Editing requires particular skills and knowledge to master. The three main features that need attention are the story, rhythm and emotion. These three things together cannot be achieved by filming alone and that is why editing is such an important process in film making. In our lecture on Monday we were told and shown how these features were nailed in a romantic scene in Casino. The editing of the film used just music and eye contact of the female on screen with both the camera (close ups) and the the character whom was played by Robert De Niro. No words were spoken and though I had not seen the scene before I knew the emotion I was supposed to feel due to the events playing out on screen.

I can relate this technique to many films, however I can especially analyse it in one of my favourite films August Rush. Directed by Kirtsten Sheridan, August Rush explores an orphaned musical prodigy and his journey to find his parents, which he believes can only be done through music. Throughout the film the audience watches the history of Augusts parents and explains how he became an orphan and how his parents lost each other after a one night stand where it was ‘love at first sight’. The final scene displays the Prodigy August conducting his own Rhapsody in Central Park of New York City and cross cuts to both his parents slowly approaching the stage. The music is spectacularly timed to match the actions being played out and though not a word is spoken for a whole 8 minutes the story is easily understood and the emotions are relayed perfectly. It shamelessly brings me to tears every time I watch it. Its a perfect mash up of musical talents and emotional drama for me to fall in love with. Watch it here for yourself August Rush