HIstory of editing Task

Kimi No Na Wa (Your name) Nandemonaiya editing analysis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkWViZk1u40#

In order to properly analyse the clip of ‘Kimi No Na Wa’ we need to investigate the history of film and give context to what editing is and how it is done. A short definition of Film editing is that it is the method of selecting footage that is raw with no changes and placing them into a smooth and clean motion picture. This used to be Physically changing the tapes when film editing originally started, such as cutting a slit out of a roll of film and sticking it back together in order to create a ‘jump cut’. In current times, digital editing is mostly used. This is a much easier process to use as it doesn’t require working with a copy of the work print, cutting it using a ‘splicer’ and then placing it all together using a Moviola which would edit the film together how you chose to do it. This would then be ‘contact printed’. The software we use today such as premier pro used a scan of the film on a computer, which then allows you to cut and splice the film without using physical machinery which therefore saves time. There are a few differences between digital and physical film making, the start of this was that when digital filming was originally created the video quality and softness of the image wasn’t anywhere near the quality of the physical film. This meant that although the cost of using film was a lot higher than digital editing, the quality and resolution was what the industry wanted to focus on. In the current time however, digital is the same if not a higher quality than most film rolls; leaving it to dominate the industry more. As well as this, you do not need to develop digital film as you can view it straight after you have taken it. A second benefit of digital film is that it allows you to film for longer than if you were using a roll of film which usually only last about ten minutes on average, meaning you would have to break the actors flow. This can also be a negative however as it means they get less of a break to help them perform better. A Disadvantage of using digital however is that you get a better depth of field using film, meaning that it makes it a lot easier to make an area in a frame be a soft focus or make it blurry. Overall, the quality using film is a lot better than using digital film but because of the cost and amount of time it takes to develop and edit, because of you having to physically cut it, the meaning that you save money and time with Digital editing, which is what most film companies do in the current time. Analysis Ever since film has been a thing, it has been constantly evolving and developing in order to create better techniques and help to improve the overall quality. So that I can demonstrate some of these newly developed editing techniques I have chosen to analyse the ending clip from ‘Kimi No Na Wa’. The start of the scene (0.00) starts off with a mid-shot of one of the main protagonists overlooking the city. This establishes the setting of the scene and gives the audience a grasp on where the scene is located, which is an example of the continuity system that has been developed., This is when shots smoothly flow together in order to help the audience understand what is happening. It starts off with cuts between the characters, introducing the (now adult) female protagonist. Between the shots from 0:08 and 0:04, the Camera slowly moves to the left with the characters, which could be to show that they are moving in the same direction. This happens again after they get on their trains at 0:10. A cut is when there is an abrupt transition between two different scenes, usually so quickly that if you blinked you would miss it. Majority of the ones that we see within this clip are referred to as ‘flash cuts’, which is when a cut is shorter than two seconds. We also see examples of a ‘match cut’ when the shots reach the stations at 0:06. This is when two shots graphically match each other in order to maintain or push the need for strong continuity between both shots or characters The swift and quick transitions help to provide a sort of anxious feeling, as you could be worrying about what is happening between these two locations, it could do the opposite and offer an equilibrium as seen in the Narrative theory. As the cuts continue, we start to see that there is parallel editing between the two characters. This means that there is a continuous manner between each alternative scene, with them moving towards trains that are about to reach the same destination. The use of this is to signify the monotony of their everyday life, as well as to show the fact that they are working their way towards each other. It could also be pushing a metaphor that their ‘paths’ in life are overlapping. As the shots continue, with cuts continuing between the two characters at 00:21 , we see many examples of their eyeline shots matching, meaning that they are following the 180-degree rule in order to not confuse the audience. This helps to push the audience to wonder what they are looking at, eventually providing us with a much needed over the shoulder mid shot from both characters POVS, using a slower speed in order to signify the moment the equilibrium has been breached. The editing then starts to appear more rushed in order to fit with what is happening in the shots, for example at the start of this editing technique the camera appears to do a sort of backwards Establishing shot- by this I mean when the camera has gone from a shot of the city as if it was establishing where the location, up into the air almost as if the viewers have been thrown up into the air. This could be to signify the fact that both characters completely dropped what they were doing and threw their plans up into the air. As this unfolds, we see a mix of cuts cross cutting. This is when they are rushing from the trains and move towards each other, the use of these two editing techniques together make the effect and dramatic effect of them rushing to get to each other even more apparent. This helps to put the effect of anxiety and tenseness as well as happiness for the characters finally seeing each other onto the audience, making them more emotionally invested in what is happening on screen. The cutting is bought more into effect because of the musical score blending perfectly with what is happening on screen, with its lows and highs helping to further push the effect of the editing. Once they stop running, they both stand and look at each other from above and below. The audience are doing this too, because of the choice to pan the camera angle up towards to the top the stares slowly as if we were in the main characters position. The use of the lighting in this scene also helps to push the fact that both of these characters mean a lot to each other and as if they have both broke through the monotony in their lives. They then cut to reaction shots of each character after they walk past each other, this is effective because it lets us know exactly how the characters are feeling in that moment. Once this happens, between 1:40 and 1:46 we finally see them both look at each other, following the 180 rule as well with how the characters are positioned in order to not confuse the audience. The camera then rises and the title appears, which could be to show the nice, sunny sky as if everything in their lives has now cleared up.