production,
and post-production they are
building the clips together towards
the final cut. According to Grove
(2004) there are six stages in
making and editing a movie. The
following diagram shows these
stages.
Fig 4. The 6 stages to film editing (Based on: Grove, 2004).
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Adam Scott
-CCA1108D-
05/11/15
Bibliography
Grove, E. (2004). Raindance Producers' Lab Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking. Oxford: Focal
Press.
NA. (n.d.). Film Editing. Retrieved from Filmmakers:
http://www.filmmakers.com/features/editing/
Understanding Linear vs Non-linear Editing. (2013, 12 16). Retrieved from Motion Elements:
https://www.motionelements.com/blog/articles/understanding-linear-vs-nonlinear-editing
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Adam Scott
-CCA1108D-
05/11/15
CCA1108D Office Rocket Assignment one.
Creative Report, Design Rationale
During the creation of this visual design report based on the film editor, I have used a variety of different
primary and support design principles, which have then mixed with different elements of design. These
primary principles are unity and variety, hierarchy and dominance, proportion and balance, which are then
backed up by the supporting principles in; scale, emphasis, rhythm and movement, proximity and repetition.
These principles are then enhanced with the different elements of design, such as shape and space, line, size,
color, texture and typography (Jung & McMahon, 2012).
One of the first primary principles according to Jung and McMahon (2012) is unity. This is the idea that the
viewer must be able to understand what they are seeing and how to perceive it. I have included a simple, yet
effective graphic to organise the report and create a sense of unity that brings the whole report together. This
graphic is the long, bold rectangle running down the left side of each page. This element also brings in the
supporting principles of rhythm and movement. The solid line entices the viewers’ eye to keep traveling down
the page. Rhythm, is the movement that occurs through specific organisation and arrangement of graphic
elements (Jung & McMahon, 2012). This principle is also utilized on the cover page with the main image, the
image is instantly recognisable as a film reel. The film trails off of the reel down the page and decreases in size.
This results in the viewers eye being drawn down the page and leading to the title of the report.
I have used the primary principle of balance on the majority of pages within the report, in the form of
symmetric balance. This is when elements are placed identically or very similarly on both sides of an imaginary
central axis, which could be vertically, horizontally or diagonally across the page (Jung & McMahon, 2012).
Emphasis is an element I have particularly focused on when creating this report. Emphasis is to heighten some
elements over others to give special attention, a point of interest to draw the viewers’ eye. This can be created
in different ways using other design elements such as variations in size that result in contrast, to make an
element stand out (Jung & McMahon, 2012). I have used this in my report when inserting numerous quotes
relating to the topic. Creating a focal point of a page and drawing the reader to this information, I have
achieved this in a few different ways. Firstly, by making the text bigger in proportion to any other text on the
page so it immediately stands out. Then, using a blue, oval shape background I have placed the text on top of
this in a contrasting color, in this case white with a black and red outline, and using a font that emulates
texture to give the illusion of it being ‘3D’ and jumping off the page at the reader. Emphasis has also been used
on the cover page with the main image. A highly dominant picture that is much bigger than anything other
element on the page, and consists on contrasting colours. In this instance, black on white are used, it then
becomes a critical focal point to draw in an audience.
On the topic on colour, I have used a constant blue color scheme the report. In this case, a relatively dark blue
tends to be mentally stimulating and represents ideas of seriousness, depth, integrity, power and expertise
(n.d, Color Psychology & Graphic Design, 2010). All the utilised elements work together to create a
professional and aesthetically pleasing appearance to the report.
Not every page is formatted the same. For a report that is based around an interesting topic, this would still
be rather boring to look at for the reader. Therefore, variety within the pages and elements creates visual
interest. However, too much variety will not let the message flow and will cause unnecessary confusion (Jung
& McMahon, 2012).
Lastly, on the final information page, I created a diagram relating to the six stages in the film editing process
(Grove, 2004). Rather than just simply typing out the stages, inserting them in chronological order into empty
clips of a film reel makes the information much more interesting to look at.
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Adam Scott
-CCA1108D-
05/11/15
Bibliography
Grove, E. (2004). Raindance Producers' Lab Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking. Oxford: Focal
Press.
Jung, J., & McMahon, M. (2012). CCA1108/42088-Communications and Digital Technology.
Melbourne: Cengage.
n.d. (2010, October 29). Color Psychology & Graphic Design. Retrieved from Design Buddy:
http://designbuddy.com/color-psychology-graphic-design
NA. (n.d.). Film Editing. Retrieved from Filmmakers:
http://www.filmmakers.com/features/editing/
Understanding Linear vs Non-linear Editing. (2013, 12 16). Retrieved from Motion Elements:
https://www.motionelements.com/blog/articles/understanding-linear-vs-nonlinear-editing
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