"All sequences are shaped for dramatic effect. Variation in pace guides viewers in their emotional response to the film. More rapid pacing suggests intensity, slower pacing, the reverse."
DANCYGER, KEN, (2007), The Technique of Film and Video Editing: History, Theory, and Practice. Oxford, USA, Focal Press.
Whilst this is true, I believe modern day editors and their editing techniques with the use of new technology are no longer strictly confined to these traditional, stereotypical ways of working. What I mean by this is for example the use of rapid pacing/cuts connotes intensity, however there are many films that have proven that the use of long-takes/minimal cuts, can still have the same intense effect on the viewer.
I believe there is more than one way to convey intensity through the use of editing. A long-take of a torture/action scene can have more of an impact on the audience than the same scene shot from different angles and cut together sharply/rapidly. The use of rapid pacing does indeed create intensity and sometimes disorientation, it almost puts the audience in the mind/body of the character(s) on-screen. However the use of long-takes can create feelings of prolonged fear and a sense of a 'never-ending' scenario (in the context of horror/torture/action).
It's often hard to put into words how something on-screen can convey certain thoughts and emotions to the recipient in terms of it's editing style. I believe it's possible to edit a scene in a variety of different ways to achieve the same sort of effect intended on the audience, it's up to the editor/director to decide which way best portrays it.
As discussed in earlier posts, Jordan and myself have decided that in some of the torture scenes, we will rely primarily on long, static takes rather than cutting together many different shots to achieve the same 'shocking, discomforting' effect. We in-fact believe that by holding on a shot of the action unfolding on-screen from the corner of the room, will have more of a disturbing/eerie effect on the audience than juxtaposing many shots together in the same scene. This again, relates back to the 'fly on the wall' concept that was discussed during many group meetings.
I have been informed that some of the torture shots of Jack being tied up on the bed has been shot in a way that blurs out the characters on-screen and instead focuses on a random object in the room. This will (in my opinion) flourish a sense of eeriness and uncomfortableness; why can't we clearly see the action unfolding on-screen? Why are we focused on an object rather than the characters? What does this mean? It will trigger the audience's own imagination and heighten their other senses e.g. hearing. As discussed before, the use of sound in these scenes/long-takes will be one of the primary elements in creating fear/empathy for the main protagonist.
The following clip is from an Asian extreme film 'Only God Forgives'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQoxB4zKwHA&feature=player_embedded#at=22 (Last accessed 25/03/14)
This short clip features a man being tortured, however the main emphasis in this scene is on the reactions of the people around him. The edit cuts to various members' responses sat around the room, instead of focusing on the violence itself and 'spoon-feeding' the audience. The intense sound of the man screaming in pain allows the audience to imagine the pain he's going through. Only short bursts of actual torture are shown through the 5 minute clip.
I particularly enjoy how the scene is shot in a peaceful, cinematic way. It completely contradicts the events taking place in the world of the film. The static, long-take pacing combined with the shrieks of the man being tortured create an intensely uncomfortable and thought-provoking scene. This in my opinion is a more effective/original/visually and orally striking way of shooting a torture scene.
Over the past few years of studying Film at Hallam university, I have learnt and began to stick by the 'pinch of salt' concept; not to spoon feed the audience, always ask the audience questions rather than giving the audience what they want straight away. By asking the audience questions, it will keep them watching and engaged within the world of the film.
No comments:
Post a Comment