Filming and Editing Techniques Used in The Forgotten Truth

Before and during the filming of The Forgotten Truth I researched and put into practice many filming and editing techniques.

Match On Action:
A match on action is where you cut to another shot where the same movement is being performed by the subject in the scene. This technique is used to ensure fluid continuity, and we used this in our film. The very first two shots in our film are a match on action. As Damian sits up in the first shot, there is a cut halfway through the movement, and Damian then finishes sitting up form another angle.

Elliptical Editing:
Elliptical editing is a technique where all the 'unnecessary' actions are cut out in order to reduce a time sequence. We practiced elliptical editing in our elliptical editing exercise. With our film having a 5 minute time restriction and a complex storyline, it was impossible for us to film it in natural time. We would not have been able to create our film without the use of elliptical editing. An example of us using this technique is when Damian sets out to find Lily. In the ending of the scene where he is in the room, he gets up, there is a cut to the door handle being pulled and then the film cuts to a new scene where he is in the process of following the visions of Lily.

Jump Cuts:
A jump cut is a sort of 'transition' where the film cuts to different parts of a sequence, showing little snippets of the sequence.I found this video showing examples during my research.

We use this technique in our film when Damian is reading his file from the mental hospital. The shots cut quickly to individual words and phrases on the page to represent him frantically reading it.

Continuity Editing:
Continuity editing is a technique where the scene is shot in such a way that it looks like a seamless progression in a sequence of events. Scenes with good continuity editing tend to start with an establishing shot to set the scene, and then when characters are introduced, following the 180 degree rule will ensure that the audience aren't confused by the position of the characters, making sure the 'flow of the scene isn't interrupted.This video helped me understand continuity editing during my research

An example of us putting the 180 degree rule into practice is seen in the flash back scene where a shot reverse shot takes place and then there is a medium shot of both characters in the scene.

This research and practice of these film techniques were vital in our production of the Forgotten Truth and I feel that our film would have been inferior without the use of them.