Film Editing Paper
Joshua Damm (N00809254)
FIL 2000
Flowers
1 March 2013
Editing in the Butterfly Effect
In the movie the Butterfly Effect, directed by John R. Leonetti, there are many different elements of editing utilized to create unique suspenseful and thrilling scenes. Leonetti relies on editing to contribute to the overall thrilling sensation created in the movie. Editing in this movie generates many different effects, but the most noteworthy effects in the movie add to the continuity of the film as well as the sense of suspense and uncertainty. This movie is filled with flashbacks and flash-forwards because of the main character going back to the past to change his memories. In doing so he hopes to live the best life possible without destroying the lives of others that are close to him.
The one scene I chose starts out with a medium shot duration of 7 seconds, where the main character Evan is speaking to a prison inmate. The scene then utilizes a reverse shot of the inmate replying to Evan’s conversation for 4 seconds. The two characters continue to converse for 9 seconds longer with alternating reverse shots of each character speaking to each other for 3 seconds at a time. This conversation consists of Evan explaining to his cell mate that he can show him that Jesus Christ speaks to him in his thoughts. After conversing the next shot takes us into the eyes of what Evan sees when he is reading his journal for a length 5 seconds. The ensuing shot is a close up shot duration of 3 seconds of Evan’s stunned face, followed by another point of view shot from Evan’s perspective looking at his cell mate. This takes us to a flashback of Evan’s elementary school days where he is in class and asked to create a drawing of what he desires to be when he grows up.
The first shot of the flashback is a close up shot duration of 4 seconds of a friend of Evans in class, followed by a long shot of Evan doing his drawing with his classmates and teacher in the background for 12 seconds.
FIL 2000
Flowers
1 March 2013
Editing in the Butterfly Effect
In the movie the Butterfly Effect, directed by John R. Leonetti, there are many different elements of editing utilized to create unique suspenseful and thrilling scenes. Leonetti relies on editing to contribute to the overall thrilling sensation created in the movie. Editing in this movie generates many different effects, but the most noteworthy effects in the movie add to the continuity of the film as well as the sense of suspense and uncertainty. This movie is filled with flashbacks and flash-forwards because of the main character going back to the past to change his memories. In doing so he hopes to live the best life possible without destroying the lives of others that are close to him.
The one scene I chose starts out with a medium shot duration of 7 seconds, where the main character Evan is speaking to a prison inmate. The scene then utilizes a reverse shot of the inmate replying to Evan’s conversation for 4 seconds. The two characters continue to converse for 9 seconds longer with alternating reverse shots of each character speaking to each other for 3 seconds at a time. This conversation consists of Evan explaining to his cell mate that he can show him that Jesus Christ speaks to him in his thoughts. After conversing the next shot takes us into the eyes of what Evan sees when he is reading his journal for a length 5 seconds. The ensuing shot is a close up shot duration of 3 seconds of Evan’s stunned face, followed by another point of view shot from Evan’s perspective looking at his cell mate. This takes us to a flashback of Evan’s elementary school days where he is in class and asked to create a drawing of what he desires to be when he grows up.
The first shot of the flashback is a close up shot duration of 4 seconds of a friend of Evans in class, followed by a long shot of Evan doing his drawing with his classmates and teacher in the background for 12 seconds.