The Scene In Cinema 2021 | Reflective Writing 5

in this week’s class, I understand different language may course different effect, not only to our understanding but also to the performance of the activity itself. For instance, we use the word “coverage” as the process of filmmaking. In French, this process is called “decoupage”, literally means “to cut up” and the editing process is called montage, literally means “joining or sticking together.” This different meaning results to different approaches for filmmaking process. The difference is decoupage implies a premeditation, or pre-visualisation but the editing is a solution. In France, filmmakers tend to plan everything while shooting and when they go to the editing room, they can just connect every scene together to finish the editing. However, in other countries, filmmakers shooting in different image size and camera angles until they make sure they coverage everything they need and when they come to the editing room, the final film is not sure, they may have different editing version. This different approach is because of the language. In other side, this language difference offers a wider perspective to filmmakers in other countries. In China, the word for editing is “剪辑”, literally means editing and rearrangement and the editing process is called “蒙太奇”, it’s just the translate of word montage. I think these words came from abroad to China, and then filmmakers used them all the time.

From the reading, I learned that continuity is very important in the film. When we shot we need to make sure the eye line and camera direction seems normal when they cut together. Further, a lot of details need to notice while shooting like the hairstyle, the making up, the blood on the shirt, the water marks on the ground, all these details need to handled properly, otherwise, it will break the continuity of scenes. The 180 degree rule is a cinematography guideline that help to create a normal conversation and to avoid unintended confusion amongst the audience. However, rules are design to break. We can break it to challenge conventions, to identify a change in the story and to achieve visual variety. For example, in Paper Moon, filmmaker cut across the line when Ryan reaches across the table, shot the conversation outside of the restaurant. In this way, the filmmaker changes the tone and power relationship. The boy became the one who has power, we can see that from he yelling to the man ” I want my two hundred dollar!” In addition, I’ve seen some mixed cuts recently, editing characters from different movies together in this new clip, but I didn’t feel any discomfort. That’s because the editing follows the 180 degree rule, two actors’ eye line matches perfectly that the audience will assume they are look at each other. In this way, editing can become more creative!

Thank you very much!