Planning editing styles - Miss Georgiou

Editing styles are important to include within a thriller film as through varying the different editing styles allows for the creation of the main thriller conventions for the audience; of which consisting of the creation of shock, surprise, suspense). Certain editing styles also allow the audience to build a relationship between the characters on screen, from doing such making a better experience for the viewer. Through the connection created, the audience may want a certain character to prevail when they are in danger, allowing the producer to put them in a position of danger so it builds up further tense and suspense for the audience.

Planning sheet my group and I produced for the editing
types we intend to include in our opening sequence

Reaction shot 

A reaction shot shall be used during the segment in the narrative in which the girl realises that the stalker is present, looking at her in the distance. This will be done to create surprise and shock for the audience as the camera will suddenly focus on the stalker standing in the distance, when previously the atmosphere was quiet. The moments before this scene will be of a segment of the girl alone on her own (using slow editing), therefore the drastic change in camera movement and narrative change will create further surprise for the audience. This is convention to the thriller genre as reaction shots are often present in similar thriller sequences, used to the same effect of shocking the viewer. The contrast in scenery between the difference shots, speeding up the overall pace and thrill factor of the sequence creates further shock for the audience. This makes the audience feel on edge as it will make them question what significance the new shot has as it has instantly changed.

Montage editing

Montage editing will be used during one of the chase scenes in which the antagonist is chasing after the girl. This will be done so the speed of the segment increases drastically as multiple images will be juxtaposed together, creating tension and suspense for the audience as the shots are being shown too fast for the viewer to clearly acknowledge what is happening on screen. This is convention to thriller sequences as the opening parts of thriller films often have the use of montage editing as it confuses the viewer, but keeping them on edge by doing so due to the speed of actions on screen. This will help make my sequence conventional to the thriller genre as using this type of editing during a chase scene will emphasis the panic of the situation also as everything is happening very fast on screen, as chase scenes are often present in thrillers, keeping the audience on edge due to the action element, but building suspense for them also as they are unaware as to what is actually happening.

Fade

A fade will take place at the very end of the sequence, at the point where the girl escapes from the antagonists grasp. The purpose of a fade in this context is so that it signifies to the audience that it is the end of the sequence, in which the screen would fade black until it follows onto the next scene (the following scene in our narrative would be the morning after the ordeal). This will connote to the viewer that the hectic scenes that have taken place in the beginning sequence is resolved and the following scenes are going to regroup from what has already occurred. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the end of the opening sequence in thriller films often have fade exits, as it signifies the end of the fast paced scene beforehand, the following scene after which would inform the audience as to more information into the narrative and why those actions occurred and to what affect. This makes the viewer feel at ease as they are now made aware that the scene has finished, and that the girl has managed to escape unharmed, making them more relaxed as the scenes beforehand were very tense and had I high degree of suspense.

Slow editing

Slow editing will be used instantly after the girl realises that the antagonist is after her, which takes place shortly after the man has gone off and left the girl alone in the darkness. The effect of using this form of editing at this point is that it slows the pace of the scene by having a long continuous sequence, from doing such building up tension and suspense for the audience as the atmosphere created from the lack of faster editing keeps the viewer on edge and creates anticipation; making them question what is going to happen next. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the use of slow editing is frequent in thriller films and used to same affect, creating suspense and shock for the audience, from following these conventions it will make the sequence seem more realistic to actual thriller films due to the viewer associating it with actual thriller films of a similar nature, in which slow editing is present. Slowing editing creates the effect of fear/suspense for the viewer, keeping them on the edge of there seat due to long unedited segments. The viewer will create a relationship between the characters because of this, as they will want them to be safe and unharmed, building up further tension as the viewer is aware that the film is building up to a climax in which the characters will be in a position of danger.