Continuity Editing (invisible) : This type of editing comes from Hollywood films, most films are edited this way as the cuts are intended to not be obstructive to the viewing .
180 degrees rule : this is almost like an imaginary line between two charactes and the camera should stay behind the line, breaking the rule is referred to as crossing the line. If it is broken it can be visually confussing and positions will suddenly be reversed.
Montage editing : is the opposite to continuity editing, it can include frequent cuts fades and jumps, uses of close ups and it will convey a meaning although the shots might not be in time order. Often used in trailer.s
Cuts : when the image changes without any noticeable transition
Pace of editing : some my use few or many shots fast or slow to create different dramatic effects.
Match cut : matching one action or an object to another in a different time or place to make a smooth transition.
Reaction shot : a shot of a person reacting to what has been said or done
Flash back or flash forward : A cut is designed to take us back or forward in time.
Cutaway shot : A bridging between shots of the same subject to represent a second activity happening at the same time.
The Disappearance of Alice Creed : analysis Bradley Mills
The film opens with a fade in from black transition, quickly a zooming tracking shot is used as the camera travels down a car park, the view is aware that there is nobody around and this is aided by the amplified sound of an aeroplane. A cross dissolve shows us another view of the surrounding cars, the camera tilts and character is shown breaking into a van, already the viewer gains an understanding of the mans characterisation and the use of props such as a crow bar and black hat suggests he is up to no good. As the shot continues to pan across to a close up of another man in denim who has shifty body language, depth of field is used to focus on the man in denim but we can still see the man in the hat and his actions. The music used is a subtle and simple tapping noise, however this can connotate to time passing and the two men being under pressure by time, this is also suggested by the pace of editing, it is fast and the continuity of the cuts bring the audience to different views quickly and we almost feel tense due to the fast pace actions. The music in this sequence is important as only non diegetic sound is used as we do not hear the men speak. This also means that the two men's gestures and body language are important to observe to get an understanding of who they are as characters.
A sound bridge is used to cut to the next scene of an establishing shot, a long shot of a dumping ground this tells the audience the men have moved to area, where a extreme close up of the man in a hat is used to show him taking a number plate from an old van. His actions are building a characterisation and the audience start to ponder over the two men's shifty and un ordinary behavior.
As it cuts to a close up of shopping trolley wheels, the sound is amplified of the squeak, this could suggest like the wheel there is something 'dodgey' about what is going on. Another observation from this shot is the two men walking in sync this could suggest their similarities in character. A camera tilt from the trolley wheel to the two men puts them in a worms eye view, this connotates their authority and power as they look down upon us. Extreme close ups and careful depth of field show the viewer exactly what tools and equipment the men are picking up from the store. This shows their organisation and suggests their well planned, we now expect the two characters to be antagonistic and their behavior seems wrong and not ordinary, which is also suggested by the low and deep undertones of the music which connotate a dark mood.
It then cuts to a room in a house, the music changes and is more drawn out as the shot zooms out of a dull looking kitchen, the place seems unwelcoming. A pan around a second room reveals a bare bedroom, the pan gives the viewer an insiders view of the room and we can see exactly what the environment is like. A long shot of the door is shown and the shot zooms in as the two men enter there is a cacophony in the music as loud clashing notes accompany the tapping sound. The sound of their actions are amplified to create drama, as they drill, saw and staple the room . An interesting juxtaposition of shots are used to create a dramatic mood, from extreme close ups of tools and equipment to long shots of the men preparing. Cutaway shots are also used to show the audience that the men are doing exactly the same thing at the same time, this is in a way quite strange and yet again shows their similarities in character. Key lighting is used to show it is day time, this adds tension to the situation as their actions are move obvious and could be caught out by passers by at this time. Still we have not heard the men speak even when they take a break selective sound is used and we don't hear them chewing just the dramatic music. An Ariel view of the men in the room gives the audience an insiders view on the event, it is like we are not there to be on their side but to observe what is happening.
As the scene changes and cuts to the men digging a hole in the woods the music gets deeper and darker the notes are very low pitched and it gives us a dark mood and feeling towards the characters. It is interesting to note although the men do not speak to one another they occasional do look straight at each other such as in the woods and when picking out the bed, this could be for reassurance and support, this suggests that behind their hard exterior there might be a downfall. The men also prep the van they stole and a use of inset shots gives us a variety of views of what they are doing, this again gives the audience and observation role. Their organization is very apparent in the opening sequence and perhaps has a big part to play through out the film; the pan across the table shows laid out weapons and equipment needed for their plot as they are carefully one by one placed into a bag. The longest shot in the opening scene is a mid shot of the two as the older man puts on the tie for the other, this could suggest they have a close relationship although before we had only seen their hard exterior, it also suggests the older man is the leader and co-coordinator of the plan.
What is most interesting about the way the disappearance of Alice creed opens is the use of no dialogue. The way that the editing sound , cinematography and mise en scene is used is in such a clever way we understand the characters and what they are doing with out the need of dialogue. Tension is created through fast paced editing, variation of shots and dramatic music.
