BordwellThompson/Editing (Discussion)

Continuity editing

1. What is "continuity editing"? In what sense is it "continuous"?
2. Group 4: Where does the 180-degree rule get its name?
   • What is its purpose? More specifically, what does it "ensure", according to Bordwell and Thompson?
3. What are each of the following editing conventions? Describe an example of each.
   • Establishing shot and re-establishing shot
   • Group 1: Shot/reverse-shot (sometimes called "shot/counter-shot")
   • Group 2: Match cuts, specifically:
     • Eyeline match
     • Match on action
   • Group 3: Jump cut

Scene decoupage

All groups, each student:

1. Film Art's CD-ROM discusses the editing of a scene from Steven Soderbergh's Out of Sight, featuring Jack Foley (George Clooney) and Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez). Using this scene decoupage, draw an overhead diagram of the camera positions of all eight shots--similar to the diagram on p. 237. (Draw just one diagram that shows all the camera and actor positions.)
   • Does this scene use the editing conventions listed above? Be specific. Hint: be sure to look closely at the first shot. Even Bordwell and Thompson incorrectly describe it on the CD-ROM.

Bibliography

1. David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, Film Art: An Introduction, 8th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007).

External links

1. Classical Hollywood editing examples
2. Film Art examples
3. Out of Sight decoupage