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Film editing means physically dealing with the raw material of a shot film. The editor’s job is to shorten or reassemble film sequences. This used to be done by hand with a splicing press and is now done digitally. Individual sections that should result in a finished film are lengthened or shortened in a sequence of scenes or frames. With analog film editing, the cutter cuts the respective settings. With his editing and the right technique, he approaches the desired length of the film segment. After creating a rough cut, the fine cut follows. In the analogue age, people spoke of editing rooms for assembling film sequences, while today the same rooms are called editing suites.
The term “editing” is usually equated with the digital editing of a film. However, it also includes the technical processes involved in lengthening or shortening raw film material. Whether it’s a documentary or a feature film, an editor’s job is to ensure that the plot created by the script is optimally reproduced and that the camera settings are correct. All processes in the editing room are covered, whereby the terms “cut” and “edit” mean exactly this sequence of a film montage. Film scenes do not follow a random principle, but must result in a coherent whole. A film editor edits the film material available to him with an editing program, puts together the right scenes based on the script and thus creates solutions for the overall result.
If a piece of the digital film strip is cut off during film editing, this process is referred to as “timing”. If shots are cut or shortened, the timing changes. If different settings are put together, this is referred to as “pacing”. It designates the rhythm that arises within a film sequence and its setting through camera work and directing. Timing and pacing combine to create the film’s rhythm as a whole, which in turn is followed by the action by the director and editor. If the timing at the start and end was chosen too short, this has consequences for the pacing because the film rhythm is disturbed. It is therefore important to choose the right entry and exit when cutting. During the cut, numerous individual parts from many sequences are put together. The result is the basis for the potential of a film. Film editors use the term editing or assembling films.
Editing film sequences means connecting hundreds of different individual pieces with information and emotion like a puzzle made of letters. In the digital age, this happens through the cooperation of all those involved who deal with direction, production, acting, editing, animation and graphics.
