Planning Editing Styles

Editing is important as it is the way in which a film is put together through different shots. It is responsible for making the thriller run smoothly to create a variety of different emotions and effects. It gives the audience a greater understanding of the narrative and conventions of the thriller.

When thinking of what editing styles to include a lot of in depth thought has to go into it; making sure it run smoothly and that each editing style compliments the following one. 
Below I will be portraying a few examples of the types of editing styles my group have used within our thriller:

• Flashback- A flashback is one of our main editing styles that features in our thriller. Our flashback consists of the Mother thinking about a past memory for the events on the day her daughters disappearance. In order to portray this feature, it will be played in black and white to show the audience it is not in the present tense. We felt that having a flashback gives the thriller more realism as it informs the audience of a past event. This gives a greater understanding of the narrative, as the audience then realise why the mother was staring deeply into a photograph of Ruby in the first shot. 

• Montage- Within our thriller we used the editing technique montage. Montage is a series of short shots that are edited into a sequence to suggest the passage of time and to build suspense. We have many frames that we have used montage for; one being for a series of shots that switch from one location to the other, as Ruby is being dragged and her mother picking up her phone call realising that she is in trouble. Showing what is happening to Ruby, as the audience witness the reaction of her mother receiving the disturbed call, enables the audience to understand the narrative as the point of view from each character is shown. The audience develop the overall emotion of sympathy as both  parties are distraught. 

• Fade out- We use the fade technique as the very end shot within our thriller, so that it makes it clear when the sequence has finished. A fade out is a transitional devise consisting of a drastic change from an image to a blank screen. Within this shot we have chosen a fade-to-black. This consists of the camera at a canted, low angle directly facing a brightly lit torch, an unknown character then approaches and turns the light switch off. The colouring of clothing and shoes that are conventional to a thriller and the villain character, makes it clear that it is the villain that has switched off the light. This shot gives the audience a clear understanding of the narrative and that the villain is trying to clear up the evidence of Ruby's death.

In conclusion, the editing styles that I have included within our two minute thriller opening, will assist my group in making the audience have a clear understanding of the narrative. The choice of editing styles that we have included have been well thought through so that each and every one flows and compliments eachother. Each style builds suspense and develops the audiences emotions, making it conventional to the thriller genre.