Theory of Editing

Course unit code:

311ET

Course unit title:

Theory of Editing

Mode of delivery:

zkouška

Range:

2/T

Type of course unit:

Study plan Cinema and Digital Media - Cinematography – compulsory subject
Study plan Cinema and Digital Media - Screenwriting – compulsory subject
Study plan Cinema and Digital Media - Directing – compulsory subject

Level of course unit:

Year of study

Study plan Cinema and Digital Media - Cinematography – 1st year
Study plan Cinema and Digital Media - Screenwriting – 1st year
Study plan Cinema and Digital Media - Directing – 1st year

Semester when the course unit is delivered

zimní

Number of ECTS credits allocated:

2

Garant předmětu:

Georgy BAGDASAROV

Name of lecturer(s):

Georgy BAGDASAROV

Study Objectives:

Student will be able to create his own world with functional space and time so as to design his own movement, in other words the Movie.

Mode of delivery:

Seminar

Prerequisites and co-requisites:

Recommended optional programme components

No

Course contents:

Film making resembles house building. It is the art of creation of functional space. In this sense the rules of both film making and house building are similar. The whole construction depends on every joint. The important thing is to chisel the bricks out of the stone and arrange them in the proper order. This is the way how the wall is built. Yet then comes the moment when the rules shall be disobeyed. The row of bricks is to be broken down and the second wall is to be built. And so on till the end.

To understand Film is to grasp its cinematic nature. Cinematic is closely related to the Cut. The reality in front of the camera is sliced into 24 still images by a shutter blade and then joined together on the film strip to become a Film.

The first cut is already done by the shutter in the camera. The next cut to follow is the one of a filmmaker. The Cut in the camera is specified by the mechanical process and the construction of the camera. But how to define the second cut - the cut made by an author?

We will analyze different aspects of the cut in film from its early era to the present time in order to see how space and time can be created. What follows is creation of the movement within the space-time relation. It is the movement which makes the meaning appears in the film.

As the theoretical conception is just a basic step to the practical application, it is important to go through every possibility of the Cut in our exercises. In practical exercises we will deal with a recycling. We?re going to use existed material and footages as a source for your own works.

Structure of the course:

Course Overview

Visual Language of Editing. Where to cut? The Visible and Invisible Cut.

The Continuity.

Space Orientation and Continuity of Time-Space.

The Classification of Movements and Tempo of Shot.

The Interruption.

Visible Cut. Destruction of Continuity of Time-Space.

„Montage of Oppositions“. „Montage of Attractions“.

Practical exercises: Create storyboard (collage) out of the ?found footage? (pictures, photos etc.)

Presentation of practical exercises (storyboard) and discussion.

The Combination

Visual Elements of Shot. Editing Decision by Dominance Principle.

Narrative Function of Editing and Literary Models. „Suture“.

Practical exercises: Still Film. Create Series of Photographs as Film Sequence.

Presentation of practical exercises (Still Film) and discussion.

Inside the Sequence.

Mise-en-scene and Contemplation of Compositional Space.

Constructive editing.

Spatial and temporal relationship inside the film and beyond.

Image and Sound.

Practical exercise: Re-edition of existed film sequence.

Presentation and discussion. Summary.

Study materials:

Sergei Eisenstein „Film Form and The Film Sense“

Victor A. Grauer „Montage, realism and the Act of Vision“

Walter Murch „In the Blink of an Eye“

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

No

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessment:

Attendance of the classes - 30%

Participation in discussion - 10%

Practical exercises - 30%

Final Exam - 30%

Language of instruction:

English

Work placement(s):

Pracovní stáž není u tohoto předmětu zavedena.

Course web page:

Note:

Instructor: Georgy Bagdasarov

E-mail: lapskojs@gmail.com

Schedule for winter semester 2011/2012:

	06:00–08:0008:00–10:0010:00–12:0012:00–14:0014:00–16:0016:00–18:0018:00–20:0020:00–22:0022:00–24:00
Mon	místnost 439 Seminární učebna CDM (Lažanský palác) BAGDASAROV G. 12:20–13:55 (přednášková par. 1)
Tue
Fri
Thu
Fri

Datum	Den	Čas	Tutor	Místo	Notes	Č. paralelky
	Mon	12:20–13:55	BAGDASAROV G.	Seminární učebna CDM Lažanský palác		přednášková par. 1

Schedule for summer semester 2011/2012:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

The subject is a part of the following study plans:

• Cinema and Digital Media - Cinematography (qualification subject)
• Cinema and Digital Media - Screenwriting (qualification subject)
• Cinema and Digital Media - Directing (qualification subject)