In many ways, editing can be seen as the most crucial part of film making. The script, shots and sound all play a part in creating the directors vision, yet it is only in the final editing stages that we see the story and genre tht the film is set to become. Some of the most common aspects that editing helps to include are meaning, pacing and narrative...
Pacing: This is largely influenced by the type of shots used when piece together the footage you have. For example, a long and sweeping tracking shot would often present a very different opening to a scene than several, splint second close-ups. It can easily determine the kind of initially feeling the audience recieves from a film. However, thats not to say that the length of a shot can influence the length of a scene. In the examples of Shrinking time and Expanding time in an edit, for instance, shot quick shots can be used to draw out the length of a particular action, and vice versa. The rhythm of the selected scene also depends on these shot lengths, as faster cutting between them can increase tension perhaps, and slower paced cuts add a more relaxed feel.
Meaning: Mainly created through the purposeful ordering of shots in a sequence, the meaning and narrative of the story is one of the most important aspects that results in the editing stage. For exampe, often in films, some frames are placed earlier in the plot as a form of foreshadowing and subconciously alert us to the importance of a prop or pivotal character. This also means that the order of shots can alter the meaning of the piece and in turn, effect its genre and the way it is presented to the audience.
