Research into editing styles - Miss Georgiou

Editing is essential in a the thriller genre because all the different elements add to the emotions and actions of the scene, I am using the car scene from the film strangers because is uses good editing styles which make the film more effective.

The first editing technique used is slow editing, which is when the shots last for longer and don't change as much as a normal shot change. It is used when James is walking towards his car to investigate what has happened to it, the shot last for longer as we is walking down the lawn to create tension. This technique creates suspense because of the slow pace it make it clearer to the audience that he is being cautious of what has happened. The audience can fell the suspense because they are expecting some to happen to shock them, the suspense build up to there being a surprise, and the audience react to this by becoming very sheltered and preparing themselves for the actions that are going to take place.

  Another editing element is the jump cut, this mean the shot changes from one scene or location to another. We can see this used when James is out side by the car investigating the earlier accident and the shot changes to Kristen inside the house as she waits to hear from James to say it is safe. Using a jump cut is effective because it shows the difference in characters or even how they are the same, in this case we can see that they are both nervous and cautious, but that Kristen is worried for James's wellbeing . In this particular part it shows that both characters are feeling the same, they both have the same worried facial expressions, wide eyes and straight faces. The audience can connect the two of them from this because of their emotions being shown they can relate to the way they are feeling and can build a relationship on that by feeling sympathetic.

The last Editing technique is a reaction shot, this is when the camera changes to react to an action in the film. The audience can see this when the antagonist creeps up behind James and grabs his shoulder gently, but because James knows he was on his own before he is shocked and jumps around to see who it is.The camera shot changes suddenly as he turns his head to show his panic and fright and to make it more intense. It is used to emphasise his shock to the audience it is also to shock and surprise, this let them eel the same as the character as they have both been scared. This is conventional of a Thriller because you expect to be scared if there is tension is built and all the attention is added to the shocking part of the film.


In my research into the editing of Thriller genres has helped me understand what i am going to need to have in my film to make it effective when they audience are watching it. I am going to have a jump cut but to show the two different situations my characters are in and i am also going to be using reactions shots to create the same emotions that are created in the sequence is analysed. I have found that this editing style emphasis on the actions in the film making them more dramatic for the audience. The editing technques are effective when trying to create suspense, shock, and suprise which is need to make a thrller film scary,  i am going to use as many editing techniques as possible that help emphasise on the characters and narrative in my film.