Bordwell & Thopsons Theory of Editing

Bordwell & Thompsons theory of editing focused on Hollywood/continuity editing and identified 4 different relations between shots and editing which are:

Graphic- transitions between shots can be linked graphically through similar images, patterns of light and dark, fine and shape, volume and depth etc. There are three parts to this section which are:

• Graphic match - linkage of shots by graphic similarities.
• Graphic continuity - centre of interest is constant throughout cuts, maintaining lighting level and avoiding colour clashes.
• Graphic discontinuity - contrasts such as colour and footage types, movement and stillness, placement or shape of focus figures.

Rythmic - the duration of shots (the shot length in relation to previous and its pattern involving accent, beat and tempo). it can create specific emphasis on certain shots giving different effects on the audience.

Spatial - the space and how shots relate to it previously and following the shot. through continuity editing we use an establishing shot to show the location then use closer shots to follow it such as a mid shot. The kuleshov effect states that we want logic so our brain assumes they are the same place although it may be a studio. Cross cutting can be used to distort the space and emphasise action occouring in a different place.

Temporal - the time of the action and the story being manipulated either by order, duration or frequency such as a flashback or flash forward which are clear to the audience. Also, the duration of story events within the plot can be altered using ellipsis which is when we take out the stuff we, the audience, don't want to see. This can also be done by cut aways. The frequency of events in continuity editing tend to only be shown once.