Editing

     In this blog, I previously mentioned how important pacing is in melodramas, but another aspect that goes hand in hand with pacing is editing! In melodramas, the editing is usually very controlled and not fast/chaotic due to the material. As said before, you must allow the audience to sit with the scene and fully take in the moment, so editing plays a KEY role in this. Since my opening will be short, the way I structure my shot durations is very important.

    Let's use Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut as an example. The film's editing is incredibly slow, and that is what builds the uneasiness and tension in the film. Each scene is just the right duration to let the audience take in any emotions they feel from the particular scene and atmosphere. What strengthens the film's immersion is how the pacing feels intentional instead of rushed, which supports my point of how editing and pacing go hand in hand. This editing approach is useful for my genre because it offers emotional engagement, giving the audience enough time to read subtle performances.

    

One aspect of the film that I noticed and will be applying to my own project is the importance of rhythm. If my cuts are too rapid, it may feel emotionally shallow, but if I let my shots run with no motive behind them, my brief could lose momentum. This shows that even though I have two minutes, my editing needs to have purpose and add to everything. To combat any complications, I am going to experiment with slightly longer shot durations to see how that would feel emotionally, and from there, I will fix my mistakes.